FAQs: Vehicle Lighting - Clear Lenses & Blackouts

Clear Taillight Lenses

For clear taillight lenses to be legal, they must consist of the following components.

Stop Lamp

• All motor vehicles are required to have at least two (2) stop lamps, unless vehicle was manufactured prior to 1960, in which case it is required to be equipped with one (1).
• A stop lamp must emit a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber.
• A stop lamp must be visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight.
• The stop lamp shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake and may be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.
• Stop lamp lens must be of a type meeting Department of Public Safety standards.

Tail Lamp

• Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two taillamps, unless vehicle was manufactured prior to 1960, in which case your vehicle is required to be equipped with one (1) taillamp mounted on the rear which, when illuminated, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear.

Rear Reflector

• Every motor vehicle shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more red reflectors.
• Rear reflectors on a vehicle shall reflect a red color.
• Red reflectors required on the rear of a vehicle may be incorporated with the tail lamp assembly.
• Every reflector upon any vehicle shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet from such vehicle when directly in front of the the lawful lower beams of head lamps.

Turn Signal

• Signal shows white or amber to the front, and
• Signal shows red or amber to the rear

References:

• Texas Transportation Code
  § 547.321. Headlamps Required
  § 547.3215. Use of Federal Standard
  § 547.322. Taillamps Required
  § 547.323. Stoplamps Required
  § 547.324. Turn Signal Lamps Required
  § 547.325. Reflectors Required
• 49 CFR Section 571.108
• NHTSA - Safety Standards

Lens Covers (Blackouts)

State law Sec. 547.3215 incorporates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Subpart B, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Section 571.108, Standard No. 108; Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. This standard contains the following:

• S5.1.3 No additional lamp, reflective device or other motor vehicle equipment shall be installed that impairs the effectiveness of lighting equipment required by this standard.

As a general comment, any device that impairs the required effectiveness of headlamps, taillamps, reflectors, etc is prohibited. The lights, both front and rear, are made by the manufacturer to meet this safety standard. An alternate or additional material, particularly something dark, would impair its effectiveness.

The inspection manual used by state certified inspection stations states the following inspection criteria:

• "Tail lamp. Inspect and reject if: lamp is obstructed by any part of the body."