OK, before I fork out some of my cash, I was interested in buying
the briteass taillight setup for my king.
I really like the look of the smoked version, even if it is $50 extra.

I have searched the internet for answers, and it seems like they all say that smoked lens are illegal in all states, is this true?

I just don't want to fork out the big bucks, and find out I'll be facing a ticket just for trying to be safer on the road.

Has anyone been ticketed for a smoked lens in NH or any other state?
Who controls this type of stuff, is it DOT, or is it according to state law?

Thanks for the answers guys!

 

I have smoked tail light lenses on both of my bikes and have never had an issue with the law. I rode it from Odessa, Tx to Sturgis and back, not even a second look, but the laws in NH may be different, I don't know.

 

Technically yes. They are illegal. Will the police make an issue of it? Depends on the LEO. I personally smoked the tail lights on one of my cars, and have aftermarket headlights that are smoked. Illegal, but not ever had an issue with them.

 

You can do a bit of digging and read the statutes concerning tail lights. Here's the link to every statute in every state.
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/states.php

For IL as long as the light when lit is red. Some tinted coverings while darkening the lense still show thru red when the taillights are lit.
Here's the pertinent part of IL's statute.
625 ILCS 5/12-201(b)
.... Every motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer shall also exhibit at least 2 lighted lamps, commonly known as tail lamps, which shall be mounted on the left rear and right rear of the vehicle so as to throw a red light visible for at least 500 feet in the reverse direction, except that a truck tractor or road tractor manufactured before January 1, 1968 and all motorcycles need be equipped with only one such tail lamp. ...

Here's your statute for NH.
Section 266:44
266:44 Tail Lamp and Reflectors. – Every motor vehicle and trailer or any combination of vehicles, when on the ways of this state at night, shall have on the rear thereof, and to the left of the axis thereof, one lamp, displaying a red light visible for a distance of at least 1000 feet to the rear of such vehicle, and a white light illuminating the registration plate of such vehicle so that the characters thereon shall be visible for a distance of at least 50 feet, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1952, shall have at least 2 tail lamps, one to either side of the axis thereof. On a combination of vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. All tail lamps on any vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 72 inches nor less than 20 inches from the ground, measured from the ground to the center of the reflector, and shall be placed in such manner as to indicate the extreme width of the vehicle and load and to reflect rays of light thrown upon such reflector. The visibility of such reflectors shall not be impaired at any time. Whenever a vehicle is manufactured with multiple tail lamps or multiple bulbs or filaments in the tail lamps, each of the lamps, bulbs, or filaments and any other exterior lighting equipment with which the vehicle was manufactured shall be in working order.

What you also want to be careful for is the tinted lense not affecting the rear reflector. Rear reflectors are required too in addition to the lighted tail light.

266:43 Reflectors. – Every new motor vehicle sold and driven upon a way, other than a tractor truck, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, 2 red reflectors, except that every motorcycle, moped and motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector.

 

I think the lense color is irrelevant. What counts is the color of the light: red.

As long as the tail light looks red when on, and breaking, nothing else matters.

I have smoked lenses for my tail light and running/signal/break lights, all with red LEDs.

 

Smoked here, lights red, no problem.

 

I can't speak to the legality, but IMO, even though I agree the Smoked looks better, I think the Red gives you a little better safety factor.

I've got the Bal-1 and thought about the Smoked when I bought it, but decided to stick with the Red.

People just associate Red with "stop" more than they would Smoked.

I've got the HD Led Headlight and Passing Lights up front, and I did go with the Smoked HD LED Turn Signals cause I think they look better and I'm not as worried about Front Lighting. For the rear however, I'll sacrifice some of the "cool factor" for safety.

 

Smoked Kury Panacea tail here, it's brighter than the stocker and looks so much better. I removed the rear turns since it has the built in run/turn/brake lights. Picked it up on ebay new for about 40 bucks. No problems with leo yet. When braking you can't even tell it's smoked, looks red.

 

Technically, you should look up the law before telling someone it's illegal when it's not necessarily. After all, some cars come with OEM tails, so it must be illegal!

 

Illegal in WI, but rarely enforced.