Joe Flanagan Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I searched for this subject but couldn't find anything. Is the blue dot brake lens legal or does it depend on the state you live in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Its state by state and the only two states I personally know are legal are mine MN and Tim Adams' GA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwrstory Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 (edited) Probably depends on the state. However, the law is so old that most cops don't know about it. And most cops don't care,....that is if you're not driving like a goof. However, understand that they are even less visible then stock on a older car unless you can find a LED/lens assembly with blue dots. I drive a fenderless roadster (in Calif) and the "current" tags are not displayed. Never (knock on wood) had a problem. Maybe it's the gray hair! I took off the blue dots in order to get a brighter tail/brake light. Edited August 5, 2011 by mrwrstory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Flanagan Posted August 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I plan to have the tail lights functioning as brake lights as well, so I'll have three lights going on when I hit the pedal. I just bought a blue dot lens because I think they are so cool. Now I may have to get rid of it or stow it away somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48mirage Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I called Missouri Hiway Patrol about this one time and they said that the blue dots on taillights weren't legal unless the vehicle was regestered specially. I don't remember the classification. When I explained that my brake lights and tail lights were physically seperated and it was the brake lights that I was looking at for blue dots, he wasn't aware of any limitation. I haven't done it yet but I've got the lenses for "someday". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Joe, This is from the Virginia Motor Vehicle Inspection manual: "19VAC30-70-150. Rear lamps: tail lamp; license plate lamps and rear lamp combinations. Inspect for and reject if: 5. Lens on rear lamps, or lens area in combination rear lamps (tail lamps) are not red or contain a dot of another color." Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 If you have the plastic lens then you can drillthe lens to have a blues dot but it is much harder if you have glass lens. i HAVE SEEN BOTH BUT WHEN THE BLUE DOT IS USED THE TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT THAT BRIGHT AT NIGHT. SINCE MOST OF OUR OLD TAILLIGHT LENS ARE SO SMALL AND NOT VERY VISABLE I WOULD NOT CHANGE TO BLUE DOTS. JUST MY 2 CENTS. RICH HARTUNG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelOkie Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Lots of guys run blue dots on their cars here. I have been running them on my pickups here in Oklahoma for a number of years...never stopped, or questioned about them, (or anything else, for that matter), and I have been looked over very close in my 46 Ford in several routine roadblock stops. The laws didn't know, notice, or else didn't care, I suppose, if it's not legal here, and were just curious to see the truck at all, way I got it. We don't have vehicle inspections. Joel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 a good number of states ahve reintroduced blue dots as legal and many more are following suit. However..even these rules are being twisted by a good number of people. The laws each are different in most state but pretty much they follow the same guidelines that state what cars are applicable for use. I assure you a Chevy HHR is not in the lineup but seem to be a leading offender. The antique, historical and classic value plus a stated age of the car is usally the defining factors. Some folks like them, other hate them..last time my car was out a got a number of folks yelling from behind, "love the lights" On my '54 I have very translucent plastic lenses and blue dots that are installed at time of manufacture..they do not restrict any light.. If you have question about legality..just type in your state and and question the legality.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andydodge Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have had blue dots on the 40 Dodge sedan since 1975, as it is a Oz built bastardised 40 Plymouth & used 40 Plymouth tailights a guy here in Oz offered them to me back then & haven't had a problem. When I bought the 41 Plymouth 4yrs ago I noticed a blue dot centre tailight for it on ebay in the US, bought & innstalled it & thought it was "rare" but have since seen them listed 3 or 4 times. Both lots of blue dots are glass dots installed in glass red lenses, "Lynx Eye" brand......legal?.........nope, not here in Oz but as there are othere things I could be stung for I haven't worried, and have never had a problem, most local police here wouldn't notice them anyway I'd think.........andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Joe; If you want them then go for it. DAHM the Torpedos, Full speed ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Olson Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 I recently purchased a pair of glass factory original blue dot tail lights; still in the original boxes. They look great, day or night, and coordinate nicely with the polished SS clam shell shaped exhaust deflector with it's own Ruby Red reflector eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YukonJack Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Are all P15 lenses glass or were plastic aftermarket available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Are all P15 lenses glass or were plastic aftermarket available? I believe they were all glass including the aftermarket ones. I also believe that the factory did not offer nor sell blue dot lenses. LYNX-EYE made replacement lenses in both blue dot and non blue dot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Hey..I recognize them lenses...LynxEye for sure was one of the companies that were done in glass but on my 54 I believe another company, Glo-Brite??? made blue dots..but the 54 is in plastic so may be difference in company names..I think the big lead in to plastic was with the 49 models..they do not survive over the years near as well...I know glass were available through 52 in both blue dot and amber glass front lenses as I have these here at home also..I have seen them in glass for 53 but not beyond that year have I seen glass.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodney Bullock Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Hey Joe, I startd out with Blue dots in the truck. One night I was following my own truck and could not see the tail lights. Truck is 12 volts. They look good and are cool and all however unless you are using LED to light the lights they are not visible unless you are right behind the car with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Flanagan Posted August 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Thanks, Rodney. Good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Joe your factory lens is plastic and they are more translucent than the older glass on the average..they are available is aftemarket and beside..they are totally illegal in Virginia...I do believe there is pending legislation to pass these as legit..but not a done deal to my understanding.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Flanagan Posted August 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 The cops around here pay attention to that stuff. You would think they wouldn't have time, this being a big east coast city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Virginia makes their living though police generated highway revenues, almost as bad as Ohio...Tennessee is making a move to challenge it seems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) I had the glass Lynx Eye blue dots on the convert for probably 20 years here in MO.....never stopped or any problems. Also had the blue dot stop light. But.....one day a friend said he was behind me on the road a few nights previously and had trouble seeing my tail lights. So, I switched all back to original lenses.....they do show up better. Keeping the blue dots for keepsakes, just 'cause I like them. I once made plastic 1951 Ford lenses into blue dots, using some loose dots I had. That was pretty easy, but adding them to glass would be rather tricky. Edited August 8, 2011 by BobT-47P15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Not all aftermarket lenses are exact copies of the original, which has some grooves in it. Some repros are smooth on the outside. This is an original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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