Legalities of After Market Tail Lights

[killerjoolz]

Can some one please shed some light on what the actual Australian standards are for all after market tail lights fitted to cars...Just curious as I was nearly defected today for mine after having them on the car for nearly 2 years,and today I get booked for having them by a HP,yet local policeman said they were right and to go see my solicitor for more info???If someone could help me out on whats the law,I would be greatly appreciative....

[jaydee]

I'd contact my states vehicle licensing authority, better still write a letter so they write back and then it's in writing.
I notice some european cars have them factory so go figure.

[SVD]

if they aint adr they aint legal, simple.

[FGII-XR6]

nothing to do with the state. if they are marked ADR approved they can't touch you, if they aren't you are breaking the law

Originally Posted by jaydee

I'd contact my states vehicle licensing authority, better still write a letter so they write back and then it's in writing.
I notice some european cars have them factory so go figure.

[killerjoolz]

so should they have the ADR approved stamp on them???The HP told me I could keep them in my car if I put red tape over the white reflector or painted the it red???

[MAV50L]

If the reflector is white , yep they are illegal.
Any rear facing reflector has to be red , forward facing can be white.

[killerjoolz]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

If the reflector is white , yep they are illegal.
Any rear facing reflector has to be red , forward facing can be white.

thanks for that,so he said I can paint the reflector RED,is this legal....oh I'm in NSW btw..

[BLKWDW]

If the reflector is white then i'd say there not adr complient otherwise the reflector would be red.

[killerjoolz]

no they are not...I just asked where I purchased them from and they said NO...back to standard tail lights I go...:(

[deesun]

Considering the smallish community you live in and the standout car you drive, going back to standard would be the best option. Or buying compliant ones. I'm surprised you got caught out in the first place. I sometimes wonder how some parts places are allowed to sell items, that are not legal in their state, without appropriate warnings.

[killerjoolz]

it was an out of town highway patrolman...its all good,standards are back and I'll cop it sweet,if they're illegal they're illegal,not much I can do about it....

[data_mine]

To be ADR compliant, they must be tested, and once tested, they get to use the (E) (E in a circle) mark on them.

But as mentioned, you have to have red reflectors on the back of the car. You could get around not having them in the tail lights by adding some red reflectors on the bumper or something. (I believe Holden did this on the VX, as there wasn't any reflectors in the tail lights)

[killerjoolz]

yeah actually all the later model holdens are like that,the policeman even showed me his and pointed out that I could add red reflectors to my bumper,but there are standards for this also,like height from ground etc etc

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by data_mine

To be ADR compliant, they must be tested, and once tested, they get to use the (E) (E in a circle) mark on them.

But as mentioned, you have to have red reflectors on the back of the car. You could get around not having them in the tail lights by adding some red reflectors on the bumper or something. (I believe Holden did this on the VX, as there wasn't any reflectors in the tail lights)

Ya, BUT he'd have to neutralise the existing (and quite dumb) white reflex reflector also. The officers advise to apply red paint is in error.

Another issue is that the aftermarket individual lamp functions may or may not be up to required photometric performance either. (Brightness and angle of view).

As ye say - stay away from aftermarket taillights (or front fogs and headlights) unless the lamps bear E markings appropriate to each function, or are those bearing Australia's "E45" world homologation certification.

To date, seen only one set of lamps bearing (E45)! :-) (A lamp tested under the world system domestically, probably by a firm in Melbourne somewhere).

[Springfield_Johny]

Actually sounds like a decent cop, pointing out what was wrong, telling you ways you can solve the issue etc etc.

[killerjoolz]

Originally Posted by johnandjus

Actually sounds like a decent cop, pointing out what was wrong, telling you ways you can solve the issue etc etc.

he still fined me though....:(

[killerjoolz]

update....went back to standard ones,getting used to them now,they don't look too bad...lol

[lubby1]

You probably did the right thing killerjoolz, they dont look bad at all and it saves you the trouble of getting a defect sticker removed. (thats a pain)

[killerjoolz]

yep so true...lol