Discussions

I've been looking at different lights for my vehicle and some of the ones I really like have a smoked lens. Now I'm wondering if smoked lenses are legal in Manitoba. The lights I'm looking at are DOT and SAE Compliant.  
 
I checked the MPI handbook for vehicle inspections (https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/VSIHandbook.pdf) and it talks about how they must be red for tail lights (example) but lamps are to be "inspected with lights on." So does that mean as long as when the light is on, the color is proper for the location of the vehicle it's alright if the lenses are smoked?

https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/VSIHandbook.pd  
 
See section 6-1

link doesnt work

https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/VSIHandbook.pdf

Couldn't tell you if they are illegal or not. But I would be carefully of how smoked the lights are. I've seen a few vehicles were the lights are smoked so dark that you can hardly see the brake lights. I can guarantee that is illegal, not to mention dangerous. But it probably depended on how dark they are smoked when it comes to being illegal or not.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-12-18 21:10:35

CMVSS standards - I recommend you google "CMVSS 108", and then follow the other standards cited (ie. SAE).

I am not sure why anyone would want tinted or "smoked" lights to begin with. Like what is the point, I can only assume cause they look cool. Lights are a safety feature, they are meant to be seen. Tinting or smoking lights only limits the light they put out, ultimately reducing the effectiveness. DOT/SAE safety marks are starting to mean nothing. The Chinese don't care they will stamp their crappy lights with whatever you want. Nobody does anything about it so why not make them look DOT/SAE compliant? Having tinted lights is illegal just like those stupid plastic covers people put on their license plates. MPI doesn't make equipment laws. They reference a standard that inspection stations follow which comes from the National Safety Code. Don't forget to read the HTA as it takes precedent over any standard.