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5 Reasons Your Car Might Be Breaking the Law
Whether you’re customizing your car or just trying to keep it roadworthy, some modifications and maintenance lapses can quickly attract the wrong kind of attention—specifically, flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror.
Here's a list of the five most common car issues and upgrades that can get you pulled over.
Modifying your car can be a fun expression of personal style—but only if you know the law. Some upgrades that look or sound great can come with serious legal consequences, especially if they compromise safety or mimic law enforcement features. Do your research, stay legal, and you’ll spend less time pulled over and more time enjoying the road.
1. Window Tint
It might look sleek, but that blackout tint could land you a ticket. Each state has specific limits on visible light transmission (VLT)—how much light your windows let in—and those numbers vary. In many states, front-side windows must allow between 24% and 70% VLT. Anything darker might make your car illegal to drive.
2. Underglow Neon or LED Lights
Underglow might dazzle at a car show, but it’s usually illegal on public roads. States like Michigan, Massachusetts, and Maine restrict the use of underbody lighting, particularly if it flashes or uses red or blue hues—which can be mistaken for emergency vehicles.
3. Loud Exhaust Systems
If your exhaust sounds like it could wake the dead, don’t be surprised if the police hear it too. Aftermarket or modified exhausts that exceed legal decibel limits are illegal in many jurisdictions. Cities like New York have begun using noise cameras to monitor and fine excessively loud vehicles. The exact decibel limit varies by state, but anything over 95 dB is often enough to trigger enforcement.
4. Blasting Stereo Systems
Like loud exhaust, high-powered stereo systems can cross the line from cool to citation-worthy. In Florida, for example, a cop can pull you over if they hear your music from more than 25 feet away. Even without exact measurements, a stereo that rattles windows and shakes bumpers is bound to attract attention—and potentially a fine.
5. Broken or Missing Lights
Driving with a burned-out headlight, taillight, or turn signal is a surefire way to get pulled over. Even if your lights were working when you left home, a burned-out bulb gives police legal grounds to stop you. This could even potentially include headlight intake ducts on modified cars as well. In many states, officers will issue a “fix-it ticket,” but repeated violations or missing safety equipment can lead to larger fines.
