I just bought a Nissan Altima and for a certain price they give you a package with blacked out tail lights, rear tinted windows, and rear spoiler. However, now I've been talking to all my friends and doing some research because they all told me they're completely illegal. How could this be true that ALL degrees of blackness would be illegal, if Nissan themselves is selling me this? I'm sure they wouldn't continue to sell them if they would be held liable by I and everyone else who bought these from them.

Are there certain ways of blacking the lights out that are illegal and some not? Like I know there are covers, then there is tint, then there is the spray or "nightshades". If the taillights shine through and can be seen just fine, then are they still illegal? Some research I've done says that the California Vehicle Code says that "tail lights must be visible from 500 ft and cars manufactured after 1969 must be visible from 1000 ft" and as long as they are, it's okay. Whereas some people said the DMV site says theyre just plain old illegal, yet the CHP book says nothing about it. IM SO CONFUSED EVERYONE SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. lol

I live in Los Angeles, California.

Please help!

A friend of mine got a ticket because his factory tint was deemed 'too dark' by a police officer. Best to look into this with local authorities or someone similar.

Just because it came from the dealer/factory like that, doesn't make it legal. I hear cops and the laws in CA are assinine tho. But just to be safe, get some documentation stating it came from Nissan like that, to back it up. And if they want, they might still ticket you.

What's going on, I thought this is the model forum.

Just ask the local PD and CHP offices. When I got my Camaro it had soke lenses and I asked the local cops and CHP, I never had a problem.

Although also non modelling related I thought I'd share a story of how FOS cops are here is South Africa. I think its hilarious!
A motorcyclist was fined for having a faulty headlight. He tried to explain ,in vain, that the secong headlight is the bright light and is meant to be off when using normal riding lights.
http://www.atlbikenight.com/files/Ducati_1098__2007__09_1024x769.jpg

The rule about the taillights being visible from 500 ft. is true.

However, the red reflectors must also illuminate when light is shown on them. If the tint prevents that then they could be considered illegal.