Chameleon film for headlights fine

DIY chameleon headlight tinting

Recently, car enthusiasts have been actively tinting their car headlights. It all started with applying varnish to the headlights and usually during technical inspection, drivers encountered a problem, since such tuning had to be washed off from the headlights with a solvent, which rendered the lighting equipment unusable.

Since demand creates supply, special tint films of various colors have appeared on the market. Manufacturers from China and Taiwan offer chameleon headlight film at a low cost: green-blue, red-yellow and many other shades. The tint is transparent, and color shifts appear when viewing the film from different angles. The film is not durable and is difficult to install, since it is difficult to distribute well over a convex headlight due to the poor elasticity of the material.

Negative qualities are compensated by the low price and exclusivity of the overflows, which transform the appearance of the car. When turned off, the headlights change color from blue and burgundy to green and purple. The name of the chameleon headlight film is determined precisely by its ability to change color. Chameleon tinting is superior in quality to varnish tinting. The film can be easily removed without harming the headlight. The film coating can withstand car washing under pressure.

The technology for producing film for chameleon headlights involves magnetron sputtering of 200 metals. Light transmission corresponds to the indicators prescribed in the technical regulations.

How do traffic police officers react to tinted headlights?

Fans of car tuning first of all find out whether there is a legal ban on installing chameleon film on lighting devices. It should be noted that the types of tinting, and even more so the names of the films, are not prescribed in the technical regulations. There are indicators that are prohibited from being violated. Ignoring the requirements of the law leads to administrative punishment. It is unreasonable to rely on sellers’ statements on this matter; every driver should thoroughly understand the standards.

Basic requirements applicable to lighting devices.

1. At the front of the car, lighting equipment can be installed with lights of any color, in addition to white, orange and yellow. Reflective elements can be any color other than white;
2. Reverse lights and registration plate lights of any color other than white are installed at the rear of the car. Other devices with lights of any color other than orange, yellow and red.

Punishment for violating the rules:

Driving a car on the front of which lights or reflective devices with red lights are installed, and in any case the color of the lights is inconsistent with the requirements, results in deprivation of rights for a period of 6 months to one year, and confiscation of the lighting equipment is carried out.

It follows from this that tinting the front headlights of a car, in addition to yellow, orange or transparent, entails deprivation of rights for the above period. In addition, they will take away the tint or the headlight if the tint cannot be removed.

The taillights can be installed in gray or black tint. In this case, the color of the fire does not change, only its intensity changes. The color red is still red, and so is the color orange. It is also allowed to install yellow film.

All other colors are applied at your own risk. Chameleon tinting is declared by manufacturers as transparent when the headlights are on. But in general, its color is difficult to determine, and here you can go experimentally. Apply a piece of film to the headlight for which it is intended and visually determine the change in color of the light.

It is also important to know how much the fire becomes less intense. The rules prescribe the possibility of dimming lighting devices by 15% or less. The light transmittance of the film is required to be specified in the certificate of conformity.

DIY headlight tinting

Many car enthusiasts prefer to do external tuning with their own hands. This is a completely feasible task, but you should remember that the quality of the installation will differ from that of a professional due to the lack of special tools and skills.

Tinting with chameleon film is no different from installing any film designed for tinting headlights.

• household hair dryer;
• stationery knife;
• card scraper;
• spray.

Installation of the chameleon tint film on the headlight is carried out in the following order:

1. you need to start work by washing the headlight;
2. then a soap solution is sprayed onto the headlight;
3. distribute the film over the headlight so that it is completely covered;
4. the film is heated with a hairdryer and shaped by pulling it onto the headlight using a scraper;
5. excess film is carefully trimmed, trying not to touch the body;
6. heat the edges of the film until dry;
7. remove the protective shell.

If air bubbles have formed, they should be pierced and the air released. At the end of the work, the tint can be polished.

Headlight tinting with Chameleon film

There are many ways to tune a car. And among the whole range of measures, there is the opportunity to carry out some manipulations independently. This method is to tint headlights with Chameleon film. Why "Chameleon"? This type of material is a leader among its analogues due to such unique properties as:

• magnetron method of sputtering several layers of metals;
• depending on the ambient lighting, the film darkens on its own, thereby creating optimal conditions for driving;
• does not transmit ultraviolet and infrared radiation;
• protects driver and passengers from heat.

These properties are relevant when using car window tinting. In this article we will talk about tinting and covering headlights. Initially, the question arises, why is it worth tinting your headlights with Chameleon film? This type of material is strong, durable and dense, which protects the headlight glass from damage and scratches. Also, the “Chameleon” film changes its color very beautifully and shimmers in the sun’s rays. This, combined with similar tinting of car windows, gives the vehicle even greater respectability and attractive appearance.

Laws and rules for tinting lighting fixtures

Before applying tint to your car, you should familiarize yourself with the legislation. There is a certain list of conditions under which driving a car is prohibited, and the driver may face a fine.

“It is not allowed to paste (tint) the headlights of a car with lights of different colors; only white, yellow and orange are allowed, as well as retroreflective devices of different shades, except white. Rear lighting devices cannot be tinted (the exception is white); reflective devices can only be red.”

Chameleon film on car headlights

If you do not adhere to the above law, you are likely to receive a fine from the traffic police. In some cases, you can also lose your driver's license for a period of six months or longer. Therefore, before starting tuning, you should familiarize yourself in detail with the characteristics of the selected film for tinting headlights and, if necessary, measure the light transmittance of the material with a special device to avoid a fine for violation.

You should also be aware that if you tint your headlights illegally and incorrectly, you can become either the victim or the perpetrator of an accident, and may have to pay a fine!

DIY headlight tinting

Among the many ways to tint headlights, using film is the most practical method. It can be removed at any time, and there will be no need to remove lighting fixtures, spending a lot of time on this. Also, thanks to the glued film, the surface of the headlight becomes smoother and more even. This makes it possible to perform the polishing process better and easier. The only “disadvantage” of tinting with “Chameleon” material is the high cost of this process (the cost of the film).

To tint headlights, you should have the following list of tools on hand:

• rubber spatula;
• construction hair dryer;
• stationery knife;
• soft fabric;
• detergent.

Unlike tinting headlights with varnish, in this situation we do not have to dismantle the optics. First you need to thoroughly clean the surface of the headlight and degrease it. After all the preparations, cut out a piece of film of the required size and shape. To do this, you can use a template or simply attach the film to the headlight and cut along the contour. There are two tinting methods (wet and dry). Professionals recommend using the second tinting method - it is more practical and guarantees the success of the work.

The pasting itself should take place in a dust-free room with good lighting and average temperature. After the film is cut to size, it must be preheated using a hairdryer. After this, we peel off the protective coating and apply one corner to the surface of the headlight. Next, using a spatula or soft cloth, smooth the film over the entire surface. It is important that there are no air folds left. After gluing is completed, you should wait at least a day for the glue to dry and set.

If the headlights have a strongly curved shape, and a regular spatula cannot remove all the air from under the film, you can again use a hair dryer and heat the film throughout the entire pasting process.

We draw a conclusion

As we found out, tinting the headlights with Chameleon film is done not only for the sake of car tuning. It also protects lighting fixtures from scratches and chips. Before purchasing a film, it is advisable to consult with the seller and familiarize yourself with product certificates. You should beware of fakes, because low-quality material can cause more harm and damage. The driver may also face a fine.

Chameleon film on car headlights and windshield

Do not neglect the above tinting rules. When gluing the film onto dirty and dusty headlights, you will simply transfer the material - literally after a few days it will begin to peel off and eventually come off completely. Do not forget about the norms and rules established by law for tinting lighting fixtures, for violation of which you will receive a fine.

6 legends about tinting headlights and lanterns

Russia is a beautiful and amazing country. It is inhabited by inquisitive people who are not indifferent to everything new. For this reason, everything useless, harmful or stupid that can be done with your car, some lovers of innovation will certainly do. Sometimes without thinking and without realizing why. The group "Leningrad" even has a song about it.

The current trend is tinting the headlights and taillights. Surprisingly, it is used by both owners of “ten” cars with ground clearance close to zero, and consumers of products from the German “Big Three”. And this is not only a Russian trend: the question “legal or illegal?” The English-language Internet is also suffering.

Legend one: lighting tinting was invented by factories

It is difficult to reliably establish where this fashion came from. The idea itself goes back to the times when there were no uniform traffic rules yet, and the concept of “tail lights” was just being formed. Most likely, optics painted in different colors were originally used by body shops, thereby giving the cars a unique look.

Factory tinting of optics still exists today, and since it undergoes a certification procedure, it is recognized as legal by all authorities. It is alleged that this is a complex technological process - shading of some areas of the diffuser, and the light transmission does not suffer from this and fully complies with the standards. It is possible that this is true, but with an amendment: the standards do not apply to all countries. Of the 250 countries in the world, only 82 have so far signed up to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, adopted in 1968. Among other things, it determines the color of all external lighting devices.

Russia has signed up. The USA does not, so there the turn signals may be red. And according to our standards, taillights must emit red light, headlights must emit white or selective yellow, and all turn signals must emit orange. Other color variations are entirely the responsibility of tuning companies, homemade craftsmen, as well as customs authorities, who for some reason allowed cars with the wrong lights into the Russian Federation, when it was still possible to import something without the obligatory GLONASS button in the car.

Legend two: unlike front windows, headlights and taillights are not prohibited from being tinted

Many portals mention that a certain GOST standardizes the tinting of automotive lighting equipment. To the point that the tint layer should absorb “no more than 15% of the brightness of light radiation.” If anyone knows where to find this GOST or at least its number, please notify our editor immediately. In reality, not a single document contains a clear prohibition or instructions for additional tinting of car lighting fixtures. And in the same reality, the presence of any tint layer can serve as a pretext for a fine.

GOST R 51709-2001 “Motor vehicles. Safety requirements for technical condition and verification methods” initially prohibited the installation of any additional optical elements on the lenses, including colorless or colored film, but then this clause was canceled. An identical paragraph was in the canceled government decree No. 720 “On approval of technical regulations on safety” (2009). But in the current “Technical Regulations of the Customs Union” there is no such clause.

With such uncertainty, we are seeing a sea of ​​proposals - film, varnish, paint. We open the website of the first styling center we come across (three service stations in Moscow). Among other services, we offer darkening of any optics with matte film of different colors. The following are the advantages: your car will be individualized, the vinyl strengthens and protects the headlights from damage, no special care is required, and finally (attention!) - “The vinyl film is removed in one motion - this will help you avoid a fine for tinting your headlights.” Another company reports that it is definitely illegal to tint taillights in color. Third: “today, tinting headlights with film is strictly prohibited.” And offers tinting with varnish. Absurd!

In a good way, hundreds of companies and stores throughout the country should be sent an explanation from the prosecutor's office: they say that it is not prohibited to tint headlights and lanterns in the colors prescribed by the regulations: red - red, white - white. Materials of other colors are subject to confiscation. But we prefer to punish users. It's probably easier and more convenient.

Legend three: the fine for tinting lights is small

In the global judicial system, punishment largely depends on the interpretation of the crime. The same situation is with tinting. Neither the Code of Administrative Offenses, nor the “List of Malfunctions,” nor the “Basic Provisions on the Admission of Vehicles” says anything about it. But there are general words about lighting technology, and a lot.

Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses only mentions the lighting equipment of the front part of the car, but not the rear part. In fact, this does not prevent the tinting of the rear lights from being regarded as non-compliance or a malfunction for which operation is prohibited. The same attitude will apply to foreign illumination of registration plates - white lighting is prescribed for the license plates. Partial tinting of the optics - the very edge along the contour - also does not work as legal.

Further, depending on the interpretation of the violation, several options are possible. From 500 rubles (the wording is “inappropriate type of vehicle”, the same as in relation to dirty headlights) to deprivation of rights for 6-12 months with confiscation of devices (the wording is “lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not meet the requirements "). They confiscate, however, not immediately, but by court decision. 500 rubles – a lot or a little? It's different for everyone.

Legend four: armoring headlights with film is not tinting!

Protecting your headlights from chips and scratches is a common sense idea. However, laws prohibit, firstly, interference in the design of vehicles (installation of equipment items that are not intended for the design, affecting safety), and secondly, the use of any uncertified equipment and materials. Formally, the inspector (if he wants) has the right to find fault with even a completely transparent film, since the parameters of its light transmission are unknown to him.

Thus, we can only ask the masters of branded headlight armoring for a document confirming that the transparent vinyl or polyurethane film stuck to the headlights affects light transmission in an acceptable way and is certified in Russia (and not in China, which did not sign the Vienna Convention) specifically for these goals. Then make a copy of the document and take it with you.

Legend five: tinting lighting equipment is beautiful and original

Beauty, by definition, is a subjective thing - what one likes may disgust others. Therefore, there is no point in arguing here. As for “originality,” a quick glance at the forums where headlight tinting topics are discussed is enough. Originality of this kind is assessed by the overwhelming majority of car owners (in a milder form) as stupidity.

A car with homemade darkened lighting may look normal and even cool during the day. But driving one in the dark is not at all cool - it is dangerous both for others and for the owner, since it is difficult to see. Anyone who has driven long highways at night knows perfectly well that in other situations the full power of the standard light is not enough - you want to add, but there is nothing. So why reduce this power?

The thing seems obvious, and it’s strange that not everyone understands this, including employees of companies offering black tinting of all lamps all around - they themselves then drive along the same roads side by side with regular customers. Imagine what will happen if a car with tinted optics gets in the way of the same individualist with tinted windows. There is almost no chance for them to see each other on the road and pass each other safely.

The last legend: the traffic police will inevitably punish you for tinting your lighting equipment

If this were so, then there would have been neither supply nor demand long ago. But they exist. Therefore, the punishment is not severe enough.

Is tinting the front and rear headlights allowed or prohibited?

Compliance with traffic rules is a vital necessity for every road user. To protect yourself and other drivers, you should also take the time to maintain your vehicle. Any design changes to the vehicle may cause a malfunction and lead to an emergency situation.

The likelihood of an accident also increases if tuning work is carried out, which can reduce the quality of visibility. In particular, we are talking about tinting lighting fixtures. The fine for tinting headlights in 2019 is quite large.

When is headlight tinting appropriate?

To figure out whether tinting headlights is allowed, you first need to decide on the feasibility of carrying out this type of procedure. It should be noted right away that tinting a vehicle’s light fixtures is more of a fashion statement than a vital necessity.

The color of the headlight tinting can be in harmony with the overall color scheme of the vehicle. An option with the implementation of contrasting colors is also possible. You should be as careful as possible, because too dense tinting can lead to a decrease in the brightness of the headlights .

Varnish or film?

Tinting of vehicle lighting equipment is carried out using film or varnish. In the first case, a special vinyl film is used, which also acts as an additional element to protect the headlight from mechanical damage. It protects lighting fixtures from small stones.

If necessary, this type of tint can be removed very easily. And in order to ensure that the level of light transmission does not decrease, you can simply tint only a separate section of the headlight with film. The surface of this type of tinting can be matte or glossy.

Important! According to established safety standards, the tint film must absorb no more than 15% of the brightness of light radiation (this applies primarily to headlights). Otherwise, operation of the vehicle will be prohibited.

The presence of factory tinting on the headlights exempts you from paying a fine for violating the rules of vehicle operation. Personally tinting lighting fixtures with varnish may entail administrative liability. This is due to a decrease in the light transmittance of lighting equipment. Tinting headlights with paint is also fraught with a fine.

Maintenance and tinting of headlights

The legality of tinting lighting fixtures is determined by the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. At the same time, there is no clear interpretation as to whether tinting headlights is prohibited in the presented document. The vagueness of such a concept obliges us to consider each case separately. However, if there is a tint layer on the lighting fixtures, you should be prepared for difficulties during maintenance.

During the technical inspection, the requirements specified in the Technical Code are put forward for external lighting devices. In accordance with this document, during maintenance a set of testing activities is carried out aimed at studying the reliability of fastening and the performance of lighting equipment. Here an inspection is carried out for the presence of mechanical damage.

Non-compliance with established requirements can be raised for various reasons:

• changing the shape of external lighting devices;
• presence of mechanical damage;
• presence of contamination;
• lack of light diffusers;
• the presence of additional elements covering part of the lighting fixtures;
• inoperability of light-emitting diodes (less than 1/3 of the total number).

As for the tinting of the rear lighting devices, the intensity of the emitted light is not measured. Therefore, provided that after applying the film the color has not changed, then there is no reason for the refusal to pass MOT . A change in the color of the headlights is a very good reason for the condition of the vehicle to be recognized as not meeting the established requirements following a technical inspection.

The important point is not the fact that the car has received permission to participate in road traffic, but the possibility of safe operation. The use of tinting for lighting fixtures can be positioned as making changes to the original performance characteristics of the vehicle. And such metamorphoses are fraught with the occurrence of an emergency situation. It is for this reason that before applying a tint layer, it is recommended to weigh all the main points and make the most appropriate decision.

Everything according to GOST

In accordance with established rules, low and high beams must be exclusively white . As for the side lights, they should also glow white at the front of the vehicle and red at the rear. According to GOST, the brake signal always glows red, and the registration plate illumination is always white.

Those wishing to tint fog lights should also take into account the established requirements. Front lights of this type should glow white or yellow. The required light for equipment located behind is red. The turn signals are yellow. The reversing lights should glow white.

However, if you adhere to such rules, then the operation of vehicles of American and Japanese origin will not be possible. This is due to the fact that these cars are equipped with red turn signals. As a result, the main list of faults and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited was subject to certain changes.

As a result, vehicles with white, yellow or orange lights installed in the front part were allowed to operate. Retroreflective devices must be white.

At the rear it is possible to use red, yellow or orange lights. Reversing lights and license plate lights must be exclusively white.

This interpretation has made it possible in Russia to return cars of Japanese and American origin to the road, as well as to prohibit the operation of vehicles with excessive illumination.

Penalties

Regarding the penalty for non-compliance with the rules for operating external lighting devices of a vehicle, it may be different. Tinting with paint is strictly , as this reduces the light transmittance of the headlights. At night or in conditions of poor visibility, this can lead to an emergency situation on the road.

Headlight tinting

The fine for tinting the headlights of a car is imposed in accordance with Articles 12.4 clause 1, 12.5 clause 1 and 12.5 clause 3 of the Administrative Code. If we talk about the first case, then here we are talking about the installation of lighting devices or red light reflective devices. The penalty for individuals in this case will be equivalent to 3,000 rubles. Additionally, equipment is confiscated. Officials responsible for the operation of vehicles are fined 15,000-20,000 rubles. Legal entities face a fine of 400,000-500,000 rubles.

According to Art. 12.5 clause 1, the driver may also be subject to a fine of 500 rubles for driving a car with malfunctions or failure to obtain permission for general operation due to the application of a tint layer on lighting fixtures with a further reduction in light transmission.

In accordance with the same article, but paragraph 3, the driver may even lose the right to drive a vehicle for different periods of time. The period for confiscation of a driver's license varies from six months to twelve months. This penalty is relevant in the case of installing lighting devices or red light reflective devices.

Tinted rear lights

In the third part of Art. 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses does not say anything specific about the fine for tinting rear headlights. For this reason, an administrative penalty is imposed in accordance with the first part of the article.

It states that driving a vehicle with malfunctions or in the event of failure to obtain permission for the vehicle to be used for general use is punishable by a fine of 500 rubles . This is the maximum amount of monetary penalty that a driver faces if he violates the rules for using vehicle lighting, but in practice, there is usually no fine for tinting rear lights .

What's the result?

Tinting the lighting equipment on a car can lead to a decrease in the overall light transmission of the headlights. In the future, this threatens to create an emergency situation on the road. Additionally, it should be noted that the use of tinted brake lights increases the likelihood of an accident. In this case, the owner of a vehicle with tinted headlights will be considered the culprit.

To avoid this scenario, it is recommended to refrain from using tinted headlights or resort to implementing such a solution only as a last resort. Compliance with established tinting rules is a vital necessity here.

What will happen to me for the chameleon film on the headlights?

Good day to you, Timur!

I answer your question:

The Russian Federation Traffic Regulations provide basic provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and a list of faults for which the operation of vehicles is prohibited is indicated in clause 3.6:

The vehicle is equipped with:

- in front - lighting devices with lights of any color other than white, yellow or orange, and retroreflective devices of any color other than white;

- at the rear - reverse lights and state registration plate lights with lights of any color other than white, and other lighting devices with lights of any color other than red, yellow or orange, as well as retroreflective devices of any color other than red.

Sanctions for this violation are provided for in Art. 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited):

Driving a vehicle on the front of which are installed lighting devices with red lights or red reflective devices, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of safety officials traffic,

- entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with confiscation of the specified devices and accessories.

Conclusion: for tinting the headlights or taillights, anything other than transparent, yellow or orange, your license may be taken away for 6-12 months. Plus, take away this very tint from you (or the headlight itself, if you don’t want to remove the tint).

You can stick black or gray tint on the taillights, because... This film does not change the color of the light fixture, but only makes it less intense. Those. red stays red and orange turn signal stays orange. You can glue yellow (as the Law testifies) or orange (apparently, this means turn signals).

Dark gray tinting of headlights is not against the law and does not create a danger on the road.

You can stick a very light gray tint on the front ones, since it does not change the color of the light (when the low beam is on, it is not visible, the turn signal remains orange, and visibility at night does not deteriorate). Yellow and orange can also be glued (orange, apparently, to turn signals).

You can apply all other colors at your own risk. And under no circumstances trust unscrupulous sellers. You must be aware of responsibility and make decisions soberly.

In practice, traffic police officers are quite loyal to the types of tinting, because... the luminous flux does not change its color, and the turn signals also remain orange, visibility does not deteriorate.