My 18 y/o son got a ticket last night for his third brake light not being lit. I think he was too flustered to say anything but "Yes Sir". Wasn't until he got home he realized the car doesn't have a third brake light. He has an '85 Camaro. So the question is, what year was the third light required on vehicles and standard equipment on Camaros. He wants to fight the ticket based on the answer. I'm with him. Thanks.

 

IIRC 86 was the first year, and they were on the hatch. 88-90 had em in the spoiler. I'm sure someone will prove me wrong through

 

get used to that, ive had a camaro since i was 16(ten years now) and it only gets worse. i cant even tell you how many times ive been pulled over for stuff like that.

all states are diffrent, so check your local laws. either way they have no case with that one if your car doesnt have one it doesnt have to have one.

 

then they went inside the hatch window 90-92

 

Wow must have been a douche cop. The only law I know is it has to have 1 brakelight but all have to be lit. fight that one for sure. Bring in pics of the back of the camaro with someone pressing the brakes to have them all lit up

 

If you go to the front page of TGO and go to Camaro Tech data for 1986 you can it says that 86' was the first year of the 3rd brake light. My 86's has one it's on the exterior of the hatch.

 

Thank you everyone! We'll go plead not guilty based on the feedback. Pillsbury10 - my son got a good laugh from your response. The car does look pretty "badass" - all black. AR23 rims, etc so he'll have to get good at coming up with the license and registration. Thanks again guys.

 

lol youll be surprised what they will say when they get to your window. why dont they just say it "dude you have a sweet car and im pulling you over becuase of it, heres your ticket, can i take a ride with you, how fast does it actually go"

pull over quick, roll down the windows and turn on the dome light...makes things go a bit smoother

now im worried to take mine out, ive got an extra third brake light right now in the spoiler lol thats probably a ticket to

 

When I was in high school, I had an 82 Z28. It was bright red with ttops. I would get pulled over all the time for nothing. My dad didn't believe me when I told him I did nothing wrong so I got grounded. He decided to drive my car one day and was pulled over by the NJ State Police. He wasn't speeding or anything. They said they thought he was a teen age kid that is usually "tearing up the streets". My dad responded that he wasn't doing anything wrong even if it was the teenager driving so he shouldn't have been pulled over. He then threatened the police with a harassment law suit if they didn't leave me alone. That was 25 years ago! It sounds like some cops still do the same thing.

Either way, 1986 was the first year for a 3rd brake light. Find something online to prove that. Also, check your laws online and I believe they also mention that 1986 was the first year.

 

Hello tr6guy!!

Take this to the judge:

as early as 1991.14


Let me know how the case turns out!!

 

Thanks for the response Dan. That's more good information. I'm comfortable that we'll prevail. I'll let you all know the outome. Thanks again.

 

Hello tr6guy!!



P.S. It would have been more exciting if your son did this

 

I've been driving a Camaro for eleven years now and I've probably been pulled over for almost anything you can think of. It's vehicular profiling. Damn the man!

 

Try 17 with a loud corvette. Yeah I was harrassed. 19 now and most of the cops recognize me and leave me be unless im acting like a tool.

Funniest time I was stopped for was because a car matching MY cars description had just robbed a convenience store.
How many clean C4s are there in atomic orange with a black GS stripe and blacked out lights?

 

I've got one!!!!! I also scored a few $$$ recently and a bag of Doritos!
kidding

That's happened to myself a few times. The look on the officers faces when they see on "old" 40 something behind the wheel.
A few have admitted to just wanting to see the car.
These cars are definitly a cop magnet even when doing nothing wrong.

Good luck with the case. You'll beat it hands down.
Keep the proof of the brake light laws in your ride for next time. I've been pulled over a few times just going around the block with my kids in car seats. Most convertibles in Canada are exempt from requiring tether anchors due to the mods can interfere with the operation of the roof and have poor anchor points causing a greater safety issue. I keep a copy of the seat laws with me always because most officers and seat belt check point "professionals" aren't even aware of this.

 

Vehicular profiling doesn't just stop w/3rd gens & vettes. A Rochester cop followed me home, just to see where I lived. Our town was only allocated 1 Impala SS each year, and he's keeping track of all 3 of them because he wants to buy one. Mine's the '95.

 

Yup. 86 is the year. You should be fine.

Cops always find a reason to harass. I was pulled over because the cop said my car was too "LOUD"! It had a stock exhaust then! What a loser! I didnt even gun it! He just had his window down as I passed him in the turn lane.

Oh and Shadyredeyes, I LOVE the signature!!!! BEST EVER! Haha!

 

Thanks again to everyone who took interest in this posting. We went to court earlier in the week. Turns out the prosecutor is a "car guy" and dismissed it in a heartbeat. My son is keeping a copy of the section 108 abstract on chmsl's in the arm rest just in case. lol.

 

Glad to hear it - I just always laugh when I hear stuff like this. I'm so happy I live in a place with no emissions/inspections testing and cops leave you the hell alone.

I've never been pulled over for things like lighting, it just seems odd when I hear about stories like that - Seems like some cops just have too much time on their hands.

 

never seen that before? there is more to it

The CAMARO is my shepherd
I shall not want
It maketh me burnout on black pavements
It leadeth me beside busy freeways
It restoreth my soul
It leads me in the path of quickness
For its name's sake

Yea, though I walk through the valley of rice
I shall fear no turbo for torque art with me
Thy rod and thy piston they comfort me

Thou preparest a track before me
in the presence of mine enemies
Thou hast anointed my bearings with oil
My car overpowers
Surely traction and victory shall follow me
All the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the V8
Forever
Amen.

 

Glad to hear it all worked out. The cop should have known third brake lights weren't required until 1986.

 

Yeah I've been pulled over in my 2000 SS so many times I can't even count. I was pulled over 4 times within a month. One of those times I was pulled over for my license plate light (which I had just replaced and knew it was working) and he cop wouldn't let me take a look at it before I signed the ticket. These cars are cop magnets....

 

What do you guys do? I have owned and driven several Thirdgens for the last 21 Years, and I have never been pulled over in one.

I ahve been stopped in my 89 S10 Blazer (5mph over Limit on freeway), 74 Barracuda (expired Plates) and 99 Cavalier (out Headlight), But never in one of my 3rd Gens. Save the Hot Rodding for the Track, and it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Don't automatically assume that people are hot rodding based on your experience. I can tell you personally that I've been pulled over because I'm young or just based on looking at my car.

 

At least your son wasn't going 87 in a 45 construction zone at 3am. Did that a few years back and got out of the ticket because the officer didn't sign it or put his badge number on it. Still have no idea how i pulled it off.

 

man they pulled me over for one of my license plate lights being out. as soon as he said that i replied there only is one sir. he didnt even know what to say.D-BAG!!!! he started talking to me about the car. if you wanted to see the car you didnt have to try and give me a ticket first.