Anyone removed their 3rd brake light?
 

I'm thinking about removing my stock spoiler (which comes with the 3rd brake light) because I wanted something more aesthetically pleasing. Then again... apparently it's against the law to do so

But I occasionally still see some guys with aftermarket wings and no carrying a 3rd brake light. I actually know a friend who had his taken off for over 2 years now, and cops don't even notice. I wonder if it's even enforced. From someone who's done it, what is the risk or consequence of taking out the 3rd brake light?

If some douchy bad drive ever rear ends me, would ICBC have the full right to say f***you and deny me any coverage? Just because there was one less braking indicator on my back?

some older cars don't have that 3rd brake light, so I guess it's hard for the cops to know which cars should have or shouldn't have that extra light

Legally, no, you have to have keep the light if your car came with it.

This will help: http://www.revscene.net/forums/showt...threadid=59431

And do a search in the police forum, it's been answered multiple times there.

yessir

just install an inboard 3rd brake light (that's DOT approved) and install whatever wing you want on the trunk lid.
....you ricer.

No such part exists for my model.

It's only rice if I put on something that looks fast but the vehicle can't take advantage of (like GT wings) ...the one im thinking of getting is designed for appearance, I don't think that's rice.

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

First of all, if your car came with a third brake light, it should technically remain there. Afterall, it falls under the legal requirement. Secondly, if you get into an accident and your third brake light is missing, that bit of a technicality could totally screw you over with ICBC. And really, whose fault will it be? Not ICBC that's for sure.

If you really want to remove it for aesthetic purposes, go for it but please do put the effort into making some arrangements to make modifications to include a visible third brake light. My 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider doesn't have a third brake light and even driving in California and in Vancouver, I find it pretty scary but there are no provisions in adding a third one in. If I could, i would.

I have a 91 Integra and I have removed my 3rd brake light I did it along time ago and no troubles....

Yeah but did you get into an accident with ICBC involving the rear of your vehicle?

I guess the better question is to the OP is:

Is risk worth all the potential concequences?

If the light is there, just leave, no point in removing it. It's not like you will notice what is behind you anyways.

have a couple of people I know that got the wrong type of attention from the police and got a ticket for it. IMO not worth it to completely remove the 3rd brake light. Either put it inside the rear window or keep it on the spoiler.

Thanks for opinions, I think I'll keep my stock ones then :)

Do you drive a CSX Type-S?

lights are there for safety reasons. If it was me, i would put more lights on my vehicle rather then get rid of one.

The 3rd brake light is the light that is most visible to the driver behind you, that's why it's there. It also helps to have an extra light just incase the other 2 burns out.

do it and see what happens.

Holy crap you'd think he was asking if he could use a baby corpse as a hood ornament... it's a third brake light. If some d-bag rear ends you, ICBC will still decide it's 100% the other party's fault... worst case is a VI.

I wish. If it's CSX-S, I can use the stock side holes.
Mine's an SI, very close guess :)

I never thought there would be anything wrong with removing the third brake light.
some cars and most older cars don't have it, so most people won't know off the top of their head if a certain car had one or not, I'm assuming ICBC people won't know either
if you were the recipient of a rear ender I'm sure a majority of people in this world wouldn't go and say "that guy took his third brake light out go check !!!!!!!"
that being said I'd take mine out in a heartbeat if I was swapping something up

Y'now, i just found out there's no lights for the rear license plate on my car... either that, or it's burnt out and I don't know abuot it

very true

considering hid kits are illegal a lot of people still use them

no I have not,

My bad I did not read the thread all way through sorry all

Im pretty sure it is 1986 and up vehicles must have a center high mounted stop light.

but there is no law regarding whether your light has to have come from that particular make and model.

so go to a domestic car junkyard, grab a light from a Ford Tempo, easily wired inside the rear window. Done.