i like the blacked out tails...
legally, when lit, the lights must be visible from (insert your state law's legal distance here)ft away and you must retain red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle.
I used to have a 3rd gen Trans Am converted into a knight rider replica. I had a blackout on the rear tails and I just added a red reflective strip to the license plate frame. Was totally legal and the only time i was hassled, i followed the patrol car back to the station and got the ticket written off right in front of the officer. [vindication]