I thought that was tape so no underseal gets into the bolt holes for the mounts but i’m not sure how they were mounted exactly.
That’s a more plausible explanation, David.
Colorado hasn’t had a vehicle inspection program for decades, but I don’t think it had anything to do with discrimination. It just had to do with sloth.
A few years ago I got an advisory on LH rear wheel bearing play. As you say “resistance is futile”, so I removed the hub and made up a new shim. Having just had that whinge there was clearly too much movement. Passed the next year.
I don’t think that concern over the “r” word would limit the vehicle lighting performance expectations of our police in major cities. More remotely they might be more inclined to ignore as a matter of convenience.