Re: Smoking out tail lights?
Check your local hobby shop. If they have stuff for making stained glass you should be able to find something. There are spray tints and acids that will give you varying levels of the "smoked" look. Just check the label or ask someone who works there to make sure you can use it on lexan. Some you can some you can't.
You could also use a good metallic tint.
As far as paint and laminate. Not a good idea. As the laminate expands and contracts the paint will crack and chip off.
I doubt that they will notice that the tail lights are smoked when you turn it in.