Because, my dear Max, I have 3x SMD LEDs in each of the two housings and even with the SMDs facing upwards, they still throw so much light the ground around the back end of my car lights up on a dark night because of them LOL. I love the pure, white light the SMDs throw, but it is pretty intense and some dark lenses would be PERFECT. There will still be perfect visibility for my plate (and the smoked cover on it LOL) and I will still have the pure light I am looking for, just a little less...