During the removal of the lamps, the position of each one must be recorded. Comparison of each lamp position to an exemplar vehicle with the same lighting arrangement can be conducted later to determine the function of each lamp or the wiring schematics from the manufacturer can be consulted. Removing lamps is often complicated by exposed filaments, which are very fragile or the forced placement of the lamp housing due to contact damage making removal difficult. It may be necessary to remove the entire lamp housing assembly to preserve the evidence. Once a lamp has been removed from the vehicle, it must be handled and stored in a manner so as not to alter the condition of the filaments.
Unbroken lamps are quite strong and require little special handling.
Broken lamps, with exposed filaments are quite fragile and must be stored with care. Macro-photography of the lamps is recommended to preserve the evidence in the event of deterioration or alteration by handling. A recent development in taillight design is the use of light emitting diodes, or L.E.D., for center point high stop lights. These lights are visibly different from other types of lights. They are notably clear and appear to have more intense color.