I've never seen a state that stipulates a CPSC reflector for lawful nighttime operation. All the state laws I've read so far stipulate actual real-world performance minimums.

In my state, the reflector must be red, and must be visible in lawfully-aimed low-beam headlights for all distances up to 600 feet. The reflector can be approved by the CPSC, the DOT, or any other entity, but what matters in court is its actual performance. So a DOT-approved or CPSC-approved reflector with a coat of mud could fail the test.

Anyway, if you'd like to go with reflective tape instead of plastic reflectors, that's a valid approach. Reflective tape reflects even from severe angles, it weighs only a few grams, and you can put it where you want it. Here's some that's available in smaller quantities, thin enough not to be too prone to peeling, and high quality: http://www.night-gear.com/1-inch-v82...-reflexite-539

Oh, and if you want to enhance your visibility from the front approaches, to help show up when you're waiting to turn across traffic for example, you can pinstripe the underside of your top tube and downtube with the silver stuff, and consider a stripe down the front of each fork leg:



Or you can just get completely carried away