H.B. 175

1

AMENDMENTS TO LIGHT REQUIREMENTS ON
2 MOTOR VEHICLES
3 2010 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Kraig Powell
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code by amending provisions relating to lights
11 on motor vehicles.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . provides that only a person operating an authorized emergency vehicle and a school
15 bus may operate or move any vehicle with a lamp or device capable of displaying a
16 red or blue light on a highway;
17 . repeals the restriction that only a person operating a law enforcement vehicle may
18 operate or move a vehicle or equipment with a lamp or device capable of displaying
19 a blue light on a highway;
20 . provides that notwithstanding any contrary rule made by Department of Public
21 Safety, a person may operate an authorized emergency vehicle on a highway with a
22 lamp or device capable of displaying a blue light; and
23 . makes technical changes.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None

28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 41-6a-1616, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 100
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 41-6a-1616 is amended to read:
34 41-6a-1616. High intensity beams -- Red or blue lights -- Flashing lights -- Color
35 of rear lights and reflectors.
36 (1) (a) Except as provided under Subsection (1)(b), under the conditions specified
37 under Subsection 41-6a-1603 (1)(a), a lighted lamp or illuminating device on a vehicle, which
38 projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that
39 no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which
40 the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
41 (b) The provisions of Subsection (1)(a) do not apply to head lamps, spot lamps,
42 auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, hazard warning lamps, and school bus warning lamps.
43 (c) A motor vehicle on a highway may not have more than a total of four lamps lighted
44 on the front of the vehicle including head lamps, auxiliary lamps, spot lamps, or any other lamp
45 if the lamp projects a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower.
46 (2) (a) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle and a school bus, a person may not
47 operate or move any vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of
48 displaying a red or blue light that is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
49 [(b) Except for a law enforcement vehicle, a person may not operate or move any
50 vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of displaying a blue light that
51 is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.]
52 (b) Notwithstanding any contrary rule made by the department under Subsection (3)(b),
53 a person may operate an authorized emergency vehicle on a highway with a lamp or device
54 capable of displaying a blue light that is visible from directly in front of the center of the
55 vehicle.
56 (3) A person may not use flashing lights on a vehicle except for:
57 (a) taillights of bicycles under Section 41-6a-1114 ;
58 (b) authorized emergency vehicles under rules made by the department under Section

59 41-6a-1601 ;
60 (c) turn signals under Section 41-6a-1604 ;
61 (d) hazard warning lights under Sections 41-6a-1608 and 41-6a-1611 ;
62 (e) school bus flashing lights under Section 41-6a-1302 ; and
63 (f) vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance under Section
64 41-6a-1617 .
65 (4) A person may not use a rotating light on any vehicle other than an authorized
66 emergency vehicle.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-4-10 1:09 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel