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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to lighting
10 requirements on vehicles.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines continuously flashing light system;
14 ▸ provides that a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped
15 with a continuously flashing light system;
16 ▸ provides an exception for a continuously flashing light system to the prohibition on
17 a person using flashing lights on a vehicle; and
18 ▸ makes technical corrections.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 41-6a-1604, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
26 41-6a-1616, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 100
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28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 41-6a-1604 is amended to read:
30 41-6a-1604. Motor vehicle head lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, and other lamps --
31 Requirements.
32 (1) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one on
33 each side of the front of the motor vehicle.
34 (2) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is
35 being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail
36 lamps and two or more red reflectors mounted on the rear.
37 (b) (i) Except as provided under Subsections (2)(b)(ii), (2)(c), and Section 41-6a-1612,
38 all stop lamps or other lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear of a vehicle shall display or
39 reflect a red color.
40 (ii) A turn signal or hazard warning light may be red or yellow.
41 (c) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to
42 illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate.
43 (3) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two
44 or more stop lamps and flashing turn signals.
45 (b) A supplemental stop lamp may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle, if the
46 supplemental stop lamp:
47 (i) emits a red light;
48 (ii) is mounted:
49 (A) and constructed so that no light emitted from the device, either direct or reflected,
50 is visible to the driver;
51 (B) not lower than 15 inches above the roadway; and
52 (C) on the vertical center line of the vehicle; and
53 (iii) is the size, design, and candle power that conforms to federal standards regulating
54 stop lamps.
55 (4) (a) Each head lamp, tail lamp, supplemental stop lamp, flashing turn lamp, other
56 lamp, or reflector required under this part shall comply with the requirements and limitations
57 established under Section 41-6a-1601.
58 (b) The department, by rules made under Section 41-6a-1601, may require trucks,
59 buses, motor homes, motor vehicles with truck-campers, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers
60 to have additional lamps and reflectors.
61 (5) The department, by rules made under Section 41-6a-1601, may allow:
62 (a) one tail lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made;
63 (b) one stop lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made; and
64 (c) passenger cars and trucks with a width less than 80 inches and manufactured or
65 assembled prior to January 1, 1953, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.
66 (6) (a) As used in this section, "continuously flashing light system" means a light
67 system for a supplemental stop lamp described in Subsection (3)(b) in which:
68 (i) the stop lamp or reflector pulses rapidly for no more than five seconds when the
69 brake is applied and then converts to a continuous light as a normal stop lamp or reflector until
70 the time that the brake is released; and
71 (ii) the rapid pulsing described in Subsection (6)(a)(i) may not be repeated upon a
72 subsequent application of the brakes for a lock-out time period of at least five seconds after the
73 release of the brakes under Subsection (6)(a)(i).
74 (b) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped with a
75 continuously flashing light system.
76 Section 2. Section 41-6a-1616 is amended to read:
77 41-6a-1616. High intensity beams -- Red or blue lights -- Flashing lights -- Color
78 of rear lights and reflectors.
79 (1) (a) Except as provided under Subsection (1)(b), under the conditions specified
80 under Subsection 41-6a-1603(1)(a), a lighted lamp or illuminating device on a vehicle, which
81 projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that
82 no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which
83 the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
84 (b) The provisions of Subsection (1)(a) do not apply to head lamps, spot lamps,
85 auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, hazard warning lamps, and school bus warning lamps.
86 (c) A motor vehicle on a highway may not have more than a total of four lamps lighted
87 on the front of the vehicle including head lamps, auxiliary lamps, spot lamps, or any other lamp
88 if the lamp projects a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower.
89 (2) (a) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle and a school bus, a person may not
90 operate or move any vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of
91 displaying a red light that is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
92 (b) Except for a law enforcement vehicle, a person may not operate or move any
93 vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of displaying a blue light that
94 is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
95 (3) A person may not use flashing lights on a vehicle except for:
96 (a) taillights of bicycles under Section 41-6a-1114;
97 (b) authorized emergency vehicles under rules made by the department under Section
98 41-6a-1601;
99 (c) turn signals under Section 41-6a-1604;
100 (d) hazard warning lights under Sections 41-6a-1608 and 41-6a-1611;
101 (e) school bus flashing lights under Section 41-6a-1302; [
102 (f) vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance under Section
103 41-6a-1617; and
104 (g) a continuously flashing light system under Section 41-6a-1604.
105 (4) A person may not use a rotating light on any vehicle other than an authorized
106 emergency vehicle.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-10-15 9:32 AM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel