1     
FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT REVISIONS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy

5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill revises provisions related to continuously flashing light systems for
10     supplemental stop lamps.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     revises the definition of "continuously flashing light system";
14          ▸     removes the provision regarding the lock-out period after the release of the brake as
15     relating to continuously flashing light systems; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          41-6a-1604, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapters 270 and 412
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1604 is amended to read:
27          41-6a-1604. Motor vehicle head lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, and other lamps --
28     Requirements -- Penalty.
29          (1) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one on

30     each side of the front of the motor vehicle.
31          (2) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is
32     being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail
33     lamps and two or more red reflectors mounted on the rear.
34          (b) (i) Except as provided under Subsections (2)(b)(ii), (2)(c), and Section 41-6a-1612,
35     all stop lamps or other lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear of a vehicle shall display or
36     reflect a red color.
37          (ii) A turn signal or hazard warning light may be red or yellow.
38          (c) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to
39     illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate.
40          (3) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two
41     or more stop lamps and flashing turn signals.
42          (b) A supplemental stop lamp may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle, if the
43     supplemental stop lamp:
44          (i) emits a red light;
45          (ii) is mounted:
46          (A) and constructed so that no light emitted from the device, either direct or reflected,
47     is visible to the driver;
48          (B) not lower than 15 inches above the roadway; and
49          (C) on the vertical center line of the vehicle; and
50          (iii) is the size, design, and candle power that conforms to federal standards regulating
51     stop lamps.
52          (4) (a) Each head lamp, tail lamp, supplemental stop lamp, flashing turn lamp, other
53     lamp, or reflector required under this part shall comply with the requirements and limitations
54     established under Section 41-6a-1601.
55          (b) The department, by rules made under Section 41-6a-1601, may require trucks,
56     buses, motor homes, motor vehicles with truck-campers, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers
57     to have additional lamps and reflectors.

58          (5) The department, by rules made under Section 41-6a-1601, may allow:
59          (a) one tail lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made;
60          (b) one stop lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made; and
61          (c) passenger cars and trucks with a width less than 80 inches and manufactured or
62     assembled prior to January 1, 1953, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.
63          (6) (a) As used in this section, "continuously flashing light system" means a light
64     system for a supplemental stop lamp described in Subsection (3)(b) in which[: (i)] the stop
65     lamp or reflector pulses rapidly for no more than five seconds when the brake is applied and
66     then converts to a continuous light as a normal stop lamp or reflector until the time that the
67     brake is released[; and].
68          [(ii) the rapid pulsing described in Subsection (6)(a)(i) may not be repeated upon a
69     subsequent application of the brakes for a lock-out time period of at least five seconds after the
70     release of the brakes under Subsection (6)(a)(i).]
71          (b) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped with a
72     continuously flashing light system.
73          (7) A violation of this section is an infraction.