Section 200. Permissible lighting equipment

A. Any vehicle may be equipped with:

1. Running board or courtesy lamps, of not over six candlepower.

2. Vacant or destination signs, if a taxicab or bus.

3. Identification lamps of approved type (SAE -P2 or P-3).

4. Interior lights, of not more than 15 candlepower.

Exception: This does not apply to alternating, blinking or flashing colored emergency lights mounted inside law-enforcement vehicles or flashing shielded red or red and white lights, mounted inside vehicles owned by members of volunteer fire companies, volunteer rescue squads or owned or used by professional firefighters, or police chaplains. Also, this does not apply to firefighting vehicles equipped with map lights.

5. Hood ornament light if of an approved type or permitted by the superintendent.

6. Any approved lamp in good working order when used for the purpose for which it was approved.

B. Side marker lamps are not required. If installed they must operate and be inspected. If the bulb, socket and wiring are removed from an individual lamp unit, the unit will not be considered during inspection. This does not include wraparound tail/marker lamp assembly/lens, which is intended to perform multiple functions.

C. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-P2 or P3), or do not comply with subsection A of this section;

2. Lamps are not installed on the permanent structure of the vehicle with one as far to the rear and one as far forward as practicable and at a location which is not less than 15 inches above the road surface when measured from the center of the lamp;

3. Lamps installed on the side to the rear do not have a red approved lens (SAE-P2). Lamps installed on the side of the front do not have a clear or amber approved lens (SAE-P2) so as to project an amber light. If the approved lens on the front side is clear, then the bulb shall be a DOT-approved amber bulb;

4. Lens has a piece broken from it. The lens may have one or more cracks provided no off-color light projects through the crack(s);

5. Any vehicle has wire, unapproved lens or plastic covers, any other materials which are not original equipment or any colored material placed on or in front of permissible lighting equipment;

6. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments do not burn.

7. LED (light-emitting diode) lights with a clear lens are acceptable if of an approved type. For those vehicles that are equipped with a multiple LED light (not filament-burning bulbs), they will pass inspection if more than 50% of the diode lights are burning.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR545-01-07 § 20, eff. May 1, 1990; amended, Volume 10, Issue 08, eff. February 9, 1994; Volume 15, Issue 02, eff. November 11, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 04, eff. September 22, 2004; Volume 24, Issue 08, eff. March 1, 2008; Volume 28, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. October 3, 2016; Errata, 32:26 VA.R. 3588 August 22, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.