Section 520. Rear lamps: tail lamp; license plate lamps; and rear lamp combinations

A. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Vehicle is not equipped with a rear (tail lamp) or rear lamp combination of an approved type and the light or light assembly does not work as approved. The approval designation letters that must appear are DOT or SAE-A-I-S-T-P for single lamps and DOT or SAE-A-I-S-T-P-R if a backup light is incorporated.

2. The vehicle is equipped with more than one rear lamp, if all are not in operating condition.

3. The vehicle is not equipped with a license plate lamp of an approved type (DOT or SAE-L) which emits a white light. The license plate lamp may be a separate lamp or part of a combination rear lamp. (A road tractor or tractor-truck that does not have a rear license plate is not required to have a license plate lamp.)

4. Lens for license plate lamp is not illuminated by an approved license plate lamp that emits a white light.

5. Lens on rear lamps, or lens area in combination rear lamps (tail lamps) are not red or contain a DOT of another color. 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.

6. Lens has piece broken from it or does not fit properly. The lens may have one or more cracks provided an off-color light does not project through the crack(s).

NOTE: Taping or gluing cracks or pieces is not allowed.

7. Filament in all rear (tail) lamps does not burn when headlamp switch is turned on to any position, or if lamps do not provide a red light visible to the rear through an approved red lens as annotated in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

8. Rear (tail) lamp is not mounted near extreme rear of vehicle. Dump trucks and other specially constructed vehicles may mount the rear lamp at a point other than on the extreme rear, provided such rear lamp is clearly visible from the rear, and further provided that a red reflector of an approved type is mounted on the extreme rear. In unusual cases, the rear lamp may be mounted on the cab. Reject if the lamp is hidden by a bolster or other part of the body or frame, is not mounted securely, or if the lamp does not make a good electrical contact.

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

10. Any vehicle has unapproved lens or plastic covers, any other materials that are not original equipment or any colored material placed on or in front of rear lamps, tail lamps, license plate lamps or rear lamp combinations.

B. Every trailer shall carry at the rear, two red lights of a type approved by the superintendent.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR545-01-07 § 52, eff. May 1, 1990; amended, Volume 10, Issue 08, eff. February 9, 1994; Volume 21, Issue 04, eff. September 22, 2004; Volume 24, Issue 08, eff. March 1, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. October 3, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.