Section 570. 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 P3).

4. Interior lights. (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 or used 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. A motor vehicle having a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more may be equipped with an illuminated bumper guide attached to each end of the front bumper, provided:

a. The light thereon is amber in color and less than six candlepower.

b. The light is wired to burn only in conjunction with the marker or clearance lamps on the vehicle.

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

B. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-P2, P3, PC), 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 project a red light and lamps installed on the front do not project an amber light.

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

6. 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 permissible lighting equipment.

NOTE: 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 § 57, 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.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.