texas vehicle lighting laws

[kbflip02]

so i was pulled over today bc an officer said my lights were too dark...after lecturing me for almost 30 minutes he did not write ma a ticket and told me he felt like being nice...i got home and di some research and printed this out so i could show it to him next time he stops me...

SUBCHAPTER E. GENERAL LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES

§ 547.321. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps.(b) At least one headlamp shall be mounted on each side of the front of the vehicle.(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54 inches.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply with:(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.108; or (2) the federal standards in that section in effect, if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 324, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

that explains itself

Quote:§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one taillamp.(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle: (1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and (2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle. Can also be used against tinted tails(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that:(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary driving lamp is lighted. Meaning dont change the color of the lic. plate bulb must be whiteActs 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Important parts there are the lic plate bulb must be white.

Quote:§ 547.323. STOPLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two stoplamps.(b) A passenger car manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one stoplamp.(c) A stoplamp shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is:(1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and(2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied. Oops another possible tinted tail light loop hole (e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the stoplamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).(f) A stoplamp may be included as a part of another rear lamp.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

damn more Tinted tail crap

Quote:§ 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with electric turn signal lamps that indicate the operator's intent to turn by displaying flashing lights to the front and rear of a vehicle or combination of vehicles and on that side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a passenger car or truck less than 80 inches wide manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960.(c) Turn signal lamps: (1) shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable on the front and on the rear of the vehicle; and(2) may be included as a part of another lamp on the vehicle. (d) A turn signal lamp shall emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or(2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle.(e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of: (1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and(2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Doesnt apply to our cars

Quote:§ 547.325. REFLECTORS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subchapter F, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle. A red reflector may be included as a part of a taillamp(b) A reflector shall be: (1) mounted at a height from 15 to 60 inches; and (2) visible at night at all distances: (A) from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps; or(B) from 100 to 350 feet when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps if the vehicle was manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1972.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

One way to beat the tinted tail light ticket. i used this section and beat the ticket.

Quote:§ 547.327. SPOTLAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two spotlamps.(b) A spotlamp shall be aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the windshield, window, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in use.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Thats for all your 4X4 guys. dont have more then 2 spotlights

Quote:§ 547.328. FOG LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps.(b) A fog lamp shall be: (1) mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 12 to 30 inches; and(2) aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam from a lamp mounted to the left of center on a vehicle projects a beam of light at a distance of 25 feet that is higher than four inches below the level of the center of the lamp.(c) Lighted fog lamps may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified by Section 547.333.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.329. AUXILIARY PASSING LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with no more than two auxiliary passing lamps.(b) An auxiliary passing lamp shall be mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 24 to 42 inches.(c) An auxiliary passing lamp may be used with headlamps as specified by Section 547.333.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.330. AUXILIARY DRIVING LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with no more than two auxiliary driving lamps.(b) An auxiliary driving lamp shall be mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 16 to 42 inches.(c) Auxiliary driving lamps may be used with headlamps as specified by Section 547.333.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.331. HAZARD LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A vehicle may be equipped with lamps to warn other vehicle operators of a vehicular traffic hazard that requires unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing.(b) The lamps shall be: (1) mounted at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable on the front and on the rear of the vehicle; and(2) visible at a distance of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight. (c) The lamps shall display simultaneously flashing lights that emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or(2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

[yodawill2000]

I checked into that before I smoked mine I put a light coat on.Then ran some masking tape across the center all the way across both tails.Then laid 3 more on.

I drive through three cities going to work and if anybody here is from Irving that's one of them.Don't care to pad their wallets.

They dont state how much "of the light" can be seen from 1000 Ft.hehePlus I'm not in the mood to be rear ended from some boat and end up being held responsible.

Plus X2 I take the grand kids to Braum's for soda's once a week.Gotta be a good GPa' !!!

[#1 Sailor Scout]

That's some heavy stuff.

Is that for the entire U.S.? Or is it just for Texas?

I want to find the lighting laws for Alabama (my home state), but I don't know where to start looking.