California Vehicle Code Lighting Requirements

This is not an article as such, it is merely a collection of regulations about lighting equipment on motor vehicles in California. It is current as of March, 2006. I put it here for my own purposes, so I would not lose it. For those who are in California, you may find this useful.

Headlamps on Motor Vehicles

24400. (a) During darkness and inclement weather, a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle,
shall be equipped with at least two lighted headlamps, with at least one on each side of the
front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall
be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every
light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor
less than 22 inches.

(b) As used in subdivision (a), "inclement weather" is a weather condition that is either of the
following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or
another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow,
fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2005.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 415, Stats. 2004. Effectve January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005.


Auxiliary Driving and Passing Lamps

24402. (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps
mounted on the front at a height of not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches. Driving
lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the upper beam from headlamps and may not be lighted
with the lower beam.

(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary passing lamps mounted on
the front at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches. Passing lamps are lamps
designed for supplementing the lower beam from headlamps and may also be lighted with the upper
beam.

Foglamps

24403. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two foglamps that may be used
with, but may not be used in substitution of, headlamps.

(b) On a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, the foglamps authorized under this section shall
be mounted on the front at a height of not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches and aimed
so that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the
left of the center of the vehicle projects higher than a level of four inches below the level of
the center of the lamp from which it comes, for a distance of 25 feet in front of the vehicle.

(c) On a motorcycle, the foglamps authorized under this section shall be mounted on the front at
a height of not less than 12 inches nor more than 40 inches and aimed so that when the vehicle is
not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the
vehicle projects higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp
from which it comes, for a distance of 25 feet in front of the vehicle.

Amended Sec. 20, Ch. 451, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.


Number of Lamps

24405. (a) Not more than four lamps of the following types showing to the front of a vehicle
may be lighted at any one time:

(1) Headlamps.

(2) Auxiliary driving or passing lamps.

(3) Fog lamps.

(4) Warning lamps.

(5) Spot lamps.

(6) Gaseous discharge lamps specified in Section 25258.

(b) For the purpose of this section each pair of a dual headlamp system shall be considered as
one lamp.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle.

Amended Ch. 234, Stats. 1976. Effective January 1, 1977.


24406. Except as otherwise provided, the headlamps, or other auxiliary driving lamps, or a
combination thereof, on a motor vehicle during darkness shall be so arranged that the driver may
select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations, and the lamps
may, in addition, be so arranged that the selection can be made automatically.


Auxiliary Lamps: Off-Highway Use

24411. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than
eight lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The
lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12
inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle
and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be
wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or
driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.


Fog Taillamps

24602. (a) A vehicle may be equipped with not more than two red fog taillamps mounted on the
rear which may be lighted, in addition to the required taillamps, only when atmospheric
conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust, reduce the daytime or nighttime visibility
of other vehicles to less than 500 feet.

(b) The lamps authorized under subdivision (a) shall be installed as follows:

(1) When two lamps are installed, one shall be mounted at the left side and one at the right side
at the same level and as close as practical to the sides. When one lamp is installed, it shall be
mounted as close as practical to the left side or on the center of the vehicle.

(2) The lamps shall be mounted not lower than ( ) 12 inches nor higher than 60 inches.

(3) The edge of the lens of the lamp shall be no closer than four inches from the edge of the
lens of any stoplamp.

(4) The lamps shall be wired so they can be turned on only when the headlamps are on and shall
have a switch that allows them to be turned off when the headlamps are on.

(5) A nonflashing amber pilot light that is lighted when the lamps are turned on shall be mounted
in a location readily visible to the driver.

Amended Sec. 30, Ch. 615, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 11, Ch. 270, Stats. 2005. Effective January 1, 2006.
The 2005 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the
following “15”



Taillamps

24600. During darkness every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle
and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with lighted
taillamps mounted on the rear as follows:

(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more taillamps.

(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January
1, 1958, shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps, except that trailers and
semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be
equipped with one taillamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the
vehicles. If a vehicle is equipped with two taillamps, they shall be mounted as specified in
subdivision (d).

(c) Every vehicle or vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles, subject to subdivision (a)
of Section 22406 shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps.

(d) When two taillamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the
right side respectively at the same level.

(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500
feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be
plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.

(f) Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower
than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped
with the required taillamps, may also be equipped with two taillamps which may be mounted not
lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as
the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. The additional taillamps on a
tow truck shall be lighted whenever the headlamps are lighted.

Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.


Stoplamps

24603. Every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle
at the end of a combination of vehicles shall at all times be equipped with stoplamps mounted on
the rear as follows:

(a) Every such vehicle shall be equipped with one or more stoplamps.

(b) Every such vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after
January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with two stoplamps, except that trailers and semitrailers
manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one
stoplamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the trailer. If such
vehicle is equipped with two stoplamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (h), stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January
1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow
truck, in addition to being equipped with the required stoplamps, may also be equipped with two
stoplamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable
vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost
position.

(d) Where two stoplamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the
right side, respectively, at the same level.

(e) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1979, shall emit a red light.
Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, shall emit a red or yellow light. All
stoplamps shall be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 300 feet to the rear
both during normal sunlight and at nighttime, except that stoplamps on a vehicle of a size
required to be equipped with clearance lamps shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet during
such times.

(f) Stoplamps shall be activated upon application of the service (foot) brake and the hand
control head for air, vacuum, or electric brakes. In addition, all stoplamps may be activated by
a mechanical device designed to function only upon sudden release of the accelerator while the
vehicle is in motion. Stoplamps on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may be manually
activated by a mechanical device when the vehicle is downshifted if the device is automatically
rendered inoperative while the vehicle is accelerating.

(g) Any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental stoplamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost
portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position in addition to the lamps required to be
mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Supplemental stoplamps installed after January 1, 1979, shall
be red in color and mounted not lower than 15 inches above the roadway. The supplemental stoplamp
on that side of a vehicle toward which a turn will be made may flash as part of the supplemental
turn signal lamp.

A supplemental stoplamp may be mounted inside the rear window of a vehicle, if it is mounted at
the centerline of the vehicle and is constructed and mounted so as to prevent any light, other
than a monitorial indicator emitted from the device, either direct or reflected, from being
visible to the driver.

(h) Any supplemental stoplamp installed after January 1, 1987, shall comply with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (49 C.F.R. 571.108). Any vehicle equipped with a stoplamp which
complies with the federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable to that make and model
vehicle shall conform to that applicable safety standard unless modified to comply with the
federal motor vehicle safety standard designated in this subdivision.

Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.


Backup Lamps

24606. (a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, of a type subject to registration and
manufactured on and after January 1, 1969, shall be equipped with one or more backup lamps either
separately or in combination with another lamp. Any vehicle may be equipped with backup lamps.

(b) Backup lamps shall be so directed as to project a white light illuminating the highway to the
rear of the vehicle for a distance not to exceed 75 feet. A backup lamp may project incidental
red, amber, or white light through reflectors or lenses that are adjacent or close to, or a part
of, the lamp assembly.

(c) Backup lamps shall not be lighted except when the vehicle is about to be or is backing or
except in conjunction with a lighting system which activates the lights for a temporary period
after the ignition system is turned off.

(d) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a lamp emitting white light on each side near or on
the rear of the vehicle which is designed to provide supplemental illumination in an area to the
side and rear not lighted by the backup lamps. These lamps shall be lighted only with the backup
lamps.

Amended Ch. 813, Stats. 1981. Effective January 1, 1982.


Reflectors on Rear

24607. Every vehicle subject to registration under this code shall at all times be equipped
with red reflectors mounted on the rear as follows:

(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with at least one reflector so maintained as to be plainly
visible at night from all distances within 350 to 100 feet from the vehicle when directly in
front of the lawful upper headlamp beams.

(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle or a low-speed vehicle , manufactured and first
registered on or after January 1, 1965, shall be equipped with at least two reflectors meeting
the visibility requirements of subdivision (a), except that trailers and semitrailers
manufactured after July 23, 1973, that are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one
reflector which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the trailer. If the
vehicle is equipped with two reflectors, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).

(c) Every motortruck having an unladen weight of more than 5,000 pounds, every trailer coach,
every camp trailer, every vehicle, or vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles, subject to
subdivision (a) of Section 22406, and every vehicle 80 or more inches in width manufactured on or
after January 1, 1969, shall be equipped with at least two reflectors maintained so as to be
plainly visible at night from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet from the vehicle when
directly in front of lawful upper headlamp beams.

(d) When more than one reflector is required, at least one shall be mounted at the left side and
one at the right side, respectively, at the same level. Required reflectors shall be mounted not
lower than 15 inches nor higher than 60 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being
equipped with the required reflectors, may also be equipped with two reflectors which may be
mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far
forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. Additional
reflectors of a type meeting requirements established by the department may be mounted at any
height.

(e) Reflectors on truck tractors may be mounted on the rear of the cab. Any reflector installed
on a vehicle as part of its original equipment prior to January 1, 1941, need not meet the
requirements of the department provided it meets the visibility requirements of subdivision (a).

(f) Area reflectorizing material may be used in lieu of the reflectors required or permitted in
subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), provided each installation is of sufficient size to
meet the photometric requirement for those reflectors.

Amended Ch. 216, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991.
Amended Sec. 36, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 7, Ch. 140, Stats. 1999. Effective January 1, 2000.


Reflectors on Front and Sides

24608. (a) Motortrucks, trailers, semitrailers, and buses 80 or more inches in width
manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with an amber reflector on each side
at the front and a red reflector on each side at the rear. Any vehicle may be so equipped.

(b) Motortrucks, trailers, semitrailers, housecars, and buses 80 or more inches in width and 30
or more feet in length manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with an amber
reflector mounted on each side at the approximate midpoint of the vehicle. Any such vehicle
manufactured prior to January 1, 1968, may be so equipped.

(c) Required reflectors on the sides of vehicles shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor
higher than 60 inches. Additional reflectors of a type meeting requirements established by the
department may be mounted at any height.

(d) Reflectors required or permitted in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be so maintained as to be
plainly visible at night from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet from the vehicle when
directly in front of lawful upper headlamp beams.

(e) Area reflectorizing material may be used in lieu of the reflectors required or permitted in
subdivisions (a) and (b), provided each installation is of sufficient size to meet the
photometric requirement for such reflectors.

Amended Ch. 723, Stats. 1979. Effective January 1, 1980.


Vehicle Reflectors

24609. (a) A vehicle may be equipped with white or amber reflectors that are mounted on the
front of the vehicle at a height of 15 inches or more, but not more than 60 inches from the
ground.

(b) A schoolbus may be equipped with a set of two devices, with each device in the set consisting
of an amber reflector integrated into the lens of an amber light that is otherwise permitted
under this code, if the set is mounted with one device on the left side and one on the right side
of the vehicle, and with each device at the same level.

Amended Sec. 44, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.



Reflectors on Rear: Exceptions

24611. Trailers that are equipped with red and white reflective sheeting or reflectors on both
the sides and rear and displayed in accordance with federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
regulations (49 C.F.R. 571.108) for trailers with a width of 80 inches or more and having a gross
vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds need not be equipped with the reflectors required by
Section 24607 or 24608.





Added Sec. 37, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.


Rear-facing Auxiliary Lamps

24616. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with one or two rear-facing auxiliary lamps. For the
purposes of this section, a rear-facing auxiliary lamp is a lamp that is mounted on the vehicle
facing rearward. That lamp shall meet the photometric and performance requirements of the Society
of Automotive Engineers Standard J1424 for cargo lamps.

(b) A rear-facing auxiliary lamp may project only a white light, with the main cone of light
projecting both rearward and downward. The main cone of light shall illuminate the road surface
or ground immediately rearward of a line parallel to the rear of the vehicle for a distance not
greater than 50 feet. The main cone of light may not project to the front or sides of the
vehicle.

(c) A rear-facing auxiliary lamp may be activated only when the vehicle is stopped. A vehicle
equipped with a rear-facing auxiliary lamp shall also be equipped with a system that allows
activation of the lamp only when the vehicle is in the “park” setting, if the vehicle is equipped
with an automatic transmission, or in the “neutral” setting with the parking brake engaged, if
the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission.

(d) A vehicle equipped with a rear-facing auxiliary lamp may have an activation switch accessible
to the operator from the rear of the vehicle.

Added Sec. 20, Ch. 739, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002