Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 302 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Perry, L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/27/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines continuously flashing light system;
• provides that a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped with a continuously flashing light system;
• provides an exception for a continuously flashing light system to the prohibition on a person using flashing lights on a vehicle; and
• makes technical corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

TRAFFIC SAFETY LIGHTS ON VEHICLES
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Lee B. Perry
Senate Sponsor: 
Todd Weiler
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to lighting
requirements on vehicles.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines continuously flashing light system;
▸ provides that a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped
with a continuously flashing light system;
▸ provides an exception for a continuously flashing light system to the prohibition on
a person using flashing lights on a vehicle; and
▸ makes technical corrections.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-6a-1604
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
41-6a-1616
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 100
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
41-6a-1604
 is amended to read:
41-6a-1604.
Motor vehicle head lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, and other lamps --
Requirements.
(1) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one on
each side of the front of the motor vehicle.
(2) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is
being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail
lamps and two or more red reflectors mounted on the rear.
(b) (i) Except as provided under Subsections (2)(b)(ii), (2)(c), and Section 
41-6a-1612
,
all stop lamps or other lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear of a vehicle shall display or
reflect a red color.
(ii) A turn signal or hazard warning light may be red or yellow.
(c) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to
illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate.
(3) (a) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two
or more stop lamps and flashing turn signals.
(b) A supplemental stop lamp may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle, if the
supplemental stop lamp:
(i) emits a red light;
(ii) is mounted:
(A) and constructed so that no light emitted from the device, either direct or reflected,
is visible to the driver;
(B) not lower than 15 inches above the roadway; and
(C) on the vertical center line of the vehicle; and
(iii) is the size, design, and candle power that conforms to federal standards regulating
stop lamps.
(4) (a) Each head lamp, tail lamp, supplemental stop lamp, flashing turn lamp, other
lamp, or reflector required under this part shall comply with the requirements and limitations
established under Section 
41-6a-1601
.
(b) The department, by rules made under Section 
41-6a-1601
, may require trucks,
buses, motor homes, motor vehicles with truck-campers, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers
to have additional lamps and reflectors.
(5) The department, by rules made under Section 
41-6a-1601
, may allow:
(a) one tail lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made;
(b) one stop lamp on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was made; and
(c) passenger cars and trucks with a width less than 80 inches and manufactured or
assembled prior to January 1, 1953, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.
(6) (a) As used in this section, "continuously flashing light system" means a light
system for a supplemental stop lamp described in Subsection (3)(b) in which:
(i) the stop lamp or reflector pulses rapidly for no more than five seconds when the
brake is applied and then converts to a continuous light as a normal stop lamp or reflector until
the time that the brake is released; and
(ii) the rapid pulsing described in Subsection (6)(a)(i) may not be repeated upon a
subsequent application of the brakes for a lock-out time period of at least five seconds after the
release of the brakes under Subsection (6)(a)(i).
(b) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer may be equipped with a
continuously flashing light system.
Section 2. Section 
41-6a-1616
 is amended to read:
41-6a-1616.
High intensity beams -- Red or blue lights -- Flashing lights.
(1) (a) Except as provided under Subsection (1)(b), under the conditions specified
under Subsection 
41-6a-1603
(1)(a), a lighted lamp or illuminating device on a vehicle, which
projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that
no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which
the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
(b) The provisions of Subsection (1)(a) do not apply to head lamps, spot lamps,
auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, hazard warning lamps, and school bus warning lamps.
(c) A motor vehicle on a highway may not have more than a total of four lamps lighted
on the front of the vehicle including head lamps, auxiliary lamps, spot lamps, or any other lamp
if the lamp projects a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower.
(2) (a) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle and a school bus, a person may not
operate or move any vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of
displaying a red light that is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
(b) Except for a law enforcement vehicle, a person may not operate or move any
vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device capable of displaying a blue light that
is visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
(3) A person may not use flashing lights on a vehicle except for:
(a) taillights of bicycles under Section 
41-6a-1114
;
(b) authorized emergency vehicles under rules made by the department under Section
41-6a-1601
;
(c) turn signals under Section 
41-6a-1604
;
(d) hazard warning lights under Sections 
41-6a-1608
 and 
41-6a-1611
;
(e) school bus flashing lights under Section 
41-6a-1302
; [
and
]
(f) vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance under Section
41-6a-1617
; and
(g) a continuously flashing light system under Section 
41-6a-1604
.
(4) A person may not use a rotating light on any vehicle other than an authorized
emergency vehicle.