Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Condition of lamps and switches. Every required lamp or switch
shall be in safe operating condition as described in §
175.80 (relating to inspection
procedure).
(b)
Lighting
standards. A lamp shall comply with vehicle lighting equipment
requirements of this title. See Tables II-IV; Chapter 153 and
75 Pa.C.S. §
4301.
(c)
Headlamp system. A
vehicle specified under this subchapter which is driven on highway shall have a
two- or four-headlamp system. See
75 Pa.C.S. §
4303(a) (relating to general
lighting requirements).
(1) Both lamps in the
two-headlamp system shall be of Type II construction consisting of high beam
and low beam. One lamp shall be located on each side of front of motor
vehicle.
(2) In the four-headlamp
system, two lamps shall be of Type II construction and two lamps shall be of
Type I construction. Type I lamps consist of a high beam only. One of each type
shall be located on each side of the front of the motor vehicle.
(3) The headlamp low beam minimum candlepower
shall not be less than 7,500.
(4)
The headlamp high beam minimum candlepower shall not be less than
10,000.
(5) A headlamp shall be
aimed to comply with inspection procedure of this subchapter.
(6) A vehicle specified under this subchapter
shall be equipped with manual dimmer switch conveniently located for use by the
driver while in normal operating position. An automatic dimming device may be
used in addition to the manual switch.
(7) A vehicle specified under this subchapter
shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the
high beam of light from the headlamp is in use and shall not otherwise be
lighted. An indicator shall be located so that when lighted it is readily
visible without glare to operator of vehicle.
(d)
Total candlepower. The
total candlepower for headlamps and auxiliary lamps shall not exceed
150,000.
(e)
Other required
lamps. A vehicle specified under this subchapter shall have at least
one red stop lamp on each side of rear of vehicle, which shall be illuminated
immediately upon application of the service brake.
(f)
Illumination except headlamps,
fog lamps and auxiliary driving lamps. A vehicle specified under this
subchapter shall be equipped with parking lamps, stop lamps, tail lamps, turn
signal lamps and hazard warning lamps designed for that specific function,
which under normal atmospheric conditions shall be capable of being seen and
distinguished during nighttime operation at a distance of 500 feet. See
75 Pa.C.S. §
4303(b)-(d).
(1) Stop lamps, turn signals and hazard
warning lamps shall be visible at distance of 100 feet during normal
sunlight.
(2) Rear lamps shall be
lighted whenever headlamps, fog lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are in
operation.
(3) A vehicle specified
under this subchapter shall be equipped with hazard warning lamps unless the
lamps were not included as original equipment.
(4) The turn signals shall have a frequency
of flash between 60-120 flashes per minute.
(g)
Condition and position of
lamps. Lamps shall be properly fastened; direct light properly; be of
a color not contrary to Tables II-IV; and not be so obstructed by a screen,
bar, auxiliary equipment or a device as to obscure, change the color of or
obstruct beam.
(h)
Ornamental lamps. A lamp not enumerated in this section and
not located as described in Tables III, IV and V of this chapter, is prohibited
unless it is available as original equipment. An illuminated sign is prohibited
except on taxicabs, ambulances and trucks. Flashing or revolving lights are not
ornamental lamps. Provisions relating to flashing or revolving lights are in
Chapters 15 and 173 (relating to authorized vehicles and special operating
privileges; and flashing or revolving lights on emergency and authorized
vehicles).
(j)
Back-up
lamps. Back-up lamps are not permitted to be lighted when the vehicle
is in forward motion. Back-up lamps shall turn off automatically when the
vehicle goes forward. If the lamps do not turn off automatically, a dash
indicator that lights or creates audible warning is required.
(k)
Registration plate lamp.
If the vehicle was originally so equipped, the registration plate lamp shall
emit white light and make the registration plate visible from distance of 50
feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(l)
Auxiliary driving lamps and fog
lamps. Auxiliary driving lamps and fog lamps may be installed on a
passenger vehicle or light truck if the lamps comply with the following:
(1) Auxiliary driving lamps may not be
substituted for headlamps. Auxiliary driving lamps may only be used with high
headlamp beams.
(2) Fog lamps may
not be substituted for headlamps.
(3) Auxiliary driving lamps and fog lamps
shall be mounted on the front, spaced at least 20 inches apart from center to
center and at height not more than 42 inches above level surface upon which the
vehicle stands nor lower than the lowest chassis part. Rear fog lamps, if
originally installed or offered as optional equipment, are
acceptable.
(4) Auxiliary driving
lamps and fog lamps shall be aimed when the vehicle and lamp assembly are in
the straight ahead position with the beam not above horizontal centerline of
lamp at 25 feet.
(5) A vehicle
specified under this subchapter may have only one pair of approved auxiliary
driving lamps and fog lamps.
(6)
Auxiliary driving lamps and fog lamps may not be placed in front of a required
lamp.
(7) Auxiliary driving lamps
may not be used on snowplows as a substitute for headlamps obscured by blade. A
substitute for headlamps used on the vehicle shall be complete, approved
headlamps having both high and low beams.
(8) Snowplow lamps shall be installed as
follows:
(i) These lamps shall be wired
through a double throw switch so that both sets of lights will not operate at
same time.
(ii) Snowplow lamps
shall be aimed so that the high intensity beam does not project to the left of
the extreme left side of the vehicle nor higher than the center of the lamp at
a distance of 25 feet in front of the vehicle. In no case shall the high
intensity portion of a beam be higher than 42 inches above the level upon which
the vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead. Lamps shall be spaced at a
distance of not less than 20 inches apart and shall be symmetrically located on
each side of the vehicle centerline.
(9) In accordance with
75 Pa.C.S. §
4303(f) (relating to general
lighting requirements), roof or roll bar mounted off-road lights may be
installed if they are not used on a highway or trafficway and are covered with
an opaque covering at all times while operating on the highway or trafficway.
Vehicles equipped with roof or roll bar mounted off-road lights shall have a
switch that indicates to the driver, through the use of a pilot light, that the
lights are on when so switched.
(10) White or clear cargo lamps are permitted
if available as original equipment or installed in a manner which expressly
illuminates the cargo area of a multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck or
bus.
(11) Guidance laser systems
used during highway maintenance operations, such as line painting and snow
plowing, are authorized if they comply with
21 CFR
1040.10 (relating to laser products) for
Class IIIa laser products and Occupational Health and Safety Administration
Standard 1926.54 and are installed and operated in accordance with
manufacturer's requirements. Guidance laser systems may not emit red or blue
light visible to other motorists.
(m)
Antique vehicle lighting
exemption. An antique vehicle, if operated exclusively between the
hours of sunrise to sunset and not during periods of reduced visibility or
insufficient illumination, is exempt from requirements of this section except
requirements pertaining to stop lamps.
(n)
Battery fastening. A
vehicle specified under this subchapter shall be equipped with a system
specifically designed for the secure fastening of the battery.
The provisions of this §175.66 amended under the Vehicle
Code,
75 Pa.C.S. §§
4103,
4301,
4501,
4521 and
6103.
