NH Law About ...: Motor Vehicle Lights: Read About The Law ...

Introduction

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Introduction

This guide got started because a caller to the Law Library asked why she couldn't have certain colored headlights on her car. That lead us to look at all sorts of other issues regarding automobile lighti

As is common, federal law in this area sets the minimum standards for motor vehicle safety. States may set higher standards if they wish but they must at least meet the federal standards.

This is one area where you must read statutes and regulations together in order to find the answer to your questions.

New Hampshire statutes and regulations use the words "lamps" and "lights" interchangeably. (Perhaps the word “lamp” harkens back to the days of horseless carriages?) Because of this, the print index to the statutes may be more helpful than keyword searching online. Look under the term “motor vehicles” and then for the subdivision “Lights and Lighting.” Once you get to the appropriate RSA chapter, look at the beginning of the chapter which gives a list of subdivisions and shows you the context of all of the statutes in that section.

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Websites

Wikipedia. Automotive Lighting
Although this Wikipedia entry does not focus on New Hampshire law, it does provide background information, giving an interesting and detailed discussion of many aspects of automotive lighting from an international perspective. Topics discussed include history, color of lighting, forward illumination, conspicuity, signal and identification lights (front, lateral, rear, large vehicles, emergency vehicles, retroreflectors, experimental systems and research and development), convenience lights, on service vehicles, many footnote references, many photos, and external links.
Wikipedia. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are U.S. federal regulations specifying design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for motor vehicles and regulated Automobile safety-related components, systems, and design features. FMVSS are currently codified at 49 C.F.R. 571. FMVSS are developed and enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) pursuant to statutory authorization in the form of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, which is now codified at 49 U.S.C. ch. 301.
Congressional Research Service. Issues with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. (March 24, 2017)
Federal motor vehicle safety regulation was established more than 50 years ago by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (P.L. 89-563) to address the rising number of motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administers vehicle safety laws and has issued dozens of safety standards, including regulations affecting windshield wipers, hood and door latches, tires, and airbags.

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New Hampshire Statutes

RSA 266. Equipment of Vehicles
RSA 266, Equipment of Vehicles, contains many sections relating to what types of lighting equipment various vehicle types must have and when they can be used. Examples are: use of blue lights is restricted to law enforcement and emergency response (RSA 266:78-b), use of red lights is restricted to police, fire and rescue (RSA 266:78-c), when law enforcement (RSA 266:78-f) and fire, rescue, and emergency personnel (RSA 266:78-g) should use their emergency lights, use of amber warning lights (RSA 266:78-h), use of wing lights on snow plows (RSA 266:78-j), lighting for school buses (RSA 266:39), purple lights are for funeral processions (RSA 266:78-m), type of lighting for parade use (RSA 266:78-n), and special wrecker lighting (RSA 266:109). RSA 266:78-c, II says that red lights are authorized for privately-owned vehicles of "full-time or volunteer firefighters employed by municipal, village district, or federal fire departments and forestry departments or forest fire wardens and deputy wardens when authorized by their department heads."
Find it in a Library ... New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated
Find the New Hampshire statutes in print at libraries throughout the state.

New Hampshire Court Orders

If you needed a reason to keep headlights, tail lights, etc. in good working order, the NH Dept. of Safety website linked to below may give it to you. Among other things, the website lists cases in which problems with vehicle lighting were used as justification for a stop.

New Hampshire. Dept. of Safety. Compendium: Superior Court Cases. Issues Regarding Various Grounds for Stop

New Hampshire Regulations

The administrative rules from the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Saf-C 3215 and 3216, give more detail on the type of lighting equipment each vehicle must have. Fog lamps on school buses (Saf-C 1313.09); how many fog lamps a vehicle may have (Saf-C 3215.05), and more detail about what color emergency lights can be and who can use them (Saf-C 3215.02) are just some of the topics covered in regulations.

Read Federal Law ...

Federal Statutes

49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. Motor Vehicle Safety
The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents. When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to the standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe a standard for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes a higher performance requirement than that required by the otherwise applicable standard under this chapter.

Federal Regulations

49 CFR § 571.108. Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
The purpose of this standard is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility.

For More Information ...

LawLine
Volunteer attorneys are available to answer legal questions through LawLine, a free service of the NH Bar Association. LawLine is held on the SECOND Wednesday of each month from 6:00 p.m. ~ 8:00 p.m. To reach LawLine, call (toll free) 800-868-1212.
Lawyer Referral Service of the New Hampshire Bar Association.
Modest Means Legal Program
The Modest Means Program is designed for people who have some ability to pay for an attorney, but who cannot afford an attorney’s full fees.
New Hampshire Law Library
The state's only public law library. Call, email, or visit, we'll be happy to help.

Disclaimer

Please remember that this guide is for information purposes only and is not comprehensive. It is intended as a starting point for research, to illustrate the various sources of the law, and to provide guidance in their use. NH Law About ... is not a substitute for the services of an attorney.