WASHINGTON Headlights Law

1. Whenever a vehicle equipped with head lamps is also equipped with any auxiliarylamps or spot lamps projecting a beam of intensity greater than 300 candlepower, not more than a total of two of such additional lamps on the front of the vehicle must belighted at any time when on a highway.

2. Blue lights and flashing lights are prohibited. No additional lamp shall be used instead of headlamps.

3. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lights mounted at a height of 12 to 30 inches. Fog lights must be white to amber in color. Any motor vehiclemay be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light.

4. Washington law restricts additional aftermarket vehicle lighting. Each lamp must be equipped with the type of bulb for which it was designed. A halogen bulb cannot be converted to an HID headlight as replacing a halogen bulb with an HID bulb renders theheadlamps performance dangerous and noncompliant with applicable regulations.

LIGHTING LAWS IN WASHINGTON

NOTICE! THIS PAGE CONTAINS ONLY A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. KENSUN DOES NOT GIVE ANY LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE BE SURE TO REFER TO A LAWYER, LOCAL DOT OR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

RCW 46.37.040 Head lamps on motor vehicles.

(1) Every 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, which head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter.

(2) Every head lamp upon every motor vehicle shall be located at a height measured from the center of the head lamp of not more than fifty-four inches nor less than twenty-four inches to be measured as set forth in RCW 46.37.030(2).

RCW 46.37.070 Stop lamps and electric turn signals required.

(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1964, shall be equipped with at least one such stop lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the stoplamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified in RCW 46.37.200(1).

RCW 46.37.240 Single-beam road-lighting equipment.

Head lamp systems which provide only a single distribution of light shall be permitted on all farm tractors regardless of date of manufacture, and on all other motor vehiclesmanufactured and sold prior to one year after March 18, 1955, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment herein specified if the single distribution of light complies with the following requirements and limitations:

(1) The head lamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of five inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes

RCW 46.37.210 Additional lighting equipment.

(1) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fenderlamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.

(2) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running-board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.

COLORS RESTRICTIONS

RCW 46.37.184 Red flashing lights on fire department vehicles.

All fire department vehicles in service shall be identified by red lights of an intermittent flashing type, visible from both front and rear for a distance of five hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions. Such red flashing lights shall be well separated from the headlights so that they will not black out when headlights are on. Such red flashing lights shall be in operation at all times when such vehicle is on emergency status.

Firefighters, when approved by the chief of their respective service, shall be authorized to use a green light on the front of their private cars when on emergency duty only. Such green light shall be visible for a distance of two hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions and shall be of a type and mounting approved by the Washington state patrol.

EQUIPMENT RESTRICTED

(1) Spot lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two spot lampsand every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the windshield, or any windows, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in use.

(2) Fog lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two fog lampsmounted on the front at a height of not less than twelve inches nor more than thirty inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicleis not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of thevehicle shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes.

(3) Auxiliary passing lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary passing lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twenty-four inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehiclestands.

(4) Auxiliary driving lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than sixteen inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.

OTHER RULES

HEADLIGHTS: 2 MINIMUM

§ minimum height: 22 inches

§ maximum height: 54 inches

TAIL LIGHTS: 2 MINIMUM

§ minimum height: 15 inches

§ maximum height: 72 inches

SPOT LIGHTS: 2 MAXIMUM

FOG LIGHTS: 2 MAXIMUM

§ minimum height: 12 inches

§ maximum height: 30 inches

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