§ 24-347. Lights required on motor vehicles; exceptions; regulations as to color, type and visibility distance.

(a)

Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery or farm tractor shall be equipped with at least two and not more than four headlights, with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle; provided that, auxiliary road lighting lamps may be used, but not more than two of such lamps shall be lighted at any one time in addition to the two required headlights; and, provided that, no spotlight or auxiliary lamps shall be so aimed upon approaching another vehicle that any part of the high intensity portion of the beam therefrom is directed beyond the left side of the motor vehicle upon which the spotlight or auxiliary lamp is mounted, not more than 100 feet ahead of such motor vehicle.

(b)

Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with two red taillamps and two red stoplights on the rear of such vehicle, and one taillamp and one stoplight shall be on each side, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1968, and motorcycles and motor-driven cycles shall have at least one red taillamp and one red stoplight.

(c)

The stoplight shall be so arranged as to be actuated by the application of the service or foot brake and shall be capable of being seen and distinguished from a distance of 100 feet to the rear of a motor vehicle in normal daylight but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light.

(d)

The stoplight may be incorporated with the taillamp.

(e)

Each lamp and stoplight required in this section shall be in good condition and operational.

(f)

No motor vehicle shall be equipped with any flashing red light which displays to the front of such vehicle except school buses and emergency vehicles used in fire fighting including ambulances, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in accordance with state law, or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality; provided, however, that, any emergency rescue vehicle owned, titled and operated by a state chartered rescue squad, a member of the state association of rescue squads, or privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in accordance with state law, and marked with lettering at least three inches in size and displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle designating it "Emergency Rescue Vehicle;" any authorized civil defense emergency vehicle displaying the appropriate civil defense agency markings of at least three inches; and any ambulance or vehicle equipped to provide emergency medical services properly licensed as required in the state and displaying the proper markings shall also be authorized to be lighted in one or more of the following manners:

(1)

A red light visibar type with public address system.

(2)

A red oscillating type light.

(3)

Blinking red lights, front and rear.

(g)

Any vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle authorized by this section to display flashing red lights, which displays any such lights shall be considered in violation of this provision and subject for each offense.

(Code 1992, § 20-136; Ord. No. 90, § 1, 8-5-1991)

State law reference

Privately owned vehicles of fire department members, T.C.A. § 55-9-201(c).