There are rules for headlights, too
Published 6:43 pm Friday, August 5, 2011
Richard Quint of Lake Stevens writes: I get tired of people blinding me with headlights that are more appropriate on aircraft at 200 mph as landing lights than on cars driving down the road at highway speeds or less.
Are there no longer requirements or standards regarding headlights? I’ve lo
oked up the law and can’t find anything other than they have to be “properly adjusted.”
Some motorcycles, too, have three headlights with 100-watt bulbs in each light. Is any of this legal? If not, why is there no enforcement?
Trooper Keith Leary of the State Patrol responds:
Yes, there are still standards for vehicle lighting. The State Patrol is concerned about illegal headlights for some of the reasons you indicated in your e-mail and our officers take enforcement action whenever appropriate under the law and based on the totality of the situation presented.
In 2010, state troopers stopped 106,556 vehicles for lighting violations, which resulted in 23,207 citations or written warnings.
Headlights are addressed in state law at http://tinyurl.com/3mj9o53.
Also, the state has adopted standards set by the federal government (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) and the Society of Automotive Engineers for aftermarket vehicle lighting. These may be found in the Washington Administrative Code 204-10 (http://tinyurl.com/3la4wd2).
These standards outline the characteristics of headlights, including their color (which must be white) and intensity.
Please note that some of the newer HID, or high-definition, headlights burn hotter than a regular bulb and emit a bluish tint, but are still considered white as tested under the federal standard.
What it comes down to is whether the light is certified as meeting the requirements under federal law which is indicated on the bulb itself with a state Department of Transportation label.
If after-market lights are approved, then they may be installed legally. However, the lights must be installed according to requirements set forth in state law.
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