Tips From a Trooper

Several times during a Patrolman’s shift, he or she will be asked about a certain item that someone wants to buy to make their vehicle look better. Two of these items that have become very popular with the car clubs are blue head lamps and smoked (tinted ) tail light covers or spray.

Although these items do make some vehicles look good and some even show quality, they make the vehicles non road worthy and in most cases dangerous.

More articles are being posted every day on the Internet about motorists dying or being seriously injured due to the use of these items. Just because you can buy that certain item to make your vehicle look good or better, doesn’t make it legal to use on any street or roadway in the State of Oklahoma.

So what are the laws governing the use of headlamps, tail lamps, and turn signals in Oklahoma?

Title 47. Motor Vehicles Chapter 12 - Equipment of Vehicles Article 2 Lamps and Lighting Devices Section 12-203 - Headlamps

A. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps emitting a white light with at least one lamp on each side of the front of the motor vehicle on the same level and as far apart as practicable.

Title 47. Motor Vehicles

Chapter 12 - Equipment of Vehicles

Article 2 Lamps and Lighting Devices Section 12-204 - Tail Lamps

A. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer, and any vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable which, when lighted, shall emit a red light visible from a distance of one thousand (1,000) feet to the rear;….

Title 47. Motor Vehicles

Chapter 12 - Equipment of Vehicles

Article 2 Lamps and Lighting Devices Section 12-206 - Stop Lamps and Turn Signals

A. Every vehicle shall be equipped with at least two stop lamps which shall meet the requirements of this section. B. The stop lamps required by this section: 2. Shall display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet to the rear in normal sunlight; and 3. Shall be actuated upon application of the brakes.

If you have a loved one that has altered or reduced their vehicles’ lighting capability have them correct it. You may be saving their life. Please help the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to make the roads, streets, and highways a safer place to travel. If you are in need of assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, feel free to call (580) 924-2601 for non-emergency situations. If you are traveling throughout the state of Oklahoma, you can still reach the locally based Oklahoma Highway Patrol Headquarters for that area by dialing *55 on your cell phone. To read or just view the complete Motor Vehicle Laws of the state of Oklahoma as well as other laws, visit www.oscn.net.