Light Bars Under Texas Traffic Regulations
Texas state traffic laws regarding emergency light bars on vehicles are established in Texas Transportation Code Title 7 (Operation of Vehicles and Traffic), Subtitle C (Operation of Motor Vehicles). Chapter 547 outlines the requirements for lights and lamps.
Section 547.305 addresses the operation of light bars:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a vehicle that is required to be registered with the department and that normally is operated on a highway and that is owned or leased by a unit of this state, or by a political subdivision of this state, may not be equipped with, display, or use a lamp or other device that emits a flash of red light or red and blue light, except as provided by this section.
(b) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, display, or use a lamp or other device that emits a flash of red light or a blue light.
(c) A person may not equip a motor vehicle that is not an authorized emergency vehicle with, display, possess, or use a lamp or other device that emits a red light or red and blue light .
(d) A motor vehicle that is not an authorized emergency vehicle and that is equipped with a lamp or other device that emits a red light or red and blue light is considered to be an authorized emergency vehicle when the lamp or other device is in operation.
Further, Section 547.330 on "Vehicle Equipment Requirements" clarifies that:
"(b) A passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or bus that is manufactured in this state and that has been equipped with a headlamp that is manufactured or sold in this state shall be equipped with a headlamp that emits a white light only, except that a vehicle equipped with an optional headlamp that emits a yellow light may be manufactured or sold in this state if the optional headlamp system:
(1) is not dependent on the operation of the vehicle charging system; and
(2) has all the parts necessary for the system to operate properly."
In simple terms, unless a vehicle in Texas is designated an "authorized emergency vehicle" it must sport white lights only and cannot be legally equipped with devices that emit a flash of red or blue light not used for signaling purposes. Additionally, non-commercial and military plates and permit stickers are not permitted to have red, blue, or green lights or reflectors at any time.
Limitations and Exemptions for Light Bars
While there may be some circumstances under which you could legally use a light bar or other auxiliary lighting, such as the requirements of safety, visibility, or road condition purposes, the question becomes more complicated as to when those circumstances are met. In other words, just because you are using a light bar for safety, that does not automatically mean you will not get pulled over by law enforcement. And if you do find yourself pulled over, how much is it going to cost you?
It’s a relatively short road for you to take before finding yourself in front of a judge facing the prospect of a hefty fine if you have chosen to flout the relevant laws associated with these types of lights. It starts with getting a ticket from a friendly neighborhood law enforcement officer and ends with the inconvenient next steps that unfold as a result.
Similar to restrictions placed on certain vehicle lighting elements, some areas of Texas prohibit the use of certain auxiliary lighting if the vehicle is used on public roadways. For example, there are minor variations in approaches taken by counties or municipalities, but many places in Texas are characterized by the absence of regulations mandating for the number of auxiliary lights allowed on a vehicle. Instead, certain areas of Texas have chosen to regulate the color, approximate location, nature, and usage of these lights with a focus on reducing issues with glare for oncoming drivers, particularly at night. However, beyond the limitations that such legislation imposes, there are potential exceptions for emergency vehicles or in a vehicle’s off-road experiences such as with ATVs, off-road trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles or motorboats.
In the end, it becomes incumbent on the driver to determine whether their use of lights constitutes an exception. So far, there is limited case law addressing these exceptions, making it one of those grey areas that up to this point has not been sufficiently defined. A good approach is to check with county of municipality ordinances before turning on any lights so that you won’t be stuck in the passenger seat while you wait for a lawyer to explain to the judge why your use of lights bars and other auxiliary lighting hasn’t violated the law.
Fines and Penalties for Unlawful Use of Light Bars
Fines, Points on your License, and Other Penalties for Illegal Use of Light Bars in Texas
Violations of the light bar laws in Texas can result in substantial penalties. A typical violation is a traffic infraction for which you might have to pay a fine. However, the failure to comply with the law can also lead to other more serious consequences, including loss of your legal right to drive.
Typically, failure to comply with laws regulating the use of lights on motor vehicles is punished as a traffic infraction, punishable by a fine. The problem is that a police officer might be tempted to treat a violation of the light regulations as something more serious. For example, an officer might threaten to arrest you for a crime that is unrelated to the light bar usage on your vehicle, all because you have a light bar incorrectly positioned on your vehicle. There are also laws that impose administrative penalties.
Section 683.002 of the Texas Transportation Code allows the Department of Public Safety to suspend your driver’s license for failing to comply with the laws that regulate the equipment on your vehicle. This could happen if you modified your vehicle and increased the capabilities of your vehicle’s lights above and beyond what is legally permissible, and then used your vehicle in such a way that would suggest this excessive illumination was intended to dazzle oncoming traffic. In other words, if you violate the light laws, and also violate the general law against using your lights in a way that dazzles oncoming drivers, you are putting yourself at risk of administrative consequences that include license suspension.
Legal Installation of Light Bars: Guidelines
To ensure compliance with the law, light bars or single lights should be wired to permit their use only when the vehicle is performing authorized duties. If a straight LED light bar is to be used solely for visibility purposes , it may not be marked as an emergency light. Such lights must be mounted on a horizontal plane and should not be visible from the rear. Mounting should be low enough that the lights are not visible from behind the vehicle by someone who is seated directly behind the driver. The law is particularly strict about the brightness of lights. A law enforcement officer following a civilian vehicle with an LED light bar that is too bright and well aimed may legitimately fear for his safety and may stop the vehicle under circumstances that could give rise to a valid claim for malicious prosecution if the driver is held to be in technical violation of the law. Installation of lights that are both extremely bright and poorly aimed could even give rise to a valid claim for negligent operation of a vehicle. Therefore, if an LED light bar is to be used solely as a warning device, it should have a lower lumen output and should be mounted horizontally such that it is not clearly visible to others behind the vehicle.
How Texas Light Bars Laws Differ from Others
In addition to reviewing the current Texas statutes on the legality of having a light bar, drivers should also take some time to understand how Texas laws compare with the rest of the nation. Let’s go through some of the other regulations currently enforced throughout the US to provide context on light bar legality.
Some states simply follow or adapt the federal regulations on lighting. For example, Colorado, Oklahoma and Washington all require vehicle lights to adhere to the Vehicle Lighting Directive, which outlines the 12-volt standards for lights used on cars and trucks within the country. However, the Specific Annex of the Directive did not mention LED light bars, nor did it mention any other light sources not used before 1995.
The majority of states do allow auxiliary lights to be mounted on vehicles, although a few states do not allow single-color lights and others have more specific limits on how many total auxiliary lights may be used. At present, there are only six states that do not allow any type of light bars at all, highlighting the fact that they are legal in the vast majority of states throughout the country. The remaining states allow them only under certain circumstances, usually depending on the height and/or width of the light bar.
State regulations on light bars can also become more complicated due to the fact that many states have adopted permanent lighting onto their vehicles through state legislation, thus essentially providing exceptions that allow certain vehicles to legally exceed the guidelines set by federal law. While many police vehicles and emergency vehicles are outfitted with these lights, which are technically illegal, these drivers are exempt from basic regulations because they need these lights to do their jobs.
Essentially, most states realize that more light is better when it comes to seeing and being seen. It’s easy to see how, when properly used, light bars and other auxiliary lights can make driving in all conditions safer for all drivers, from those on the road during the day to those on the road at night.
Light Bar Usage Questions in Texas
The legality of using light bars in Texas is questioned more often than you would think. So we’ve compiled a few of the most frequently asked questions here.
When can I use my light bars? Many law enforcement, government and emergency responders use light bars to increase the visibility of their vehicles in order to alert drivers and possibly deter criminal acts. These lights are extremely powerful and can momentarily blind drivers. Therefore, Texas law does not allow the indiscriminate use of these lights.
Lighting for use by emergency responders is very clear. Lights can only be used when the vehicle’s hazard lights are on, when responding to an emergency, while transporting a person in custody and during traffic stops. Use of red, blue, white, amber or red/blue lights is restricted to law enforcement, fire fighters and ambulances.
Do blue lights mean I can drive with lights engaged? No, the blue lights should only be used in conjunction with the hazard lights, in emergency situations as noted above. However, many manufacturers sell blue lights without any sort of warning that blue lights are only for government emergency responders. Sometimes these lights don’t even have the word "blue" in the description. Instead, they are sold as "crystal clear." Therefore , it is important that all shoppers verify that the lights they are purchasing are truly blue lights for law enforcement, fire or ambulance use only before putting them on a vehicle.
Are there any other limitations to light bars? Yes. As with all traffic laws, limitations on the use of lights need to be obeyed. It is not lawful to light vehicles for purely decorative purposes and blue lights shouldn’t be shown unless the vehicle is driving with lights engaged. Additionally, amber lights cannot be used to the rear of a vehicle. For instance, if you are pulling a trailer with your truck, you may not also have amber lights on the trailer. The amber lights on the vehicle you are driving can be an exception to this rule in order to increase the visibility of the trailer and its load from the side of the road.
Are there legal lighting options for commercial vehicles such as tow trucks and flatbed truckers? Yes, many lighting options are available to commercial vehicles. In fact, according to recently updated law, lighting equipment is permissible for tow trucks and road maintenance vehicles to any color. Various other vehicles are limited to certain types of lights. For a full list of vehicles and what lighting systems are permitted, the Texas Transportation Code ยง 547.303.