§1904. Headlights

1.  General rules; headlights.  A person may not operate a motor vehicle that does not meet the following requirements concerning headlights.

A. A motor vehicle must be equipped with headlights.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §20 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

B. Headlights must be of sufficient power and so adjusted and operated as to enable the operator to proceed with safety under all ordinary conditions of highway and weather.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §20 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §20 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

2.  Location of headlights.  On a motor vehicle, a headlight must be located at a height, measured from the center of the headlight, of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches above the level surface on which the vehicle stands. Headlights on snow plows may be at a height greater than 54 inches.

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

3.  White light.  Headlights must be equipped with lenses or reflectors that emit only white light.

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

4.  Number of headlights.  The following rules apply regarding the mounting of headlights.

A. A motor vehicle must have mounted on the front at least 2 headlights, one on each side.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §21 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

B. A motorcycle must have one mounted headlight.   [PL 2005, c. 577, §24 (AMD).]

[PL 2005, c. 577, §24 (AMD).]

5.  Requirements.  The following requirements apply to a headlight.

A. If the vehicle is mechanically constructed so that it is limited to less than 15 miles per hour, it must have headlights capable of furnishing sufficient candlepower to render any substantial object clearly discernible on a level way at least 50 feet directly ahead and at the same time at least 7 feet to the right of the axis of the vehicle for a distance of at least 25 feet.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

B. If the vehicle is mechanically constructed so that it can exceed 15 miles per hour, it must have headlights capable of furnishing sufficient candlepower to render any substantial object clearly discernible on a level way at least 200 feet directly ahead and at the same time at least 7 feet to the right of the axis of the vehicle for a distance of at least 100 feet.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

C. A headlight capable of furnishing more than 4 candlepower, if equipped with a reflector, may not be used unless the headlight is designed, equipped or mounted so that no portion of the beam of light, when projected 75 feet or more ahead, rises above a plane of 42 inches higher than and parallel with the level surface on which the vehicle stands.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

D. The top of a main beam of light may not be higher than the headlight center.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

E. An electric bulb or other lighting device of a greater capacity than 32 candlepower may not be used, except for the standard equipment sealed beam unit.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

F. A headlight may not project the top of a main beam, at a distance of 25 feet ahead of the vehicle, on an approximately level stretch of highway, onto the body of a person or an object, at a height greater than that of the center of the front light from the highway.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

6.  Motorcycle.  A motorcycle that does not have an adequate beam for headlights is restricted to daytime operation.

[PL 2005, c. 577, §25 (AMD).]

7.  Exception for farm tractors.  This section does not apply to unregistered farm tractors.

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q20,21 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 577, §§24,25 (AMD).