§ 31-18-20.1. Operation of wheelchairs - Lamps and other equipment required. (a) Any wheelchair, motorized or manual, operating upon roadways, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with: a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500') feet to the front.

(b) Every wheelchair shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the division of motor vehicles which shall be visible from six hundred (600') feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

(c) Side Reflectors. Every wheelchair operating upon roadways, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a minimum of twenty (20) square inches on each side of the wheelchair of white reflective material on the wheels or tires to indicate as nearly as possible the continuous circular shape and size of the wheels or tires of each wheelchair. All reflective material shall be visible during the hours of darkness from five hundred (500') feet when viewed under lawful low beam headlights under normal atmospheric conditions on straight, level, unlighted roadway, and shall meet the requirements as prescribed by the division of motor vehicles.

(d) No person shall sell a wheelchair, new or used, that is not equipped with side reflectors, rear reflectors and front white light as required by this section. Wheelchairs sold to institutions for the exclusive use inside facilities shall be exempt from this section, provided that no exempt wheelchair shall be used upon roadways.

History of Section. (P.L. 1996, ch. 337, § 1.)