§ 27-36-218 — Additional lamps and reflectors on buses, trucks, tractors, and trailers

(a) In addition to other equipment required by this subchapter, the following vehicles shall be equipped as stated in this section: (1) On every bus or truck, whatever its size, there shall be the following: (A) On the rear, two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side; and (B) One (1) stop light; (2) On every bus or truck eighty inches (80") or more in overall width, in addition to the requirements in subdivision (a)(1) of this section: (A) On the front, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; (B) On the rear, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; (C) On each side, two (2) side marker lamps, one (1) at or near the front and one (1) at or near the rear; and (D) On each side, two (2) reflectors, one (1) at or near the front and one (1) at or near the rear; (3) On every truck tractor: (A) On the front, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; and (B) On the rear, one (1) stop light; (4) On every trailer or semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.): (A) On the front, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; (B) On each side, two (2) side marker lamps, one (1) at or near the front and one (1) at or near the rear; (C) On each side, two (2) reflectors, one (1) at or near the front and one (1) at or near the rear; and (D) On the rear, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side, also two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side, and one (1) stop light; (5) On every pole trailer in excess of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) gross weight: (A) On each side, one (1) side marker lamp and one (1) clearance lamp, which may be in combination, to show to the front, side, and rear; and (B) On the rear of the pole trailer or load, two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side; and (6) On every trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer weighing three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) gross or less: (A) On the rear, two (2) reflectors, one (1) on each side; and (B) If any trailer or semitrailer is so loaded or is of dimensions as to obscure the stop light on the towing vehicle, then the vehicle shall also be equipped with one (1) stop light. (b) The clearance lamps, side marker lamps, backup lamps, and reflectors required in subsection (a) of this section shall display or reflect the following colors: (1) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color; (2) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color; and (3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except: (A) The stop light or other signal device, which may be red, amber, or yellow; and (B) The light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white or amber. (c) Reflectors, clearance, and side marker lamps, when required by subsection (a) of this section, shall be mounted as follows: (1) (A) (i) Reflectors, when required by subsection (a) of this section, shall be mounted at a height not less than twenty-four inches (24") and not higher than sixty inches (60") above the ground on which the vehicle stands. (ii) If the highest part of the permanent structure of the vehicle is less than twenty-four inches (24"), the reflector at such point shall be mounted as high as that part of the permanent structure will permit. (B) The rear reflectors on a pole trailer may be mounted on each side of the bolster or load. (C) Any required red reflector on the rear of a vehicle may be incorporated with the tail lamp, but this reflector shall meet all the other reflector requirements of this subchapter; and (2) (A) Clearance lamps shall be mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle in such a manner as to indicate its extreme width and as near the top thereof as practicable. (B) Clearance lamps and side marker lamps may be mounted in combination, provided illumination is given as required in this section with reference to both. (d) Visibility requirements for reflectors, clearance lamps, and side marker lamps, when required under subsection (a) of this section, shall be as follows: (1) (A) Every reflector upon any vehicle referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be of such size and characteristics and so maintained as to be readily visible at nighttime from all distances within six hundred feet (600') to one hundred feet (100') from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps. (B) Reflectors required to be mounted on the sides of the vehicle shall reflect the required color of light to the sides, and those mounted on the rear shall reflect a red color to the rear; (2) Front and rear clearance lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required, at a distance of five hundred feet (500') from the front and rear, respectively, of the vehicle; and (3) Side marker lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required, at a distance of five hundred feet (500') from the side of the vehicle on which mounted. (e) (1) Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated in combination during the time that lights are required, any lamp, except tail lamps, need not be lighted when that lamp by reason of its location on a vehicle of the combination would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination. (2) This subsection shall not affect the requirement that lighted clearance lamps be displayed on the front of the foremost vehicle required to have clearance lamps, nor that all lights required on the rear of the rearmost vehicle of any combination shall be lighted.

Legislative History

Acts 1937, No. 300, § 107; Pope's Dig., §§ 6764-6767; Acts 1959, No. 307, § 44; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-705.