§ 39-21-30 — Authority of department

1. The department may approve or disapprove any lighting devices or other safety
equipment, component, or assembly, even though the device is of a type for which
approval is not specifically required in this chapter. The department may issue and
enforce regulations establishing standards and specifications for the approval of the
lighting devices, safety equipment, components, or assemblies, their installation,
adjustment and aiming, and adjustment when in use on motor vehicles. The

regulations must correlate with and, so far as practicable, conform to the then current
applicable standards and specifications of the society of automotive engineers.
2. The department shall approve or disapprove any lighting device or other safety
equipment, component, or assembly, of a type on which approval is specifically
required in this chapter, within a reasonable time after the device has been submitted.
3. The department may set up the procedure which must be followed when approval is
sought for any lighting device or safety equipment, component, or assembly. The
procedure may provide for submission of the device, equipment, component, or
assembly to the American association of motor vehicle administrators, the society of
automotive engineers, or other appropriate testing agency as the agent of the
department and for the issuance of an approval certificate by the testing agency in the
name of the department in lieu of submission of the device, equipment, component, or
assembly to the department. Approval by the testing agency has the same force and
effect as if it had been issued by the department.
4. The department upon approving any device, equipment, component, or assembly shall
issue to the applicant a certificate of approval together with any instructions
determined by the department. The department shall maintain lists of all devices,
components, or assemblies which it has approved.