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Introduced Version House Bill 3053 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature

2017 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3053

By Delegates Howell, Dean, Maynard, Blair, N. Foster, G. Foster, Harshbarger, Hill, McGeehan, Paynter and Queen

[Introduced March 14, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Government Organization.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-15-2 and §17C-15-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to motor vehicle lighting; clarifying when certain lights are functional; allowing certain lamps and lighting devices be uncovered in certain circumstances; and allowing two auxiliary lamps.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That §17C-15-2 and §17C-15-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.

§17C-15-2. When lighted lamps are required.


Every vehicle other than a school bus, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped operated upon a highway within this state at any time from sunset to sunrise, or during fog, smoke, rain or other unfavorable atmospheric conditions, or at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet ahead, shall display lighted head lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as provided for in subsection (c), section fifteen-c of this article. Every school bus, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle and moped shall display lighted head lamps at all times when upon the highway. Lighted lamps and other lighting devices that consist of multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other illuminating components that function as a single lighting unit are deemed to be functional so long as at least sixty-six percent of the LEDs or other illuminating components are functional: Provided, That the lighted lamps or lighting devices must still project sufficient illumination to satisfy all other requirements contained in this article.

§17C-15-17. Spot lamps and other auxiliary lamps.


For the purposes of this section, a lamp or lighting device meets the requirements specified below so long as any portion of the illuminating surface of the lamp or lighting device is within the specified range.

All lamps and lighting devices covered in this section may be installed so that the entire lamp or lighting device exceeds forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands so long as such lamps or lighting devices are either covered or dimmable.

(a) Spot lamps. -- Any motor vehicle except a public utility company maintenance vehicle may be equipped with not more than one spot lamp and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more than one hundred feet ahead of the vehicle. A public utility company maintenance vehicle may be equipped with more than one spot lamp but all lighted spot lamps shall be aimed and used in conformity to the requirements of this subsection.

(b) Fog lamps. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twelve inches nor more than thirty inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes.

(c) Auxiliary passing lamp. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one two auxiliary passing lamp lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twenty-four inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and every auxiliary passing lamp shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.

(d) Auxiliary driving lamp. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one two auxiliary driving lamp lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than sixteen inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and every such auxiliary driving lamp shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.

(e) Roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device comprised of multiple lamps: Provided, That whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon any road or highway of this state, the roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device shall be turned off and covered with an opaque covering that prohibits light from being emitted while the vehicle is being operated on any road or highway of this state.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify when a vehicle lighting unit is functional; permit additional lighting to be uncovered if such devices are dimmable; and allow two auxiliary lights.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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