CHAPTER 183
H.P. 730 - L.D. 1077
An Act To Allow Optional Auxiliary Lighting on Motor Vehicles
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1909-B is enacted to read:
§1909-B. Optional auxiliary lighting
1. General restrictions. Except as otherwise provided by section 2054 and any other law or rule, a vehicle may be equipped with or display an auxiliary light, as defined by section 2054, subsection 1, paragraph C, only if it conforms to the requirements of this section.
2. Color. The color of an auxiliary light must be as follows:
A. White or amber if the light is on the front of the vehicle;
B. Amber if the light is on the side of the vehicle; or
C. Amber or red if the light is on the rear of the vehicle.
3. Beam. An auxiliary light must emit a steady beam of light and may not blink, oscillate, rotate or flash.
4. Brightness. An auxiliary light may not emit a beam that is brighter than, has a greater candlepower than or distracts from the visibility of standard lighting equipment required by this Title or by the inspection rules adopted by the Chief of the State Police pursuant to section 1769.
5. Operator visibility. An auxiliary light may not be installed in a manner or on the vehicle so that it distracts or impairs the vision of the operator.
6. Under-vehicle lighting. An auxiliary light is under-vehicle lighting if it is a lighting device or lamp, including, but not limited to, a neon or fluorescent tube, installed under the chassis and it is designed to illuminate and reflect from the surface beneath the vehicle. A vehicle may be equipped with under-vehicle lighting for the purpose of participating in shows, events or other exhibitions, but the lighting may not be used or the vehicle illuminated with under-vehicle lighting on a public way.
7. Violation. A person who operates a motor vehicle equipped with, illuminated by, displaying or using an auxiliary light in violation of this section commits a traffic infraction.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2003, c. 633, §4, is further amended to read:
D. Except as provided in this paragraph, a vehicle may not be equipped with or display a blue light.
(1) Emergency lights used on the following vehicles must emit a blue light or a combination of blue and white light: a police vehicle; a Department of Corrections vehicle as described in subsection 1, paragraph B, subparagraph (6); a vehicle operated by a chief of police, a sheriff or a deputy sheriff; and a vehicle operated by a qualified deputy sheriff or other qualified individual performing court security-related functions and services.
(2) Emergency lights used on an ambulance, an emergency medical service vehicle, a fire department vehicle or a hazardous material response vehicle may include one blue light mounted facing toward the rear of the vehicle so that the light is primarily visible to approaching traffic from the rear only.
(3) The taillight of a vehicle, or replica of a vehicle, manufactured prior to 1952 and registered under section 457, may contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter.
(4) Blue interior auxiliary lighting or dash lighting may be used on any vehicle if no portion of the beam of light is visible at a height of 42 inches above a surface parallel with the level surface on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 20 feet from any part of the vehicle.
Effective September 17, 2005.
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