Colorado § 42-4-216 - Multiple-beam road lights - penalty.

§ 42-4-216. Multiple-beam road lights - penalty.

(1) Except as provided in this article 4, the head lamps or the auxiliary driving lamp or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination of lamps on motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, autocycles, or low-power scooters, shall be arranged so that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations, and the lamps may, in addition, be arranged so that the selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:

(a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least three hundred fifty feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(b) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead; and on a straight level road under any condition of loading, none of the high-intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

(1.5) Head lamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light not supplemented by auxiliary driving lamps shall be permitted for low-speed electric vehicles in lieu of multiple-beam, road-lighting equipment specified in this section if the single distribution of light complies with paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section.

(2) A new motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, autocycle, or low-power scooter, that has multiple-beam road-lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the head lamps is in use and shall not otherwise be lighted. The indicator shall be designed and located so that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.

(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2252, § 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 97: (1.5) added, p. 393, § 4, effective August 6. L. 2009: (1.5) amended, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2323, § 10, effective August 5; IP(1) and (2) amended, (HB 09-1026), ch. 281, p. 1274, § 43, effective October 1. L. 2022: IP(1) and (2) amended, (HB 22-1043), ch. 361, p. 2585, § 16, effective January 1, 2023.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-4-214 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-216 was relocated to § 42-4-218.

Cross references: For the penalty for a class B traffic infraction generally, see § 42-4-1701 (3)(a)(I); for the penalty and surcharge for equipment violations of this section, see § 42-4-1701 (4)(a)(I)(D).

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "One Year Review of Torts", see 35 Dicta 53 (1958).

Annotator's note. Since § 42-4-216 is similar to § 42-2-412 as it existed prior to the 1994 amending of title 42 as enacted by SB 94-1, a relevant case construing that provision has been included in the annotations to this section.

Low beam intensity requirement. This section provides that all road lighting beams shall be so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal a person or vehicle at least 100 feet ahead. Union P. R. R. v. Cogburn, 136 Colo. 184, 315 P.2d 209 (1957).

High beam intensity requirement. This section provides that all motor vehicles shall be equipped with head lamps that on high beam shall furnish light of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead. Union P. R. R. v. Cogburn, 136 Colo. 184, 315 P.2d 209 (1957).