N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.16

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:20-32.16 - Taillights and license plate light requirements, all vehicles; commercial vehicle inspection at official inspection facilities

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped on the rear with at least two red taillights and at least two red reflectors, one at each side of the vertical centerline at the same level and as far apart as practicable, except that a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 2, 1954, may be equipped with one red taillight and one red reflector.

(b) Taillights shall be of a type approved as meeting the standards of the United States Department of Transportation or, for motor vehicles manufactured prior to the adoption of such standards, the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers. The letters "SAE" and the letter "T," along with the manufacturer's name or trademark, are often on the lens of such lights.

(c) Taillights shall exhibit a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(d) Taillights shall be permanently and securely mounted on a permanent part of the vehicle. The mounted height of taillights, as measured from the center of the lens to the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, shall be not less than 15 inches, nor more than 72 inches. On any vehicle designed for carrying flammable liquids as cargo, the taillights may be mounted higher than 72 inches. When two taillights are required, they shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as far apart laterally as practical.

(e) Certification of a commercial vehicle shall not be refused because a taillight has a cracked lens, provided no white light shows to the rear of the motor vehicle and no portion of the lens is missing. However, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.

(f) If a commercial vehicle is equipped with two or more taillights on each side, it shall not be refused certification because some of the taillights are not operative, provided at least one taillight on each side of the motor vehicle is operative. However, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.

(g) Certification of a commercial vehicle shall not be refused because the license plate light is missing, inoperative, or does not operate properly; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected. License plate lights shall be of a type approved as meeting the standards of the United States Department of Transportation or, for motor vehicles manufactured prior to the adoption of such standards, the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers. The letters "SAE" and the letter "L," along with the manufacturer's name or trademark, are often on the lens of such lights.

(h) An LED taillight is a taillight that contains multiple light-emitting diode (LED) elements. An LED element is a single semi-conductor light source. The number of LED elements contained within each LED taillight varies by manufacturer. A commercial vehicle equipped with one or more LED taillights shall not be refused certification because some of the taillight elements are not operative, provided that 50 percent or more of the taillight elements within each LED taillight are operative. However, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.16

Repealed by 48 N.J.R. 810(a), effective 5/16/2016

Adopted by 53 N.J.R. 2056(a), effective 12/6/2021