State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title14 > Chap246 > Sec14-96l

      Sec. 14-96l. Sufficiency of head and rear lights. Parked vehicles. (a) Every vehicle, except a motorcycle, shall be equipped with one or more lamps which, when lighted, shall display a white or amber light visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the front of the vehicle, and a red light visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear of the vehicle. The location of such lamp or lamps shall always be such that at least one lamp or combination of lamps meeting the requirements of this section is installed as near as practicable to the side of the vehicle which is closest to passing traffic.

      (b) Whenever a vehicle is lawfully parked upon a street or highway during the hours between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise and if there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of one thousand feet upon such street or highway, no lights need be displayed upon such parked vehicle.

      (c) Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto, whether attended or unattended, during the hours between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise and there is insufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of one thousand feet upon such highway, such vehicle so parked or stopped shall be equipped with and shall display lamps meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

      (d) Any lighted head lamps upon a parked vehicle shall be depressed or dimmed.

      (e) Failure to have lamps as required by this section shall be an infraction.

      (1967, P.A. 834, S. 13; P.A. 75-577, S. 38, 126.)

      History: P.A. 75-577 added Subsec. (e).

      See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.

      Annotations to former statute:

      Subsec. (c):

      Violation of statute and negligence per se to leave truck standing without lights on highway. 119 C. 637; 120 C. 596. Statute is intended to protect other users of highway, and a violation of it is negligence per se. Id., 415. Contributory negligence in failing to have light while removing tire. Id. Imposes liability on operator should vehicle fail to display a light, regardless of whether failure is due to his negligence. 122 C. 208.

      Judge's failure to instruct jury re statute was error where decedent changed tire on shoulder of road without lights. 1 CS 95. Cited. 6 CS 371; 23 CS 211.

      Annotation to present section:

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 30 CA 263.