CHAPTER 7. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
IC 9-21-7
Chapter 7. Vehicle Equipment
IC 9-21-7-1
Good working order and adjustment; safe mechanical condition
Sec. 1. A person may not drive or move on a highway a:
(1) motor vehicle;
(2) trailer;
(3) semitrailer;
(4) pole trailer; or
(5) combination of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or poletrailer;
unless the equipment upon the vehicle is in good working order andadjustment, as required in this article, and the vehicle is in a safemechanical condition that does not endanger the person who drivesthe vehicle, another occupant of the vehicle, or a person upon thehighway.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-2
Lights; time for display; exception
Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 8 ofthis chapter, each vehicle upon an Indiana highway:
(1) between the time from sunset to sunrise; and
(2) at any other time when, due to insufficient light orunfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles onthe highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of fivehundred (500) feet ahead;
must display lighted head lamps and other illuminating devices asrequired for different classes of vehicles under this chapter.
(b) All lamp equipment required for vehicles described inIC 9-19-6, including each tail lamp required by law, shall be lightedat the times mentioned in subsection (a), except that clearance andsidemarker lamps are not required to be lighted on a vehicle when thevehicle is operated within a municipality if there is sufficient light torender clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at adistance of five hundred (500) feet.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.1-1991, SEC.94;P.L.34-2010, SEC.3.
IC 9-21-7-3
Lights; requirements and restrictions
Sec. 3. (a) This section does not apply to a motorcycle ormotorized bicycle.
(b) A motor vehicle must display at least two (2) lighted lamps,one (1) on each side at the front of the motor vehicle.
(c) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps requiredunder subsection (b) is also equipped with:
(1) auxiliary lamps;
(2) a spot lamp; or (3) any other lamp on the front of the motor vehicle projectinga beam of intensity greater than three hundred (300)candlepower;
not more than a total of four (4) lamps described in this subsectionon the front of a vehicle may be lighted at one (1) time when upon ahighway.
(d) Passenger buses, trucks, truck tractors, and certain trailers,semitrailers, and pole trailers must display clearance and markerlamps, reflectors, and stop lights as required under this title whenoperated upon a highway. Except as provided in subsection (e), alllamp equipment required on vehicles described in this subsectionshall be lighted at the times specified in section 2 of this chapter.
(e) Clearance and sidemarker lamps are not required to be lightedon a vehicle described in subsection (d) when the vehicle is operatedwithin a municipality where there is sufficient light to render clearlydiscernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of fivehundred (500) feet.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-4
High intensity beams
Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to head lamps, spot lamps,auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, emergency vehicle warninglamps, and school bus warning lamps.
(b) A lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehiclethat projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than threehundred (300) candlepower shall be directed so that no part of thehigh intensity part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway onwhich the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five (75)feet from the vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-5
Lights; distribution of beam; direction; illumination of objects;reduction of glare
Sec. 5. (a) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on aroadway or shoulder adjacent to a roadway during the times specifiedin section 2 of this chapter, the person who drives the motor vehicleshall use a distribution of light or composite beam directed highenough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles ata safe distance in advance of the vehicle.
(b) Whenever a person who drives a vehicle described insubsection (a) approaches an oncoming vehicle within five hundred(500) feet, the person shall use a distribution of light or compositebeam aimed so that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes ofthe oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light orcomposite beam specified in IC 9-19-6-20 is considered to avoidglare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.
(c) Except when overtaking and passing another vehicle,whenever the person who drives a vehicle described in subsection (a)
follows another vehicle within two hundred (200) feet to the rear ofthe other vehicle, the person shall use a distribution of lightpermissible under this title other than the uppermost distribution oflight specified in IC 9-19-6-20.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-6
Combinations of vehicles; operation; lights; clearance lamps
Sec. 6. (a) Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated incombination during the time that lights are required under section 2of this chapter, the person who drives the vehicles operated incombination is not required to light any lamp (except tail lamps) that,because of the lamp's location on a vehicle of the combination,would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination.
(b) Lighted clearance lamps shall be displayed on the front of theforemost vehicle of the combination described in subsection (a)required to have clearance lamps. All lights required on the rear ofthe rearmost vehicle of a combination shall be lighted.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-7
Loads extending beyond body of vehicle; display of red light andflag
Sec. 7. (a) This subsection applies during the times specified insection 2 of this chapter. Whenever the load upon a vehicle extendsto the rear four (4) feet or more beyond the bed or body of thevehicle, there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end of the loada red light or lantern plainly visible from a distance of at least fivehundred (500) feet to the sides and rear. The red light or lanternrequired under this section is in addition to the red rear light requiredupon every vehicle. Clearance lights or reflectors on vehicles that arebeing transported may be used to delineate the extension of the loadin lieu of other lights required in this section.
(b) This subsection applies during all times not specified insection 2 of this chapter. A vehicle described in subsection (a) shalldisplay at the extreme rear end of the vehicle's load a red flag orcloth not less than twelve (12) inches square, displayed in a mannerin which the entire area is of the flag or cloth visible to the personwho drives a vehicle approaching from the rear.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-8
Parked vehicles; lights; requirements; exempted vehicles
Sec. 8. (a) This section applies to a vehicle that is parked orstopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent to a roadway betweenthirty (30) minutes after sunset and thirty (30) minutes beforesunrise.
(b) If there is sufficient light to reveal a person or object within adistance of five hundred (500) feet upon the street or highway uponwhich the vehicle is parked, no lights need be displayed upon the
parked vehicle.
(c) This subsection does not apply to a motor-driven cycle. Thissubsection applies whether a vehicle parked or stopped is attendedor unattended. If there is not sufficient light to reveal a person orobject within a distance of five hundred (500) feet upon the highwayupon which the vehicle is parked or stopped, the vehicle parked orstopped shall be equipped with one (1) or more lamps that meet thefollowing requirements:
(1) At least one (1) lamp must display a white or amber lightvisible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front ofthe vehicle.
(2) The lamp described in subdivision (1) or at least one (1)other lamp must display a red light visible from a distance offive hundred (500) feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(3) The lamp or lamps described in subdivisions (1) and (2)shall be installed as near as practicable on the side of thevehicle that is closest to passing traffic.
(d) Lighted head lamps upon a parked vehicle must be depressedor dimmed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-9
Head lamps
Sec. 9. A motor vehicle may be operated under the conditionsspecified in section 2 of this chapter when equipped with two (2)lighted lamps upon the front of the motor vehicle capable ofrevealing persons and objects seventy-five (75) feet ahead instead ofthe lamps required under section 3 of this chapter. A vehicleequipped under this section may not be operated at a speed in excessof twenty (20) miles per hour.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-10
Lights visible from front of vehicle; prohibition
Sec. 10. This section does not apply to a vehicle required orauthorized under this title to display a red, red and white, or red andblue light that is visible from the front of the vehicle. A person maynot drive or move a vehicle or equipment upon a highway with alamp or device on the vehicle or equipment displaying a red, red andwhite, or red and blue light visible from directly in front of the centerof the vehicle or equipment.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.99-1991, SEC.3.
IC 9-21-7-11
Flashing lights
Sec. 11. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a vehicle maynot display flashing lights.
(b) Flashing lights may be displayed on a vehicle as follows:
(1) On an authorized emergency vehicle.
(2) On a school bus. (3) On snow-removal equipment.
(4) As a means of indicating a right or left turn.
(5) As a means of indicating the presence of a vehicular traffichazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, orpassing.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-7-12
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.1-1991, SEC.95.)
IC 9-21-7-13
Violation; Class C infraction
Sec. 13. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class Cinfraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.