{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1017.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1017.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1017.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1017.html"}],"law_id":58032,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58032,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1017","catch_line":"Dimension or marker lights and reflectors, generally","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-271; 1952, c. 652; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-265; 1960, c. 156; 1974, c. 218; 1977, c. 383; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 23.","full_text":"All motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers exceeding seven feet in width or the widest portion of which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes shall be equipped with amber lights mounted at the extreme right and left front top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such vehicle. Such vehicles shall also be equipped with red lights mounted at the extreme right and left rear top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for at least 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any tractor truck, however, need not be equipped with rear red dimension or marker lights. If the front or the rear of such vehicle is not the widest portion of the vehicle, the dimension or marker lights required in this section shall be mounted on the widest portions of the vehicle with the amber lights herein required visible from the front as herein required and the red lights herein required visible from the rear as herein required. The lights herein required shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIn addition to the lights required in this section, each such vehicle shall be equipped with amber reflectors located on each side thereof, at or near the front. Red reflectors shall be used on the rear of each such vehicle. Such reflectors shall be securely fastened to the vehicle not less than fifteen inches and not more than sixty inches from the ground. For a vehicle that is less than fifteen inches tall, however, such reflectors shall be securely fastened thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle will permit. The reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIf any vehicle is so constructed as to make compliance with the requirements of this section impractical, the lights and reflectors shall be placed on the vehicle in accordance with the Superintendent’s regulations.\n\t\tIf any vehicle required by this section to be equipped with dimension or marker lights has installed on its rear, as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle, three red identification lights of a type approved by the Superintendent, with the light centers spaced not less than six inches or more than twelve inches apart, the rear dimension or marker lights may be mounted at any height but must indicate as nearly as practicable the extreme width of the vehicle.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":212551,"text":"All motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers exceeding seven feet in width or the widest portion of which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes shall be equipped with amber lights mounted at the extreme right and left front top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such vehicle. Such vehicles shall also be equipped with red lights mounted at the extreme right and left rear top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for at least 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any tractor truck, however, need not be equipped with rear red dimension or marker lights. If the front or the rear of such vehicle is not the widest portion of the vehicle, the dimension or marker lights required in this section shall be mounted on the widest portions of the vehicle with the amber lights herein required visible from the front as herein required and the red lights herein required visible from the rear as herein required. The lights herein required shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIn addition to the lights required in this section, each such vehicle shall be equipped with amber reflectors located on each side thereof, at or near the front. Red reflectors shall be used on the rear of each such vehicle. Such reflectors shall be securely fastened to the vehicle not less than fifteen inches and not more than sixty inches from the ground. For a vehicle that is less than fifteen inches tall, however, such reflectors shall be securely fastened thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle will permit. The reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIf any vehicle is so constructed as to make compliance with the requirements of this section impractical, the lights and reflectors shall be placed on the vehicle in accordance with the Superintendent’s regulations.\n\t\tIf any vehicle required by this section to be equipped with dimension or marker lights has installed on its rear, as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle, three red identification lights of a type approved by the Superintendent, with the light centers spaced not less than six inches or more than twelve inches apart, the rear dimension or marker lights may be mounted at any height but must indicate as nearly as practicable the extreme width of the vehicle.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13233,"edition_id":1,"name":"Lights and Turn Signals","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12828,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","permalink":{"id":229409,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13233,"identifier":"3","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12828,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12828,"identifier":"10","token":"46.2\/III\/10","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86642,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1010","catch_line":"Equipment required","url":"\/46.2-1010\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1010","metadata":false},{"id":54889,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1011","catch_line":"Headlights on motor vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1011\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1011","metadata":false},{"id":54238,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1012","catch_line":"Headlights, auxiliary headlights, tail lights, brake lights, auxiliary lights, and illumination of license plates on motorcycles or autocycles","url":"\/46.2-1012\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1012","metadata":false},{"id":82249,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1013","catch_line":"Tail lights","url":"\/46.2-1013\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1013","metadata":false},{"id":55516,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1014","catch_line":"Brake lights","url":"\/46.2-1014\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1014","metadata":false},{"id":85762,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1014.1","catch_line":"Supplemental high mount stop light","url":"\/46.2-1014.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1014.1","metadata":false},{"id":70500,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1015","catch_line":"Lights on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, personal delivery devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and motorized skateboards or scooters","url":"\/46.2-1015\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1015","metadata":false},{"id":64768,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1016","catch_line":"Lights on other vehicles; reflectors","url":"\/46.2-1016\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1016","metadata":false},{"id":58032,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1017","catch_line":"Dimension or marker lights and reflectors, generally","url":"\/46.2-1017\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1017","metadata":false},{"id":68583,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1018","catch_line":"Marker lights on vehicles or loads exceeding thirty-five feet","url":"\/46.2-1018\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1018","metadata":false},{"id":74725,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1019","catch_line":"Spotlights","url":"\/46.2-1019\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1019","metadata":false},{"id":83551,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1020","catch_line":"Other permissible lights","url":"\/46.2-1020\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1020","metadata":false},{"id":66212,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1021","catch_line":"Additional lights permitted on certain commercial vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1021\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1021","metadata":false},{"id":78667,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1021.1","catch_line":"Additional lights permitted on certain privately owned cars","url":"\/46.2-1021.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1021.1","metadata":false},{"id":60736,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1022","catch_line":"Flashing or steady-burning blue or red, flashing red and blue or blue and white, or red, white, and blue warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1022\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1022","metadata":false},{"id":78077,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1023","catch_line":"Flashing red or red and white warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1023\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1023","metadata":false},{"id":68894,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1024","catch_line":"Flashing or steady-burning red or red and white warning light units","url":"\/46.2-1024\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1024","metadata":false},{"id":61251,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1025","catch_line":"Flashing amber, purple, or green warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1025\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1025","metadata":false},{"id":69248,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1025.1","catch_line":"Flashing amber warning lights on certain fox hunting vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1025.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1025.1","metadata":false},{"id":79262,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1026","catch_line":"Flashing high-intensity amber warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1026\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1026","metadata":false},{"id":76532,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1027","catch_line":"Warning lights on certain demonstrator vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1027\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1027","metadata":false},{"id":85600,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1028","catch_line":"Auxiliary lights on firefighting, Virginia Department of Transportation, and other emergency vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1028\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1028","metadata":false},{"id":77393,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1028.1","catch_line":"Illuminated identification systems on certain emergency vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1028.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1028.1","metadata":false},{"id":63456,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1028.2","catch_line":"Auxiliary lights on public utility vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1028.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1028.2","metadata":false},{"id":70664,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1029","catch_line":"Auxiliary lights on law-enforcement vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1029\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1029","metadata":false},{"id":84510,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1029.1","catch_line":"Flashing of headlights on certain vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1029.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1029.1","metadata":false},{"id":72396,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1029.2","catch_line":"Certain vehicles may be equipped with secondary warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1029.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1029.2","metadata":false},{"id":74584,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1030","catch_line":"When lights to be lighted; number of lights to be lighted at any time; use of warning lights","url":"\/46.2-1030\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1030","metadata":false},{"id":61103,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1031","catch_line":"Requirements as to single-beam head lights","url":"\/46.2-1031\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1031","metadata":false},{"id":65624,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1032","catch_line":"Requirements as to multiple-beam headlights","url":"\/46.2-1032\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1032","metadata":false},{"id":54466,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1033","catch_line":"Indicator light required","url":"\/46.2-1033\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1033","metadata":false},{"id":73407,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1034","catch_line":"When dimming headlights required","url":"\/46.2-1034\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1034","metadata":false},{"id":75546,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1035","catch_line":"Dimming headlights on parked vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1035\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1035","metadata":false},{"id":62842,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1036","catch_line":"Acetylene lights on antique motor vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1036\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1036","metadata":false},{"id":81417,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1037","catch_line":"Lights on parked vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1037\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1037","metadata":false},{"id":80603,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1038","catch_line":"When turn signals required; exceptions","url":"\/46.2-1038\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1038","metadata":false},{"id":68552,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1039","catch_line":"Requirements of turn signals; regulations","url":"\/46.2-1039\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1039","metadata":false},{"id":77922,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1040","catch_line":"Hazard lights","url":"\/46.2-1040\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1040","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64768,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1016","catch_line":"Lights on other vehicles; reflectors","url":"\/46.2-1016\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1016","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68583,"structure_id":13233,"section_number":"46.2-1018","catch_line":"Marker lights on vehicles or loads exceeding thirty-five feet","url":"\/46.2-1018\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1018","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1017\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 652; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapter 156; in 1974, chapter 218; in 1977, chapter 383; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1997, chapter 23<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68583,"section_number":"46.2-1018","catch_line":"Marker lights on vehicles or loads exceeding thirty-five feet","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1018\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":229443,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58032,"identifier":"46.2-1017","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1017","url":"\/46.2-1017\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1017\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/3\/46.2-1017","dublin_core":{"Title":"Dimension or marker lights and reflectors, generally","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1017","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

All motor vehicles<\/span>, trailers<\/span>, or semitrailers<\/span> exceeding seven feet in width or the widest portion of which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes shall be equipped with amber lights<\/span> mounted at the extreme right and left front top corners of such vehicle<\/span>. Each such light<\/span> shall be visible in clear weather for a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such vehicle<\/span>. Such vehicles shall also be equipped with red lights<\/span> mounted at the extreme right and left rear top corners of such vehicle<\/span>. Each such light<\/span> shall be visible in clear weather for at least 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle<\/span>. Any tractor truck<\/span>, however, need not be equipped with rear red dimension or marker lights<\/span>. If the front or the rear of such vehicle<\/span> is not the widest portion of the vehicle<\/span>, the dimension or marker lights<\/span> required in this section shall be mounted on the widest portions of the vehicle<\/span> with the amber lights<\/span> herein required visible from the front as herein required and the red lights<\/span> herein required visible from the rear as herein required. The lights<\/span> herein required shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent<\/span>.\n\t\tIn addition to the lights<\/span> required in this section, each such vehicle<\/span> shall be equipped with amber reflectors located on each side thereof, at or near the front. Red reflectors shall be used on the rear of each such vehicle<\/span>. Such reflectors shall be securely fastened to the vehicle<\/span> not less than fifteen inches and not more than sixty inches from the ground. For a vehicle<\/span> that is less than fifteen inches tall, however, such reflectors shall be securely fastened thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle<\/span> will permit. The reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent<\/span>.\n\t\tIf any vehicle<\/span> is so constructed as to make compliance with the requirements of this section impractical, the lights<\/span> and reflectors shall be placed on the vehicle<\/span> in accordance with the Superintendent<\/span>’s regulations.\n\t\tIf any vehicle<\/span> required by this section to be equipped with dimension or marker lights<\/span> has installed on its rear, as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle<\/span> and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle<\/span>, three red identification lights<\/span> of a type approved by the Superintendent<\/span>, with the light<\/span> centers spaced not less than six inches or more than twelve inches apart, the rear dimension or marker lights<\/span> may be mounted at any height but must indicate as nearly as practicable the extreme width of the vehicle<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDIMENSION OR MARKER LIGHTS AND REFLECTORS, GENERALLY (\u00a7 46.2-1017)\n\nAll motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers exceeding seven feet in width or\nthe widest portion of which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes\nshall be equipped with amber lights mounted at the extreme right and left front\ntop corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather\nfor a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such vehicle. Such vehicles\nshall also be equipped with red lights mounted at the extreme right and left\nrear top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear\nweather for at least 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any tractor truck,\nhowever, need not be equipped with rear red dimension or marker lights. If the\nfront or the rear of such vehicle is not the widest portion of the vehicle, the\ndimension or marker lights required in this section shall be mounted on the\nwidest portions of the vehicle with the amber lights herein required visible\nfrom the front as herein required and the red lights herein required visible\nfrom the rear as herein required. The lights herein required shall be of a type\napproved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIn addition to the lights required in this section, each such vehicle shall be\nequipped with amber reflectors located on each side thereof, at or near the\nfront. Red reflectors shall be used on the rear of each such vehicle. Such\nreflectors shall be securely fastened to the vehicle not less than fifteen\ninches and not more than sixty inches from the ground. For a vehicle that is\nless than fifteen inches tall, however, such reflectors shall be securely\nfastened thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle will permit.\nThe reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.\n\t\tIf any vehicle is so constructed as to make compliance with the requirements\nof this section impractical, the lights and reflectors shall be placed on the\nvehicle in accordance with the Superintendent’s regulations.\n\t\tIf any vehicle required by this section to be equipped with dimension or\nmarker lights has installed on its rear, as close as practicable to the top of\nthe vehicle and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the\nvehicle, three red identification lights of a type approved by the\nSuperintendent, with the light centers spaced not less than six inches or more\nthan twelve inches apart, the rear dimension or marker lights may be mounted at\nany height but must indicate as nearly as practicable the extreme width of the\nvehicle.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-271; 1952, c. 652; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-265; 1960, c.\n156; 1974, c. 218; 1977, c. 383; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 23.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}