                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

WHEN LIGHTS TO BE LIGHTED; NUMBER OF LIGHTS TO BE LIGHTED AT ANY TIME; USE OF
WARNING LIGHTS (§ 46.2-1030)

A. Every vehicle in operation on a highway in the Commonwealth shall display
lighted headlights and illuminating devices as required by this article (i) from
sunset to sunrise; (ii) during any other time when, because of rain, smoke, fog,
snow, sleet, insufficient light, or other unfavorable atmospheric conditions,
visibility is reduced to a degree whereby persons or vehicles on the highway are
not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet; and (iii) whenever windshield
wipers are in use as a result of fog, rain, sleet, or snow. The provisions of
this subsection, however, shall not apply to instances when windshield wipers
are used intermittently in misting rain, sleet, or snow.

B. Not more than four lights used to provide general illumination ahead of the
vehicle, including at least two headlights and any other combination of fog
lights or other auxiliary lights approved by the Superintendent, shall be
lighted at any time. However, motorcycles may be equipped with and use not more
than five approved lights in order to provide general illumination ahead of the
motorcycle. These limitations shall not preclude the display of warning lights
authorized in &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-1020 through 46.2-1027, or other lights as may
be authorized by the Superintendent.

C. Vehicles equipped with warning lights authorized in &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-1020
through 46.2-1027 shall display lighted warning lights as authorized in such
sections at all times when responding to emergency calls, responding to traffic
incidents, responding to metropolitan transit-related incidents, responding to
mine rescue incidents, towing disabled vehicles, or constructing, repairing, and
maintaining public highways or utilities on or along public highways, except
that amber lights on vehicles designed with a ramp on wheels and a hydraulic
lift with a capacity to haul or tow another vehicle, commonly referred to as
&#8220;rollbacks,&#8221; need not be lit while the vehicle is in motion unless
it is actually towing a vehicle.

D. The failure to display lighted headlights and illuminating devices under the
conditions set forth in clause (iii) of subsection A shall not constitute
negligence per se, nor shall violation of clause (iii) of subsection A
constitute a defense to any claim for personal injury or recovery of medical
expenses for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

E. No demerit points shall be assessed for failure to display lighted headlights
and illuminating devices during periods of fog, rain, sleet, or snow in
violation of clause (iii) of subsection A.

F. No citation for a violation of clause (iii) of subsection A shall be issued
unless the officer issuing such citation has cause to stop or arrest the driver
of such motor vehicle for the violation of some other provision of this Code or
local ordinance relating to the operation, ownership, or maintenance of a motor
vehicle or any criminal statute. No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor
vehicle for a violation of this section, except that a law-enforcement officer
may stop a vehicle if it displays no lighted headlights during the time periods
set forth in subsection A. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a
stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained
with the operator&#8217;s consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or
other proceeding.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 46-275; Code 1950, § 46-275; 1956, c. 640; 1956, c. 640;
1956, c. 640; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-268; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-268; 1958, c.
541, § 46.1-268; 1960, c. 156; 1960, c. 156; 1960, c. 156; 1970, c. 165; 1970,
c. 165; 1970, c. 165; 1983, c. 132; 1983, c. 132; 1983, c. 132; 1987, c. 381;
1987, c. 381; 1987, c. 381; 1989, c. 727; 1989, c. 727; 1989, c. 727; 1992, c.
364; 1992, c. 364; 1992, c. 364; 1997, cc. 25, 589; 1997, cc. 25, 589; 1997, cc.
25, 589; 2016, cc. 195, 206; 2016, cc. 195, 206; 2016, cc. 195, 206; 2020, cc.
45, 45, 45; 2022, cc. 457, 458; 2023, cc. 88, 89; 2025, c. 252.