California’s laws regulating vehicle headlights are designed to keep our roads safe and reduce potential hazards. Not only can violations result in fines, but they can also affect your insurance rates and accident claims. To help you stay compliant, we’ve put together a guide on what types of headlights are legal and illegal in California. In this article, we’ll cover the acceptable headlight colors, height requirements, penalties for violations, and how headlight infractions can impact your accident claims. Let’s get started.
Legal Headlight Colors in California
California law prohibits the use of blue, green, red, or other non-white colored bulbs for headlights. These colors often fail to provide adequate illumination, making them unsafe for night driving. Legal headlights must emit a white or yellow light that is bright enough to ensure visibility on the road.
You might have noticed that some HID (High-Intensity Discharge) or LED headlights appear to have a bluish tint. This can create confusion about their legality, but it's important to understand that it’s not the color per se that makes these lights legal or illegal—it’s the quality of the light they emit. While they might appear slightly blue, these headlights are designed to emit a bright white light that meets California’s legal standards. They are permitted as long as they adhere to the following conditions:
OEM Lights: The headlights must be an original feature on the vehicle. This means they came standard with the car and were not installed as aftermarket parts.
Aftermarket Lights: If the headlights are aftermarket upgrades, they must still emit white light, typically within the 5000k-6000k range on the color temperature scale. They must also be properly positioned—not too high or low on the vehicle.
To ensure compliance, aftermarket headlights should be DOT-approved or ASE-certified, as these certifications indicate that the lights meet federal safety standards.
Headlight Height Requirements
California Vehicle Code specifies that headlights must be mounted between 22 and 54 inches from the ground. Modifications to your vehicle’s suspension, lift kits, or other customizations that alter the height of the headlights can render them illegal, even if the light bulbs themselves comply with the law. It is very important to ensure that your headlights remain within this height range to avoid violations.
Driving with Broken Headlights
Operating a vehicle with a broken or missing headlight is illegal in California, even if you're not driving at night. State law mandates that vehicles have two functioning headlights, as one headlight significantly impairs a driver’s visibility and can confuse or temporarily blind other drivers due to inconsistent lighting. Driving with only one operational headlight also increases the risk of accidents.
Penalties for Headlight Violations
Violating California’s headlight regulations, including failure to have properly functioning headlights or using illegal colors, can lead to rather harsh penalties. Under California Vehicle Code Section 24400 and other related statutes, violators may face:
Fines: A minimum fine of $238.
License Points: One point added to the driver’s license record, which can lead to increased insurance premiums.
How Headlight Violations Affect Accident Claims
In California, the driver responsible for causing a car accident is liable for the resulting damages. However, fault is often shared between parties, and this can be influenced by factors such as vehicle maintenance, including headlight compliance.
If a driver is found to have illegal headlights at the time of an accident, this can increase their assigned percentage of fault, reducing the compensation they can recover. For instance, if a driver’s non-compliant headlights contributed to the accident, their share of liability might increase, potentially making them responsible for a larger portion of the damages.
However, a citation for a headlight violation does not automatically disqualify you from seeking compensation. Proving fault in these cases often requires additional evidence, such as witness statements, expert opinions, or accident reconstruction. Consulting with a knowledgeable car accident attorney can help build a strong case to prove the other driver’s liability, even if you received a headlight citation.
Conclusion
Staying compliant with California’s headlight laws is essential for both your safety and that of other drivers on the road. Understanding which headlights are legal, maintaining proper headlight height, and avoiding broken or malfunctioning lights can help you steer clear of fines and penalties. Additionally, keeping your vehicle in compliance can protect your rights in the event of an accident. If you’re unsure about the legality of your headlights or need to make changes to ensure compliance, refer to the regulations and choose DOT-approved or ASE-certified products to keep your vehicle road-ready and lawful.
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