Requiring the use of lighted headlamps on motor vehicles at all times of operation, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Current law requires the use of lighted headlamps and certain other lighting devices at any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. This bill instead requires motor vehicles to display lighted headlamps at all times of operation on a roadway or shoulder. The scheduled fine for a violation of this provision remains $30. However, the person shall be issued a warning memorandum in lieu of a citation if the violation is the person’s first violation, the person has not previously been issued a warning memorandum, and the person committed the violation at any time from sunrise to sunset where conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain were not present to provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. The bill also requires that, where ambient sunlight is of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle without the use of lighting devices, the lowermost distribution of light or composite beam shall be used. The scheduled fine for a violation of this provision remains $30. The use of certain other lighting devices remains mandatory only at all times from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.