[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393.25]

[Page 397-398]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 393_PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of 
Contents
 
       Subpart B_Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Electrical Wiring
 
Sec.  393.25  Requirements for lamps other than head lamps.

    (a) Mounting. All lamps shall be securely mounted on a rigid part of 
the vehicle. Temporary lamps must be securely mounted to the load and 
are not required to be mounted to a permanent part of the vehicle.
    (b) Visibility. Each lamp shall be located so that it meets the 
visibility requirements specified by FMVSS No. 108 in effect at the time 
of manufacture of the vehicle. Vehicles which were not subject to FMVSS 
No. 108 at the time of manufacture shall have each lamp located so that 
it meets the visibility requirements specified in the SAE standards 
listed in paragraph (c) of this section. If motor vehicle equipment 
(e.g., mirrors, snow plows, wrecker booms, backhoes, and winches) 
prevents compliance with this paragraph by any required lamp, an 
auxiliary lamp or device meeting the requirements of this paragraph 
shall be provided. This shall not be construed to apply to lamps on one 
unit which are obscured by another unit of a combination of vehicles.
    (c) Specifications. All required lamps (except marker lamps on 
projecting loads, lamps which are temporarily attached to vehicles 
transported in driveaway-towaway operations, and lamps on converter 
dollies and pole trailers) on vehicles manufactured on or after December 
25, 1968, shall, at a minimum, meet the applicable requirements of FMVSS 
No. 108 in effect on the date of manufacture of the vehicle. Marker 
lamps on projecting loads, all lamps which are temporarily attached to 
vehicles transported in driveaway-towaway operations, and all lamps on 
converter dollies and pole trailers must meet the following applicable 
SAE standards: J586--Stop Lamps for Use on Motor Vehicles Less Than 2032 
mm in Overall Width, March 2000; J2261 Stop

[[Page 398]]

Lamps and Front- and Rear-Turn Signal Lamps for Use on Motor Vehicles 
2032 mm or More in Overall Width, January 2002; J585--Tail Lamps (Rear 
Position Lamps) for Use on Motor Vehicles Less Than 2032 mm in Overall 
Width, March 2000; J588--Turn Signal Lamps for Use on Motor Vehicles 
Less Than 2032 mm in Overall Width, March 2000; J2040--Tail Lamps (Rear 
Position Lamps) for Use on Vehicles 2032 mm or More in Overall Width, 
March 2002; J592--Sidemarker Lamps for Use on Road Vehicles Less Than 
2032 mm in Overall Width, August 2000. (See Sec.  393.7 for information 
on the incorporation by reference and availability of these documents.)
    (d) (Reserved)
    (e) Lamps to be steady-burning. All exterior lamps (both required 
lamps and any additional lamps) shall be steady-burning with the 
exception of turn signal lamps; hazard warning signal lamps; school bus 
warning lamps; amber warning lamps or flashing warning lamps on tow 
trucks and commercial motor vehicles transporting oversized loads; and 
warning lamps on emergency and service vehicles authorized by State or 
local authorities. Lamps combined into the same shell or housing with a 
turn signal are not required to be steady burning while the turn signal 
is in use. Amber warning lamps must meet SAE J845--Optical Warning 
Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance and Service Vehicles, May 
1997. Amber flashing warning lamps must meet SAE J595--Directional 
Flashing Optical Warning Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance 
and Service Vehicles, January 2005. Amber gaseous discharge warning 
lamps must meet SAE J1318 Gaseous Discharge Warning Lamp for Authorized 
Emergency, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles, May 1998. (See Sec.  
393.7(b) for information on the incorporation by reference and 
availability of these documents.)
    (f) Stop lamp operation. The stop lamps on each vehicle shall be 
activated upon application of the service brakes. The stop lamps are not 
required to be activated when the emergency feature of the trailer 
brakes is used or when the stop lamp is optically combined with the turn 
signal and the turn signal is in use.

[70 FR 48047, Aug. 15, 2005]