N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-33.16 - Commercial vehicle inspection: taillights and license plate light
(a)
Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped on the rear
with at least two red taillights and at least two red reflectors, one at each
side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as
practicable, except that a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 2, 1954,
may be equipped with one red taillight and one red reflector.
(b) Taillights shall be of a type approved as
meeting the standards of the United States Department of Transportation or, for
motor vehicles manufactured prior to the adoption of such standards, the
standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers. The letters "SAE" and the
letter "T," along with the manufacturer's name or trademark, are often on the
lens of such lights.
(c) Taillights
shall exhibit a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of
the vehicle.
(d) Taillights shall
be permanently and securely mounted on a permanent part of the vehicle. The
mounted height of taillights, as measured from the center of the lens to the
level surface upon which the vehicle stands, shall be not less than 15 inches
nor more than 72 inches. On any vehicle designed for carrying flammable liquids
as cargo, the taillights may be mounted higher than 72 inches. When two
taillights are required, they shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as
far apart laterally as practical.
(e) Certification of a motor vehicle shall
not be refused because a taillight has a cracked lens, provided no white light
shows to the rear of the motor vehicle and no portion of the lens is missing.
However, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.
(f) If a motor vehicle is equipped with two
or more taillights on each side, it shall not be refused certification because
some of the taillights are not operative, provided at least one taillight on
each side of the motor vehicle is operative. However, the motorist shall be
advised to have the defect corrected.
(g) Certification of a motor vehicle shall
not be refused because the license plate light is missing, inoperative, or does
not operate properly; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect
corrected. License plate lights shall be of a type approved as meeting the
standards of the United States Department of Transportation or, for motor
vehicles manufactured prior to the adoption of such standards, the standards of
the Society of Automotive Engineers. The letters "SAE" and the letter "L,"
along with the manufacturer's name or trademark, are often on the lens of such
lights.
Notes
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