N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-33.17 - Commercial vehicle inspection: stoplights

(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped on the rear with at least two stoplights, one on 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 stoplight. All passenger automobiles manufactured on or after September 1, 1985, shall, in addition, be equipped with a high-mounted rear stoplight on the vertical centerline. All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses whose overall width is less than 80 inches and whose GVWR is 10,000 pounds or less, manufactured on or after September 1, 1993, shall, in addition, be equipped with a high-mounted rear stoplight on the vertical centerline. All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses whose overall width is less than 80 inches and whose GVWR is 10,000 pounds or less and whose vertical centerline, when the vehicle is viewed from the rear, is not located on a fixed body panel but separates one or two moveable body sections, such as doors, and which lacks sufficient space to install a single high-mounted stoplight on the centerline above such body sections, and which is manufactured on or after September 1, 1993, shall, in addition, be equipped with two high-mounted rear stoplights.

(b) All stoplights 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 "S," along with the manufacturer's name or trademark, are often on the lens of such lights.

(c) Stoplights shall exhibit a red or amber color and shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle when activated by application of the brake. The stoplights shall not be obstructed by any part of the chassis, body, or bumper, or by any type of add-on device or material.

(d) Stoplights shall be permanently and securely mounted on a permanent part of the vehicle. Certification of a motor vehicle shall not be refused because a stoplight 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.

(e) If a motor vehicle is equipped with two or more stoplights on each side, it shall not be refused certification because some of the stoplights are not operative, provided at least one stoplight on each side of the motor vehicle is operative. However, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.

(f) Certification of a motor vehicle required to be equipped with a high-mounted rear stoplight(s) shall not be refused because the high-mounted rear stoplight(s) is missing, obstructed, inoperative, or does not operate properly, provided at least one stoplight 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 equipped with a high-mounted rear stoplight shall not be refused because the stoplight is so wired that it illuminates when the turn signal lights are activated; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the defect corrected.

(h) If the high-mounted rear stoplight is mounted inside the motor vehicle, means shall be provided to minimize reflections from the light upon the rear window glazing that may be visible to the driver when viewed in the interior rear view mirror. Certification of a motor vehicle equipped with such a high-mounted rear stoplight shall not be refused because adequate means are not provided to minimize such reflections; however, the motorist shall be advised to have the condition corrected.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-33.17

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 810(a), effective 5/16/2016