Tex. Transp. Code Section 547.305
Restrictions on Use of Lights


(a)

A motor vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp, spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle, tow truck, or school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.

(b)

Except as expressly authorized by law, a person may not operate or move equipment or a vehicle, other than a police vehicle, with a lamp or device that displays a red light visible from directly in front of the center of the equipment or vehicle.

(c)

A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless the equipment is:

(1)

used as specifically authorized by this chapter; or

(2)

a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.

(d)

A vehicle may be equipped with alternately flashing lighting equipment described by Section 547.701 (Additional Equipment Requirements for School Buses and Other Buses Used to Transport Schoolchildren) or 547.702 (Additional Equipment Requirements for Authorized Emergency Vehicles) only if the vehicle is:

(1)

a school bus;

(2)

an authorized emergency vehicle;

(3)

a church bus that has the words “church bus” printed on the front and rear of the bus so as to be clearly discernable to other vehicle operators;

(4)

a tow truck while under the direction of a law enforcement officer at the scene of a collision or while hooking up to a disabled vehicle on a roadway; or

(5)

a tow truck with a mounted light bar which has turn signals and stop lamps in addition to those required by Sections 547.322 (Taillamps Required), 547.323 (Stoplamps Required), and 547.324 (Turn Signal Lamps Required), Transportation Code.

(e)

A person may not operate a highway maintenance or construction vehicle or service vehicle that is not equipped with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of Transportation.

(e-1)

A security patrol vehicle may only be equipped with green, amber, or white lights.

(e-2)

A motor vehicle is equipped with a lamp or illuminating device under this section regardless of whether the lamp or illuminating device is:

(1)

attached to the motor vehicle temporarily or permanently; or

(2)

activated.

(e-3)

An escort flag vehicle may be equipped with alternating or flashing blue and amber lights.

(e-4)

A vehicle described by Section 545.157 (Passing Certain Vehicles)(a) may be equipped with flashing blue lights.

(f)

In this section:

(1)

“Escort flag vehicle” means a vehicle that precedes or follows an oversize or overweight vehicle described by Subtitle E for the purpose of facilitating the safe movement of the oversize or overweight vehicle over roads.

(2)

“Security patrol vehicle” means a motor vehicle being used for the purpose of providing security services by:

(A)

a guard company described by Section 1702.108 (Guard Company), Occupations Code; or

(B)

a security officer as defined by Section 1702.002 (Definitions), Occupations Code.

(3)

“Tow truck” means a motor vehicle or mechanical device that is adapted or used to tow, winch, or move a disabled vehicle.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 380, Sec. 1, eff. July 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 229 (H.B. 378), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 870 (H.B. 2812), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2018.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 892 (H.B. 3087), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 11 (H.B. 61), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 39, eff. September 1, 2023.

Source: Section 547.305 — Restrictions on Use of Lights, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­547.­htm#547.­305 (accessed Mar. 16, 2024).

547.001
Definitions
547.002
Applicability
547.003
Equipment Not Affected
547.004
General Offenses
547.005
Offense Relating to Violation of Special-use Provisions
547.101
Rules and Standards in General
547.102
School Bus Equipment Standards
547.103
Air-conditioning Equipment Standards
547.104
Slow-moving-vehicle Emblem Standards
547.105
Lighting Standards for Certain Vehicles
547.201
Offenses Relating to the Offer, Distribution, and Sale of Vehicle Equipment
547.202
Department Certification or Approval of Vehicle Equipment
547.203
Vehicle Equipment Testing: Department Standards
547.204
Vehicle Equipment Testing: Federal Standards
547.205
Initiation of Compliance Proceeding
547.206
Compliance Proceeding Hearing
547.207
Compliance Proceeding Issues
547.208
Judicial Review and Judicial Enforcement
547.301
General Provisions Relating to Measurements
547.302
Duty to Display Lights
547.303
Color Requirements
547.304
Applicability
547.305
Restrictions on Use of Lights
547.306
Led Ground Effect Lighting Equipment on Motorcycle or Moped
547.321
Headlamps Required
547.322
Taillamps Required
547.323
Stoplamps Required
547.324
Turn Signal Lamps Required
547.325
Reflectors Required
547.326
Minimum Lighting Equipment Required
547.327
Spotlamps Permitted
547.328
Fog Lamps Permitted
547.329
Auxiliary Passing Lamps Permitted
547.330
Auxiliary Driving Lamps Permitted
547.331
Hazard Lamps Permitted
547.332
Other Lamps Permitted
547.333
Multiple-beam Lighting Equipment Required
547.334
Single-beam Lighting Equipment Permitted
547.335
Alternative Road Lighting Equipment Permitted
547.351
Applicability
547.352
Additional Lighting Equipment Requirements
547.353
Color Requirements
547.354
Mounting Requirements
547.355
Visibility Requirements
547.371
General Lighting Equipment Requirements
547.372
Lighting Requirements for Combination Vehicles
547.381
Obstructed Lights on Combination Vehicles
547.382
Lighting Equipment on Projecting Loads
547.383
Lighting Requirements on Parked Vehicles
547.401
Brakes Required
547.402
Operation and Maintenance of Brakes
547.403
Service Brakes Required
547.404
Parking Brakes Required
547.405
Emergency Brakes Required
547.406
Brake Reservoir or Reserve Capacity Required
547.407
Brake Warning Devices Required
547.408
Performance Requirements for Brakes
547.501
Audible Warning Devices
547.502
Visible Warning Devices Required
547.503
Display of Hazard Lamps
547.504
Display of Devices When Lighted Lamps Required
547.505
Display of Devices When Lighted Lamps Are Not Required
547.506
Display of Devices: Vehicles Off Roadway
547.507
Display of Devices When View of Vehicle Obstructed
547.508
Offense Relating to Warning Devices
547.601
Safety Belts Required
547.602
Mirrors Required
547.603
Windshield Wipers Required
547.604
Muffler Required
547.605
Emission Systems Required
547.606
Safety Guards or Flaps Required
547.607
Fire Extinguisher Required
547.608
Safety Glazing Material Required
547.609
Required Label for Sunscreening Devices
547.610
Safe Air-conditioning Equipment Required
547.611
Use of Certain Video Equipment and Television Receivers
547.612
Restrictions on Use and Sale of Tires
547.613
Restrictions on Windows
547.614
Restrictions on Airbags
547.615
Recording Devices
547.616
Radar Interference Devices
547.617
Motorcycle and Moped Footrests and Handholds Required
547.618
Equipment Required for Certain Automated Motor Vehicles
547.701
Additional Equipment Requirements for School Buses and Other Buses Used to Transport Schoolchildren
547.702
Additional Equipment Requirements for Authorized Emergency Vehicles
547.703
Additional Equipment Requirements for Slow-moving Vehicles
547.751
Additional Lighting Equipment Authorized for Medical Examiner Vehicles
547.752
Additional Lighting Equipment Authorized for Vehicles Operated by Justices of the Peace in Certain Circumstances
547.801
Lighting Equipment
547.802
Brake Equipment
547.3215
Use of Federal Standard
547.7011
Additional Equipment Requirements for Other Buses
547.7012
Requirements for Multifunction School Activity Buses
547.7015
Rules Relating to School Buses

Accessed:
Mar. 16, 2024

§ 547.305’s source at texas​.gov