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Question: What are the laws limiting the different color lights you can have on your tires or undercarriage of your car? Are under vehicle ground effect lights legal in Arizona?

Answer: There are many different extras you can add to your car to make it look really cool, including several types of lights that attach to various places on your car. Although these lights can make your car look cool, safety is one of the first considerations for Arizona laws on this topic. There are very specific guidelines in Arizona Law concerning colored lights and undercarriage or "Ground Effects" lights.

Arizona law says (ARS §28-931) that any reflectors or lights mounted on the front or front side of a car be "amber" which is a yellowish-orange color. And any reflectors or lights on the back or side back must be red, except for signal lights which must be red, yellow or amber. The light illuminating the license plate must be white.

Arizona Law (ARS §28-940) also addresses other car and truck lighting equipment. A car or truck cannot have:

  • more than two side or fender lights and they must be amber or white color.
  • more than one running board light on each side and they must be white or amber color.
  • more than two backup lamps (like a spotlight) but the backup lamps must not be shining while the vehicle is in motion.

Also, Arizona Law (ARS §28-947) has restrictions on the type of headlights you can have, and their brightness. And it is against Arizona Law for any car other than an emergency vehicle to have a red or blue light visible from the front of the vehicle.

So, Arizona Law allows you to have certain lights of certain colors on your car, but you cannot put differently colored lights on the body, under carriage or tires of your car. Safety is the priority, and colored lights can be distracting. People's eyes need to be on the road instead of looking at cool lights in order to avoid causing accidents.

Don't forget that some lights on your car are mandatory, like break lights, turn signals and headlights. You can be pulled over if any of these lights aren't working properly, so make sure to do regular maintenance on you car.


Comments
51 thru 55 of 60 comments
On 01/12/04
Chris from VA said:
I think the laws with illegal lights is to harsh. Their is only a few states that are strict on these laws. Virginia is one of them. The way I see it is the better your car is lite the better your car can be seen. Their is only one condition I could see getting pulled over for having lights on your car if they are blinking or brighter than needed.
On 01/08/04
Karl from AZ said:
I cant wait to drive. Really I am going to put lights on my car. Maybe even NOS (raceing only) But the lights are the coolest.
On 12/26/03
gus from AZ said:
The hazard comes when people have no more sense than to stare at lights when they should be driving!!
On 12/25/03
Dave from VT said:
I really get a laugh form kids who say things like "I'm gonna do this!" and "I'm gonna do that". You can put what ever you like on your car. Just know that you will be ticketed and go to court over it. Is it worth it? Get enough tickets and you cant drive for a while. You want to be treated like an adult- act like one.
On 11/26/03
bg from AZ said:
Jennifer is absolutely right. "These" lights are not a problem when it comes to vehicle accidents. Matter of fact its no problem at all. Idiots cause accidents but not always. Instead of focusing on "distracting" car lights, focus on the violence, crime, and drugs!
51 thru 55 of 60 comments



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