COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
Senate Bill No. 370
(By Senator Ross)
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[Originating in the Committee on Transportation; reported
February 14, 2003.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact section seventeen, article fifteen,
chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to auxiliary
lighting on motor vehicles; allowing roof-mounted light bar
lighting devices on motor vehicles when used off road; and
requiring that the devices be turned off and covered when the
motor vehicle is operated on a road or highway.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section seventeen, article fifteen, chapter seventeen-c
of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one,
as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.
§17C-15-17. Spot lamps and other auxiliary lamps.
(a) Spot lamps. -- Any motor vehicle except a public utility company maintenance vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed more
than one spot lamp and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed
and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the
high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of
the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more
than one hundred feet ahead of the vehicle. A public utility
company maintenance vehicle may be equipped with more than one spot
lamp but all lighted spot lamps shall be aimed and used in
conformity to the requirements of this subsection.
(b) Fog lamps. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not
to exceed more than two fog lamps mounted on the front at a height
not less than twelve inches nor more than thirty inches above the
level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when
the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the
light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance
of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of four
inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it
comes.
(c) Auxiliary passing lamp. -- Any motor vehicle may be
equipped with not to exceed more than one auxiliary passing lamp
mounted on the front at a height not less than twenty-four inches
nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which
the vehicle stands and every auxiliary passing lamp shall meet the
requirements and limitations set forth in this article.
(d) Auxiliary driving lamp. -- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed more than one auxiliary driving lamp
mounted on the front at a height not less than sixteen inches nor
more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the
vehicle stands and every such auxiliary driving lamp shall meet the
requirements and limitations set forth in this article.
(e) Roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device. -- Any
motor vehicle may be equipped with a roof-mounted off-road light
bar lighting device comprised of multiple lamps: Provided, That
whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon any road or highway
of this state, the roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device
shall be turned off and covered with an opaque covering that
prohibits light from being emitted while the vehicle is being
operated on any road or highway of this state.
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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow roof-mounted
auxiliary lighting devices for use only when the vehicle is used
off road. A motor vehicle operated on any road or highway must
have the light bar covered and not illuminated.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be
added.)