Bill Text: WV HB2225 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting devices
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-13 - To House Roads and Transportation [HB2225 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2016-HB2225-Introduced.html
West Virginia Legislature
2016 Regular Session
Introduced
House Bill 2225
2015 Carryover
(By Delegates Gearheart, Hill, Nelson, Kelley, Wagner, Stansbury, Canterbury, Zatezalo, Butler, D. Evans, and Howell)
[Introduced January 13, 2016; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §17C‑15‑17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to roof‑mounted off‑road light bar lighting devices; eliminating the requirement that such lighting devices be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways and allowing owners of vehicles to install or use such lighting devices without obtaining approval from the Commissioner of Highways.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17C‑15‑17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, 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 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 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 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 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. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this code, the owner of a vehicle that was not equipped with
a roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device when manufactured may install
or use a roof-mounted off-road light bar lighting device that meets United
States Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety standards and is not
required to obtain approval of the device from the state Commissioner of
Highways.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the requirement that roof‑mounted off‑road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways and to allow owners of vehicles to install or use such lighting devices without obtaining approval from the Commissioner of Highways.
Strike‑throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.