2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › REGULATION OF VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-4-101 — 42-4-2501) › Article 4 - REGULATION OF VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-4-101 — 42-4-2501) › Part 2 - EQUIPMENT (§§ 42-4-201 — 42-4-242) › Section 42-4-215 - Signal lamps and devices - additional lighting equipment

(1)
To be operated on a road, any motor vehicle may be equipped, and when required under this article must be equipped, with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle that, except as provided in section
42-12-204
, display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, that are actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and that may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps. Such stop lamp or lamps may also be automatically actuated by a mechanical device when the vehicle is reducing speed or stopping. If two or more stop lamps are installed on any motor vehicle, any device actuating such lamps must be so designed and installed that all stop lamps are actuated by such device.
(2)
Any motor vehicle may be equipped, and when required under this article must be equipped, with lamps showing to the front and rear for the purpose of indicating an intention to turn either to the right or to the left. The lamps showing to the front must be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and when in use display a white or amber light, or any shade of color between white and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet to the front in normal sunlight, and the lamps showing to the rear must be located at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, except as provided in section
42-12-204
, when in use must display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight. When actuated, the lamps must indicate the intended direction of turning by flashing the light showing to the front and rear on the side toward which the turn is made.
(3)
No stop lamp or signal lamp shall project a glaring or dazzling light.
(4)
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.
(5)
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one runningboard courtesy lamp on each side thereof, which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
(6)
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two back-up lamps either separately or in combination with other lamps, but no such back-up lamp shall be lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.
(7)
Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps that may be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing and, when so equipped and when the vehicle is not in motion or is being operated at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less and at no other time, may display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required by this article. The lamps used to display such warning to the front must be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and display simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display the warning to the rear must be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, except as provided in section
42-12-204
, show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of color between amber and red. These warning lights must be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.
(8)
Any vehicle eighty inches or more in overall width may be equipped with not more than three identification lamps showing to the front which shall emit an amber light without glare and not more than three identification lamps showing to the rear which shall emit a red light without glare. Such lamps shall be mounted horizontally.
(9)
Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.
L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2251, § 1, effective 1/1/1995. L. 96: (1), (2), and (7) amended, p. 440, § 4, effective April 22. L. 2011: (1), (2), and (7) amended, (SB 11 -031), ch. 86, p. 244, § 6, effective August 10.
This section is similar to former § 42-4-213 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-215 was relocated to §
42-4-217
.