Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 11 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › Subtitle 14 - MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION-VEHICLE INSPECTIONS › Chapter 11.14.02 - Safety Standards for Passenger Cars, Taxicabs, Light Trucks, Vans, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, and Type II School Vehicles › Section 11.14.02.10 - Lighting

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. General Lamp and
				Reflector Inspection. This includes all original equipment, exterior lighting
				plus whatever lights are authorized.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Visual Check of Lamp Function. Turn on the night
						  driving lights and visually check the following: (Check (a) and (b) with
						  ignition switch on, engine should not be running.)
(a) Any required or permitted bulb or sealed beam unit
						  fails to light.
(a) Actuate turn signal level to right and left, and
						  observe function of turn signal lights. (62 or newer model vehicles must be so
						  equipped).
(b) Turn signals do not properly indicate right or left
						  when so switched.
(b) Place vehicle in all forward gears and check back-up
						  lamps (if vehicle is so equipped). Back-up lamps are required to function when
						  vehicle is in reverse but may not function when vehicle is in any forward
						  gear.
(c) Turn signals do not stay in position and self-cancel
						  if so equipped (if, because of age of the vehicle, parts are not available,
						  this defect may be certified).
(c) If vehicle is so equipped, actuate the following and
						  observe lamps:
(d) Back-up light system functions when the vehicle is
						  in any forward gear, or back-up light system fails to function when vehicle is
						  in reverse.
(i) Hazard warning lamps (68 or newer model vehicles
						  shall be so equipped). (ii) Brake system warning lamps. (iii) Indicator lamps
						  for: hazard warning flashers, turn signals, high beam headlamps and school
						  vehicle flashing warning lamps.
(e) Any lamp shows color contrary to law (red or blue to
						  the front, white light to the rear) except license plate lamp and back-up lamp
						  when vehicle is in reverse gear; (tail lamp shall be red; stop lamps red or
						  amber; turn signals white or amber to the front and red or amber to the rear;
						  and head lamps white).
(iv) Stop lamps (68 or newer model vehicles shall have
						  two red or amber-67 or older model vehicles shall have at least one red or
						  amber). Passenger vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 1985, shall
						  also have a red high mounted stop lamp mounted with its center on the vertical
						  centerline of the vehicle as the vehicle is viewed from the rear. The lamp may
						  be mounted at any position on the centerline, including the glazing. If the
						  lamp is mounted inside the vehicle, means shall be provided to minimize
						  reflections from the light of the lamp upon the rear window glazing that might
						  be visible to the driver when viewed directly, or indirectly, in the rearview
						  mirror. If the lamp is mounted below the rear window, no portion of the lens
						  may be lower than 6 inches below the rear window on convertibles or 3 inches on
						  other passenger vehicles. High mounted stop lamps on vehicles manufactured on
						  or after September 1, 1985, but before September 1, 1986, may flash when the
						  hazard warning system is activated.
(f) Any lamp fails to light proper filament when
						  switched. (g) Any required lamp, lens, or reflector is obscured by any object
						  or shield by a nontransparent material, or any headlamp equipped with
						  aftermarket clear, tinted, or screen-typed cover. (h) Any lamp or reflector is
						  not mounted to properly direct or reflect light. (i) Any lamp assembly or
						  reflector is loose or improperly mounted. (j) Any tail lamp has a cracked or
						  broken lens which emits a white light to the rear or any headlamp (sealed beam)
						  contains a crack or hole, even if still functioning. (k) Any lamp, lens or
						  reflector is not approved type. (l) Equipped with any unauthorized emergency or
						  warning lamp. (m) Headlamp output is less then 5,000 candlepower on high beam
						  or less then 3,500 candlepower on low beam.
(v) Headlamps-upper and lower beam.
(n) Indicator lamps (if equipped) fail to function.
(2) Observe function of:
(o) Dash lamps do not illuminate fuel gauge, oil
						  pressure gauge, alternator gauge, temperature gauge, speedometer, and
						  odometer.
(a) Tail lamps (red; two on 72 or newer models; all
						  others one).
(b) Parking lamps (white or amber to the front, red to
						  the rear).
(c) Side marker lamps (68 models: amber front, red rear.
						  69 models: amber reflector front, red reflector rear. 70 and newer models:
						  amber lamp and reflector front; red lamp and reflector rear).
(d) Reflectors: 72 or newer models shall be equipped
						  with at least two red reflectors on the rear. All other models shall have one.
						  Reflectors may be part of the tail lamps or separate.
(e) Clearance lamps: when required or permitted two
						  amber front and two red rear to indicate overall width of the vehicle. One on
						  each side of the vertical centerline of the vehicle at the same height and as
						  near the top of the vehicle as possible. If the vehicle is equipped with three
						  red identification lamps on the rear, the rear clearance lamps may be mounted
						  at the top or bottom of the vehicle.
(f) Permitted-type II school vehicles. Required-trucks
						  and buses 80 inches or more in overall width.
(g) Identification lamps. When required or permitted
						  three amber front and three red rear grouped in a horizontal row with lamp
						  centers spaced not less than 6 inches or more than 12 inches apart and mounted
						  on a permanent structure of the vehicle as close as possible to the vertical
						  centerline of the vehicle. Permitted-type II school vehicles.
						  Required-front-all 72 or newer models. Trucks or buses 80 inches or more in
						  overall width.Rear-all trucks and buses 80 inches or more in overall
						  width.
(h) License plate lamp(s)-White.
(i) Emergency/Warning Lamp when Required, School
						  vehicles manufactured before January 1985 shall be equipped with two front and
						  two rear alternately flashing red warning lamps unless approved otherwise.
						  School vehicles manufactured after December 1984 shall be equipped with two
						  front and two rear alternately flashing amber warning lamps in addition to the
						  two front and two rear alternately flashing red warning lamps. After January 1,
						  1984, all school vehicles shall be equipped with two front and two rear
						  alternately flashing amber and two front and two rear alternately flashing red
						  warning lamps.
(j) Red and/or Blue; Law enforcement vehicles. Red
						  and/or White; Emergency, Fire Department, rescue vehicles, ambulances, state
						  vehicles used for hazardous material spills. Amber; Service, maintenance,
						  tow-trucks, escort, slow moving farm and rural letter carrier vehicles. Rural
						  letter carrier vehicles two bi-directional lights at each side of the vehicle
						  on the roof. Green; Taxicab emergency hold up light.
(k) Dash lamps.
(l) All interior lights (type II school vehicle only):
						  (i) Six interior lamps to illuminate aisle; (ii) Stepwell lamp; (iii) Red
						  identification lamp for emergency door (if equipped); (iv) Indicator lamp or
						  signal for operation of flashing warning lamps; (v) Indicator lamps to monitor
						  warning, stop, back-up, turn signal, tail and hazard lamps.
Figures 20-22.
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(3)
				Preparation for Headlamp Aim Inspection. Preparation for headlamp and aim
				inspection to be done by owner of vehicle before inspection. Frame leveling is
				done at the station. Any one of the items listed below can affect the
				inspection results causing rejection of the vehicle. To prevent this and reduce
				inspection time, the inspector should have the first four of these items
				checked before inspection.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
(a) Remove excessive ice and mud from under
						  fenders.
(a) Headlamps, when lit, are equipped with any cover or
						  ornamentation.
(b) Inflate tires to recommended pressures.
(b) Headlamps have no aiming capability.
(c) Be sure that lenses are clean; check for burned out
						  bulbs and proper beam switching.
(c) Headlamps are mounted lower than 24 inches or higher
						  than 54 inches.
(d) Check for faulty wheel alignment or improper
						  tracking of the rear axle.
(e) Headlamps may only be mounted between 24 and 54
						  inches. If mounting height of headlamps appears to be lower than 24 inches or
						  higher than 54 inches, measure from the center of the headlamp to the level
						  surface on which the vehicle stands.