Virginia Administrative Code › Title 19 - PUBLIC SAFETY › Agency 30 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE › Chapter 70 - MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION REGULATIONS › Part III - Inspection Requirements for Passenger Vehicles and Vehicles Up to 10,000 Pounds (GVWR) › Section 19VAC30-70-140 - Headlamps; except motorcycles

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A.
				  Inspect for and reject if:
1. Any motor
				  vehicle is not equipped with at least two headlamps of an approved type. The
				  headlamps must be marked with the headlamp manufacturer's name or trademark,
				  and DOT. If the headlamp bulbs are replaceable, the headlamp lens must be
				  marked with the headlamp light source type (bulb) for which it was designed and
				  the bulb must match the lens code.
NOTE: If the headlamp system is stamped to accept halogen
					 bulbs, then the replacement bulbs must be halogen as well. Retrofitting an HID
					 or LED bulb to a halogen headlamp system does not conform to the standards set
					 forth by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and shall be
					 rejected.
If the entire headlamp assembly is changed from a halogen
					 system to an LED system and does not require the manufacture's original wiring
					 to be cut or compromised, then it shall be considered for inspection if it
					 meets the requirements of subdivision A 2 of this section.
2. Headlights are not of the same approved
				  type (Halogen, HID, LED, etc.) except for sealed beam headlamps, or the
				  replacement headlamp system does not contain all properly marked DOT and SAE
				  stamps certifying that it has met and complied with the standards set forth by
				  the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108.
NOTE: Replacement headlamps stamped with a DOT or SAE
					 approval shall be considered approved by the Superintendent of State Police and
					 will not be required to be listed on the Virginia Motor Vehicle Approved
					 Equipment List.
3. In any
				  headlamp the lens is cracked, broken, discolored, or rotated away from the
				  proper position, or the reflector is not clean and bright.
4. Moisture or water buildup in headlamp is
				  such that it affects the aiming pattern.
5. Headlamps omit light other than white.
				  Light tints of color may be acceptable if the headlamp and headlamp bulbs are
				  marked as required.
6. Bulbs are
				  not of an approved type and marked with all of the following: light source
				  type, the manufacturer's name or trade mark, and DOT.
NOTE:
Approved headlamp bulbs: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB3A, HB4, HB4A,
					 HB5, H1, H3, H7, H8, H8B, H9, H9B, H9C, H11, H11B, H11C, H13, H13C, H15, HIR1,
					 HIR2, H18, H19.
Approved headlamp bulbs that require ballast: 9500, D1R,
					 D1S, D2R, D2S, D3R, D3S, D4R, D4S, D5S, D7S, D8S, D9S.
Approved headlamp ballasts must be marked with the light
					 source type (bulb) and DOT. The bulb type marked on the ballast must match the
					 marking on the headlamp lens.
7. Any filament or bulb in headlamps fails to
				  burn properly or headlamps are not at the same location or configuration as
				  designed by manufacturer. (Location and type of headlamps can be found in
				  subsection E of this section.)
8.
				  Wiring is dangling or connections are loose, or if proper filaments do not burn
				  at different switch positions; or if switches, including foot or hand dimmer,
				  do not function properly and are not convenient to the driver.
9. Foreign material is placed on or in front
				  of the headlamp lens or interferes with the beam from the lamp. No glazing may
				  be placed over or in front of the headlamps unless it is a part of an approved
				  headlamp assembly.
a. Reject if vehicle has
				  wire, unapproved lens or plastic covers, any other materials that are not
				  original equipment or any colored material placed on or in front of the
				  headlamps.
b. Vehicles registered
				  as street rods may have clear, rigid plastic or glass headlamp lens covers in
				  front of sealed beam units to replace original manufacturer's equipment.
EXCEPTION: A clean impact film known as Headlight Savers
					 produced by Grand Prix Motoring Accessories may be applied to the headlight
					 lens to absorb impact of rocks, etc.
10. Lamps can be moved easily by hand due to
				  a broken fender or loose support, or if a good ground is not made by the
				  mounting.
11. Headlamps, auxiliary
				  driving lamps and front fog lamps are not mounted so that the beams are aimable
				  and the mounting does not prevent the aim of the lighting device from being
				  disturbed while the vehicle is operating on public roads. All lamps shall be
				  securely mounted on a rigid part of the vehicle.
12. A headlamp visor is over two inches long
				  unless part of the original body design.
13. The high beam indicator in the driver's
				  compartment does not burn when the high beam is on or does not go off when the
				  low beam is on. (Vehicles not originally equipped with an indicator are not
				  required to comply unless sealed beam headlamps have been installed.)