FAQs: Vehicle Lighting - Colored Bulbs

References:

Insure that the bulb has a "DOT" or appropriate SAE stamp on it. Currently, there are NO DOT approved "Red" bulbs. Vehicle lighting equipment is covered in Chapter 547 of the Texas Transportation Code, Subchapter D.

§ 547.3215. Use of Federal Standard. Unless specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply with:

  1. the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.108; or
  2. the federal standards in that section in effect, if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

The CFR will refer you to Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) #J578, which will refer to several other SAE standards. Everything that complies with those standards is "legal". Equipment manufacturers have to self certify that they meet these standards. DOT does not test equipment unless they act against those who don't meet standards. You should insure that the equipment vendor is reputable and that all equipment has a DOT or appropriate SAE stamp on it (or if not marked, keep the box that it comes in which says it is "DOT approved") and under no circumstances use equipment that is for "off-road or show only".


Are Clear Tail Lamp lenses (with red bulbs) legal in Texas? NO

Clear tail lamp lenses utilizing red bulbs which do not meet SAE standard J585e, (September 1977) are not in compliance with federal standards (NHTSA, 49 CFR 571.108). Under §547.3215, this standard has been adopted by Texas and therefore it is in violation of Texas law; §547.322; §547.325; and is punishable as a class C misdemeanor under §547.004(a)(3).


BACKGROUND
There is a growing popular modification to replace the OEM tail lamp lens with a clear lens which uses a red bulb. (However, this can apply to any other color of replacement bulb)


DISCUSSION
The Texas Transportation Code § 547.101 allows for the adoption of rules and standards regarding vehicle equipment to protect the public and enforce safety standards. §547.3215 requires Texas to use the federal standard contained in 49 CFR 571.108 or the standards in effect at the time the vehicle was manufactured, unless prohibited by statute, for the lighting and reflective devices. Tail lamps are required by §547.322 and must emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle. In addition to the lamps required in Chapter 547, reflectors are required by §547.325. These reflectors must be visible at night from 100 to 600 feet (100 to 350 feet for a pre-1972 vehicle) when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps. Section 547.303 requires these reflectors on the rear of the vehicle and must be or reflect red. Section 547.004(a)(3) makes it a class C misdemeanor to allow or operate a vehicle that is in violation of the requirement of Chapter 547.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets the federal standards for this equipment, both OEM and replacements, in 49 CFR 571.108. NHTSA has received complaints about these after-market clear lamp lenses. They have already acted against the equipment supplier with fines and forcing recalls. The primary grounds used by NHTSA were:

  1. Clear lamps lacked the necessary colored reflectors that were contained in the factory equipment as required by 49 CFR 571.108.
  2. No 'red' bulb has been certified which emits light to the required standard contained in 49 CFR 571.108 [SAE Standard J578 (3.1.1) Red.].