Ind. Code ch. 9-21-7

Ind. Code ch. 9-21-7
in effect

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-1 Good working order and adjustment; safe mechanical condition

Sec. 1. A person may not drive or move on a highway a: (1) motor vehicle; (2) trailer; (3) semitrailer; (4) pole trailer; or (5) combination of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer; unless the equipment upon the vehicle is in good working order and adjustment, as required in this article, and the vehicle is in a safe mechanical condition that does not endanger the person who drives the vehicle, another occupant of the vehicle, or a person upon the highway. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-4-1-126.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-2 Lights; time for display; exception

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 8 of this chapter, each vehicle upon a highway: (1) between the time from sunset to sunrise; and (2) at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred (500) feet ahead; must display lighted head lamps and other illuminating devices as required for different classes of vehicles under this chapter. (b) All lamp equipment required for vehicles described in IC 9-19-6, including each tail lamp required by law, shall be lighted at the times mentioned in subsection (a), except that clearance and sidemarker lamps are not required to be lighted on a vehicle when the vehicle is operated within a municipality if there is sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred (500) feet. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citations: 9-8-6-3; 9-8-6-9 part.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.1-1991, SEC.94; P.L.34-2010, SEC.3; P.L.198-2016, SEC.363.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-3 Lights; requirements and restrictions

Sec. 3. (a) This section does not apply to a motorcycle or motor driven cycle. (b) A motor vehicle must display at least two (2) lighted lamps, one (1) on each side at the front of the motor vehicle. (c) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps required under subsection (b) is also equipped with: (1) auxiliary lamps; (2) a spot lamp; or (3) any other lamp on the front of the motor vehicle projecting a beam of intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower; not more than a total of four (4) lamps described in this subsection on the front of a vehicle may be lighted at one (1) time when upon a highway. (d) Passenger buses, trucks, truck tractors, and certain trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers must display clearance and marker lamps, reflectors, and stop lights as required under this title when operated upon a highway. Except as provided in subsection (e), all lamp equipment required on vehicles described in this subsection shall be lighted at the times specified in section 2 of this chapter. (e) Clearance and sidemarker lamps are not required to be lighted on a vehicle described in subsection (d) when the vehicle is operated within a municipality where there is sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred (500) feet. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citations: 9-8-6-9; 9-8-6-28.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.221-2014, SEC.39.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-4 High intensity beams

Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to head lamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, emergency vehicle warning lamps, and school bus warning lamps. (b) A lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle that projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower shall be directed so that no part of the high intensity part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five (75) feet from the vehicle. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-29(a).] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-5 Lights; distribution of beam; direction; illumination of objects; reduction of glare

Sec. 5. (a) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent to a roadway during the times specified in section 2 of this chapter, the person who drives the motor vehicle shall use a distribution of light or composite beam directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle. (b) Whenever a person who drives a vehicle described in subsection (a) approaches an oncoming vehicle within five hundred (500) feet, the person shall use a distribution of light or composite beam aimed so that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light or composite beam specified in IC 9-19-6-20 is considered to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading. (c) Except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, whenever the person who drives a vehicle described in subsection (a) follows another vehicle within two hundred (200) feet to the rear of the other vehicle, the person shall use a distribution of light permissible under this title other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in IC 9-19-6-20. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-24.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-6 Combinations of vehicles; operation; lights; clearance lamps

Sec. 6. (a) Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated in combination during the time that lights are required under section 2 of this chapter, the person who drives the vehicles operated in combination is not required to light any lamp (except tail lamps) that, because of the lamp's location on a vehicle of the combination, would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination. (b) Lighted clearance lamps shall be displayed on the front of the foremost vehicle of the combination described in subsection (a) required to have clearance lamps. All lights required on the rear of the rearmost vehicle of a combination shall be lighted. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-14.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-7 Loads extending beyond body of vehicle; display of red light and flag

Sec. 7. (a) This subsection applies during the times specified in section 2 of this chapter. Whenever the load upon a vehicle extends to the rear four (4) feet or more beyond the bed or body of the vehicle, there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end of the load a red light or lantern plainly visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the sides and rear. The red light or lantern required under this section is in addition to the red rear light required upon every vehicle. Clearance lights or reflectors on vehicles that are being transported may be used to delineate the extension of the load in lieu of other lights required in this section. (b) This subsection applies during all times not specified in section 2 of this chapter. A vehicle described in subsection (a) shall display at the extreme rear end of the vehicle's load a red flag or cloth not less than twelve (12) inches square, displayed in a manner in which the entire area is of the flag or cloth visible to the person who drives a vehicle approaching from the rear. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-15.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-8 Parked vehicles; lights; requirements; exempted vehicles

Sec. 8. (a) This section applies to a vehicle that is parked or stopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent to a roadway between thirty (30) minutes after sunset and thirty (30) minutes before sunrise. (b) If there is sufficient light to reveal a person or object within a distance of five hundred (500) feet upon the street or highway upon which the vehicle is parked, no lights need be displayed upon the parked vehicle. (c) This subsection does not apply to a motor driven cycle. This subsection applies whether a vehicle parked or stopped is attended or unattended. If there is not sufficient light to reveal a person or object within a distance of five hundred (500) feet upon the highway upon which the vehicle is parked or stopped, the vehicle parked or stopped shall be equipped with one (1) or more lamps that meet the following requirements: (1) At least one (1) lamp must display a white or amber light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle. (2) The lamp described in subdivision (1) or at least one (1) other lamp must display a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear of the vehicle. (3) The lamp or lamps described in subdivisions (1) and (2) shall be installed as near as practicable on the side of the vehicle that is closest to passing traffic. (d) Lighted head lamps upon a parked vehicle must be depressed or dimmed. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-16.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.221-2014, SEC.40.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-9 Head lamps

Sec. 9. A motor vehicle may be operated under the conditions specified in section 2 of this chapter when equipped with two (2) lighted lamps upon the front of the motor vehicle capable of revealing persons and objects seventy-five (75) feet ahead instead of the lamps required under section 3 of this chapter. A vehicle equipped under this section may not be operated at a speed in excess of twenty (20) miles per hour. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-27.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-10 Lights visible from front of vehicle; prohibition

Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not drive or move a vehicle or equipment upon a highway with a lamp or device on the vehicle or equipment displaying light other than white or amber visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle or equipment. (b) This section does not apply to a vehicle required or authorized under this title to display: (1) a blue; (2) a green; (3) a red; (4) a red and white; or (5) a red and blue; light that is visible from the front of the vehicle. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-29(b).] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.99-1991, SEC.3; P.L.164-2018, SEC.15.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-11 Flashing lights

Sec. 11. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a vehicle may not display flashing lights. (b) Flashing lights may be displayed on a vehicle as follows: (1) On an authorized emergency vehicle. (2) On a school bus. (3) On snow-removal equipment. (4) As a means of indicating a right or left turn. (5) As a means of indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing. (6) On a vehicle used in a funeral procession. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-8-6-29(c).] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.80-2012, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-12 Repealed

[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: Repealed.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Repealed by P.L.1-1991, SEC.95.

Ind. Code § 9-21-7-13 Violation; Class C infraction

Sec. 13. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction. [Pre-1991 Recodification Citations: 9-4-1-127.1(b) part; 9-8-6-45.] As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/9Fetched: 10/17/2026