Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
816.010Authority to adopt and enforce standards for lighting equipment; testing for compliance with standards 816.020Motor carriers under jurisdiction of Department of Transportation 816.030Selling noncomplying lighting equipment; penalty 816.040Lighting equipment standards; effect of rules 816.050Headlights; rules 816.060Auxiliary lights 816.070Passing lights 816.080Taillights 816.090Registration plate lights 816.100Brake lights 816.110Back-up lights 816.120Turn signals 816.130Parking lights 816.140Cowl or fender lights 816.150High beam indicator 816.160Rear mounted lighting system 816.170Spotlights 816.180Reflectors 816.190Marker lights 816.200Clearance lights 816.210Identification lights 816.220Exempt-vehicle safety lighting equipment 816.230Fog lights 816.240Hazard lights 816.250Police lights 816.260Bus safety lights 816.270Mail delivery lights 816.280Warning lights 816.285Fire department warning lights 816.290End load lights 816.300Operation with nonstandard lighting equipment; penalty 816.310Exemptions from lighting equipment requirements 816.320Lighting equipment required for motor vehicles 816.330Operation without required lighting equipment; penalty 816.340Exemptions from required equipment 816.350Prohibitions on number and kind of lights for certain vehicles 816.360Use of prohibited lighting equipment; penalty 816.370Exemptions from lighting equipment prohibitions

Chapter 816 — Vehicle Equipment: Lights

ORS 816.310 Exemptions from lighting equipment requirements

This section establishes exemptions from ORS 816.040 to 816.300. The exemptions under this section are in addition to any exemptions under ORS 801.026. The exemptions established under this section are partial or complete as described in the following:

(1)

ORS 816.040 to 816.300 shall not be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with the provisions of those sections.

(2)

Lighting equipment used on vehicles of special interest that are registered under ORS 805.020 shall be deemed in compliance with ORS 816.040 to 816.300 if the equipment is original manufacturer’s equipment and accessories, or their equivalent and if the equipment is maintained in safe operating condition.

(3)

ORS 816.040 to 816.300 do not apply to equipment on any of the following:

(a)

Road machinery.

(b)

Road rollers.

(c)

Farm tractors.

(d)

Antique vehicles that are maintained as a collector’s item and used for exhibitions, parades, club activities and similar uses, but not used primarily for the transportation of persons or property.

(e)

Motorized wheelchairs when used as permitted under ORS 811.440.

(4)

On any combination of vehicles, only the lighting equipment on the rearmost vehicle in the combination of vehicles need be visible from distances specified under ORS 816.040 to 816.290 for lighting equipment on the rear of vehicles.

(5)

Lighting equipment on bicycles shall meet the requirements established for such equipment under ORS 815.280.

(6)

Vehicle lighting equipment requirements for ambulances and emergency vehicles are established in ORS 820.350.

(7)

Lighting equipment on electric personal assistive mobility devices shall meet the requirements established in ORS 815.284.

Note: The amendments to 816.310 by section 14, chapter 278, Oregon Laws 2025, become operative January 1, 2027. See section 24, chapter 278, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that is operative on and after January 1, 2027, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

816.310. This section establishes exemptions from ORS 816.040 to 816.300. The exemptions under this section are in addition to any exemptions under ORS 801.026. The exemptions established under this section are partial or complete as described in the following:

(1)

ORS 816.040 to 816.300 shall not be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with the provisions of those sections.

(2)

Lighting equipment used on vehicles of special interest that are registered under ORS 805.020 shall be deemed in compliance with ORS 816.040 to 816.300 if the equipment is original manufacturer’s equipment and accessories, or their equivalent and if the equipment is maintained in safe operating condition.

(3)

ORS 816.040 to 816.300 do not apply to equipment on any of the following:

(a)

Road machinery.

(b)

Road rollers.

(c)

Farm tractors.

(d)

Antique vehicles that are maintained as a collector’s item and used for exhibitions, parades, club activities and similar uses, but not used primarily for the transportation of persons or property.

(e)

Motorized wheelchairs when used as permitted under ORS 811.440.

(4)

On any combination of vehicles, only the lighting equipment on the rearmost vehicle in the combination of vehicles need be visible from distances specified under ORS 816.040 to 816.290 for lighting equipment on the rear of vehicles.

(5)

Lighting equipment on bicycles shall meet the requirements established for such equipment under ORS 815.280.

(6)

Vehicle lighting equipment requirements for ambulances, organ transport vehicles and emergency vehicles are established in ORS 820.350.

(7)

Lighting equipment on electric personal assistive mobility devices shall meet the requirements established in ORS 815.284.

REQUIRED LIGHTS

Official sources · 2Tap to view provenance and version history

Online copy of the published ORS edition

Provenance

Version history

Earlier statutory text is available in an ingested published ORS edition.