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Lamps

Lamps required on all motor vehicles except motorcycles

62. (1) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (1).

Lamps required on motorcycles

(2) Subject to subsection (3), when on a highway at any time every motorcycle shall carry two lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on the front of the vehicle which shall display a white light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (2).

Idem

(3) When on a highway at any time every motorcycle with a side car shall carry a lighted lamp in a conspicuous position on each side of the front of the vehicle which lamps shall display a white or amber light only and a lighted lamp on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (3).

Light requirement

(4) Any lamp required under subsection (1), (2) or (3) shall, when lighted, be clearly visible at a distance of at least 150 metres from the front or rear, as the case may be. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (4).

Exception

(5) Despite subsections (2) and (3), where a motorcycle that was manufactured prior to the 1st day of January, 1970 is operated on a highway, the lighted lamps required under subsections (2) and (3) shall be required only during the period from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, or at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (5).

Strength of lamps

(6) Lamps on the front of a motor vehicle shall be so constructed, located, arranged and adjusted that when lighted as required by subsections (1), (2) and (3) they produce under normal atmospheric conditions and on a level road a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible to the operator of the motor vehicle any person or vehicle on the highway within a distance of 110 metres ahead of the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (6).

Attachment that affects lamps prohibited

(7) No person shall drive upon a highway a motor vehicle if either or both of the lamps that are required on the front of the vehicle by subsections (1), (2) and (3),

(a) are coated or covered with a coloured material; or

(b) have been modified by the attachment to the lamps or the motor vehicle of any device that reduces the effective area of the lenses or the intensity of the beam of the lamps. 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (1).

Exception

(7.1) Clause (7) (a) does not apply if the lamps are of the prescribed type or meet the prescribed standards. 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (1).

Lighted streets

(8) Subsection (6) does not apply to a motor vehicle parked on a highway and subsections (1), (2), (3), (10), (11), (13), (23), (24), (26) and (27) do not apply to a vehicle parked on a highway upon which the speed limit is not greater than 50 kilometres per hour and which is so lighted by the means of any system of street or highway lighting that the vehicle is clearly discernible within a distance of sixty metres. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (8).

Strength of front lamps

(9) No motor vehicle shall carry on the front thereof more than four lighted lamps that project a beam having an intensity of over 300 candela. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (9).

Clearance lamps required on wide vehicles

(10) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less,

(a) every commercial motor vehicle and trailer having a width at any part in excess of 2.05 metres, other than a truck tractor, shall carry, in addition to the lamps required by subsection (1), two lighted clearance lamps, one on each side of the front of the vehicle, which shall display an amber light, and two lighted clearance lamps, one on each side of the rear of the vehicle, which shall display a red light; or

(b) every truck tractor having a width at any part in excess of 2.05 metres shall carry, in addition to the lamps required by subsection (1), two lighted clearance lamps, one on each side of the front of the vehicle, which shall display an amber light, and one lighted clearance lamp on the left side of the rear of the vehicle, which shall display a red light, and the Ministry may by regulation permit a reflector, approved by the Ministry, to be displayed in lieu of clearance lamps on the rear of the vehicle, and all the lamps shall be affixed so as to indicate the overall width of the vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (10).

Identification lamps

(11) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every commercial motor vehicle or combination of a commercial motor vehicle and a trailer having a length in excess of 9.2 metres or a width in excess of 2.05 metres shall carry three lighted lamps displaying green or amber lights at the front, except in the case of a public vehicle which shall display amber lights at the front, and three lighted lamps displaying red lights at the rear, and the lights of each colour shall be evenly placed not less than 150 millimetres nor more than 310 millimetres apart along a horizontal line as near the top of the commercial motor vehicle or combination of a commercial motor vehicle and a trailer as the permanent structure permits, and shall be visible for distances of 150 metres from the front and rear respectively of the commercial motor vehicle or combination of a commercial motor vehicle and a trailer. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (11).

Rear identification lamps on tractor without trailer

(12) Despite subsection (11), a truck tractor driven on a highway without a trailer or semi-trailer is not required to carry the three red lamps displaying red lights to the rear. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (12).

Side marker lamps

(13) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one half-hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles having a length in excess of 6.1 metres shall carry not fewer than four lighted side marker lamps, one of which shall be located on each side of the vehicle or combination of vehicles near the front and shall display a green or amber light and one of which shall be located on each side of the vehicle or combination of vehicles near the rear and shall display a red light and each of which lights shall be visible for a distance of 150 metres from the side of the vehicle or combination of vehicles upon which it is located; provided that a vehicle or combination of vehicles may carry four reflectors approved by the Ministry instead of the side marker lamps required by this section; and provided further that, if the clearance lamps upon the left side of any vehicle or combination of vehicles display lights visible for a distance of 150 metres from the left side of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, it is not necessary to carry side marker lamps as required by this subsection on the left side of the vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (13).

Intermittent red light restricted

(14) Subject to subsections (14.1) and (15), no person shall use a lamp, other than the vehicular hazard warning signal lamps commonly known as four way flashers, that produces intermittent flashes of red light. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (14); 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (1).

Red and blue lights to the front restricted

(14.1) In addition to the lighting requirements in this Part, a police department vehicle may carry lamps that cast red and blue lights, but no other motor vehicle shall carry any lamp that casts red and blue lights to the front. 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (2).

Red light in front

(15) In addition to the lighting requirements in this Part, a vehicle described in subsection (15.1) may carry lamps that cast a red light only or such other colour of light that may, with the approval of the ministry, be designated by a by-law of the municipality in which the vehicle is operated, but no other motor vehicle shall carry any lamp that casts a red light to the front. 1998, c. 35, s. 103.

Same

(15.1) The following are vehicles to which subsection (15) applies:

1. An ambulance, fire department vehicle, police department vehicle, public utility emergency vehicle or school bus.

2. A ministry vehicle operated by an officer appointed for carrying out the provisions of this Act or the Public Vehicles Act, while the officer is in the course of his or her employment.

3. A vehicle while operated by a conservation officer, fishery officer, provincial park officer or mine rescue training officer, while the officer is in the course of his or her employment.

4. A vehicle while operated by a provincial officer designated under the Environmental Protection Act, the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, the Ontario Water Resources Act, or the Pesticides Act, while the officer is in the course of his or her employment.

5. A prescribed class or type of vehicle, driven by a prescribed class of persons or engaged in a prescribed activity or in prescribed conditions or circumstances. 1998, c. 35, s. 103; 2002, c. 4, s. 64; 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (2); 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (3, 4).

Green flashing light restricted

(16) The following persons may carry on or in his or her vehicle and operate a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of green light:

1. A firefighter, within the meaning of subsection 1 (1) of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, while proceeding to a fire or other emergency.

2. A prescribed class of volunteer medical responder, while driving a prescribed class or type of vehicle or engaging in a prescribed activity or in prescribed conditions or circumstances. 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (5).

Same

(16.1) No person other than a person described in subsection (16) shall operate a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of green light. 1994, c. 35, s. 1.

Motor assisted bicycles, bicycles and tricycles, lights on, etc.

(17) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor assisted bicycle, bicycle or tricycle shall carry on the front thereof a lighted lamp displaying a white or amber light and on the rear thereof a lighted lamp displaying a red light or a reflector approved by the Ministry, and in addition there shall be placed on the front forks thereof white reflective material, and on the rear thereof red reflective material covering a surface of not less than 250 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (17).

Penalty

(18) Every person who contravenes subsection (17) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $20. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (18).

Rear lamps to illuminate number plate

(19) The lamp on the rear of a motor vehicle or trailer shall be of at least three candela and shall be so placed that it will, at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, illuminate the numbers on the number plate, or, if provision is made on the number plate or on any attachment furnished or required by the Ministry for affixing the lamp, it shall be affixed in the position or space provided, and the lamp shall face to the rear and reflect on the number plate a white light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (19).

Parking lights

(20) A motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, while standing upon a highway at the times that lights are required by this section for the vehicle may, in lieu of the lighting equipment specified in this section, show one light carried on the left side of the vehicle in such a manner as to be clearly visible to the front and rear for a distance of at least sixty metres and to show white to the front and red to the rear of the vehicle; provided that the light shall not be displayed while the motor vehicle is in motion. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (20).

Regulations as to lights on vehicles

(21) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) prescribing the type and maximum strength of lights that shall be carried by vehicles, and regulating the location, direction, focus and use of the lights;

(b) regulating or prohibiting the use of lights on vehicles that automatically produce intermittent flashes of light;

(c) prescribing types of, or standards for, lamps coated or covered with a coloured material that may be used for the purpose of subsection (7.1);

(d) prescribing classes or types of vehicles, classes of drivers, activities, conditions and circumstances for the purpose of paragraph 5 of subsection (15.1);

(e) prescribing classes of volunteer medical responders, classes or types of vehicles, activities, conditions and circumstances for the purpose of paragraph 2 of subsection (16);

(f) governing the training, qualifications and certification of persons prescribed under clause (d) or (e) or who may drive vehicles prescribed under those clauses. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (21); 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (3); 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (6).

Same

(21.1) A regulation made under clause (21) (c) may prescribe different types of lamps and different standards for different classes of motor vehicles. 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (4).

Same

(21.2) A regulation made under subsection (21) may provide differently for different classes of persons, different types or classes of vehicles or for different activities, conditions or circumstances. 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (7).

Spotlamps

(22) No motor vehicle, other than a public utility emergency vehicle, shall be equipped with more than one spotlamp and every lighted spotlamp shall be so directed, upon approaching or upon the approach of another vehicle, that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam from the lamp will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side, nor more than thirty metres ahead, of the vehicle to which it is attached. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (22).

Lamps to be carried on engine

(23) Every traction engine shall, at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, carry a lighted lamp in a conspicuous place in front, which shall display a white or green light only, and one on the rear of the engine or of any vehicle that may be attached to it, which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (23).

Lamps required on rear of trailer, etc.

(24) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every trailer and every object or contrivance drawn by a vehicle shall carry on the rear thereof one lighted lamp, which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (24).

Lights on vehicles, objects and contrivances over 2.6 metres in width

(25) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every vehicle, and every object or contrivance drawn by a vehicle, having a width at any part in excess of 2.6 metres, shall carry at the rear two lighted lamps displaying red lights or two red reflectors, one of which shall be affixed as nearly as possible to the extreme left side and one as nearly as possible to the extreme right side of the vehicle, and such lamps or reflectors shall be clearly visible at a distance of at least 150 metres from the rear of the vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (25).

Lamps on all vehicles, except motor vehicles, etc.

(26) Subject to subsection (28), every vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, motor assisted bicycle, bicycle, tricycle or a vehicle referred to in subsection (24), (25) or (27), when on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, shall carry in a conspicuous position on the left side thereof a lighted lamp which shall display a white light to the front and a red light to the rear or a lighted lamp which shall display a white light to the front and a lighted lamp which shall display a red light to the rear, and any lamp so used shall be clearly visible at a distance of at least 150 metres from the front and the rear of the vehicle, as the case may be. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (26).

Lights on farm tractors

(27) Every farm tractor and every self-propelled unit of farm equipment or implement of husbandry equipped with an electric lighting system, when on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, shall carry the lighted lamps required for motor vehicles under subsection (1). R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (27).

Reflectors in certain cases

(28) The Ministry may by regulation permit a reflector approved by the Ministry to be displayed instead of a lighted lamp on vehicles commonly used for conveying flammable materials or vehicles that are structurally unsuitable for carrying lighted lamps. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (28).

Signalling devices required on trucks, buses, etc.

(29) Every motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicle and trailer having a width at any part in excess of 2.05 metres or having a length in excess of 6.1 metres shall be equipped with mechanical or electrical signalling devices that comply with subsections 142 (6) and (8). R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (29).

Visibility of lights

(30) Where any light is required by any provision of this Act to be visible for a specified distance, the requirement shall be deemed to apply during the times indicated in the provision upon level ground and under normal atmospheric conditions. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (30).

Flashing blue light on snow-removal equipment

(31) No person shall, while operating a road service vehicle on a highway, plow, salt or de-ice the highway or apply chemicals or abrasives to the highway for snow or ice control unless the road service vehicle is equipped with a lamp producing intermittent flashes of blue light visible for a distance of 150 metres from all directions. 1996, c. 33, s. 11.

Restriction on use of flashing blue light

(32) No person shall operate a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of blue light on a highway except,

(a) a person operating a road service vehicle in the circumstances described in subsection (31); or

(b) a person operating a police department vehicle, together with a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of red light, as permitted by subsection (14.1). 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (8).

Penalty commercial motor vehicle

(33) Every person who contravenes subsection (1), (6), (7), (9), (10), (11), (13), (14), (14.1), (15), (16.1), (22), (24), (25), (26), (29), (31) or (32) or who contravenes a regulation made under subsection (21) is guilty of an offence and, if the offence was committed by means of a commercial motor vehicle within the meaning of subsection 16 (1), on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $20,000. 1996, c. 20, s. 13; 2007, c. 13, s. 17 (9).