RCW 46.37.050
Tail lamps.
(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, cargo extension, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in RCW 46.37.020, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, shall have at least one tail lamp. On a combination of vehicles only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.
(2) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches.
(3) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
[ 2016 c 22 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 355 § 5; 1963 c 154 § 3; 1961 c 12 § 46.37.050. Prior: 1955 c 269 § 5; prior: 1947 c 267 § 2, part; 1937 c 189 § 16, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6360-16, part; RCW 46.40.030, part; 1929 c 178 § 7; 1927 c 309 § 27; RRS § 6362-27; 1921 c 96 § 22, part; 1919 c 59 § 10, part; 1917 c 155 § 15, part; 1915 c 142 § 21, part.]
NOTES:
Intent—Effective date—2016 c 22: See notes following RCW 46.04.094.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Effective date—1963 c 154: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 46.37 - Vehicle Lighting and Other Equipment.
46.37.005 - State patrol—Additional powers and duties.
46.37.010 - Scope and effect of regulations—General penalty.
46.37.020 - When lighted lamps and signaling devices are required.
46.37.030 - Visibility distance and mounted height of lamps.
46.37.040 - Head lamps on motor vehicles.
46.37.070 - Stop lamps and electric turn signals required.
46.37.080 - Application of succeeding sections.
46.37.090 - Additional equipment required on certain vehicles.
46.37.100 - Color of clearance lamps, side marker lamps, backup lamps, and reflectors.
46.37.110 - Mounting of reflectors, clearance lamps, identification lamps, and side marker lamps.
46.37.120 - Visibility of reflectors, clearance lamps, identification lamps, and side marker lamps.
46.37.130 - Obstructed lights not required.
46.37.140 - Lamps, reflectors, and flags on projecting load.
46.37.150 - Lamps on vehicles—Parked or stopped vehicles, lighting requirements.
46.37.160 - Hazard warning lights and reflectors on farm equipment—Slow-moving vehicle emblem.
46.37.180 - Spot lamps and auxiliary lamps.
46.37.184 - Red flashing lights on fire department vehicles—Rear-facing blue lights—Combination.
46.37.185 - Green light on firefighters' private cars.
46.37.186 - Fire department sign or plate on private car.
46.37.187 - Green light, sign or plate—Identification card required.
46.37.188 - Penalty for violation of RCW 46.37.184 through 46.37.188.
46.37.190 - Warning devices on vehicles—Other drivers yield and stop.
46.37.191 - Implementing rules.
46.37.196 - Red lights on emergency tow trucks.
46.37.200 - Stop lamps and electric turn signals displayed.
46.37.210 - Additional lighting equipment.
46.37.215 - Hazard warning lamps.
46.37.220 - Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
46.37.230 - Use of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
46.37.240 - Single-beam road-lighting equipment.
46.37.260 - Alternate road lighting equipment.
46.37.270 - Number of lamps required—Number of additional lamps permitted.
46.37.280 - Special restrictions on lamps.
46.37.290 - Special lighting equipment on school buses and private carrier buses.
46.37.300 - Standards for lights on snow-removal or highway maintenance and service equipment.
46.37.310 - Selling or using lamps or equipment.
46.37.320 - Authority of state patrol regarding lighting devices or other safety equipment.
46.37.330 - Revocation of certificate of approval on devices—Reapproval, conditions.
46.37.340 - Braking equipment required.
46.37.351 - Performance ability of brakes.
46.37.360 - Maintenance of brakes—Brake system failure indicator.
46.37.365 - Hydraulic brake fluid—Defined—Standards and specifications.
46.37.369 - Wheels and front suspension.
46.37.375 - Steering and suspension systems.
46.37.380 - Horns, warning devices, and theft alarms.
46.37.390 - Mufflers required—Smoke and air contaminant standards—Definitions—Penalty, exception.
46.37.395 - Compression brakes (Jake brakes).
46.37.400 - Mirrors, backup devices.
46.37.410 - Windshields required, exception—Must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers.
46.37.420 - Tires—Restrictions.
46.37.4215 - Lightweight and retractable studs—Certification by sellers.
46.37.4216 - Lightweight and retractable studs—Sale of tires containing.
46.37.423 - Pneumatic passenger car tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
46.37.424 - Regrooved tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
46.37.425 - Tires—Unsafe—State patrol's authority—Penalty.
46.37.430 - Safety glazing—Sunscreening or coloring.
46.37.440 - Flares or other warning devices required on certain vehicles.
46.37.450 - Disabled vehicle—Display of warning devices.
46.37.467 - Alternative fuel source—Placard required.
46.37.470 - Air conditioning equipment.
46.37.480 - Headsets, earphones.
46.37.490 - Safety load chains and devices required.
46.37.495 - Safety chains for towing.
46.37.500 - Fenders or splash aprons.
46.37.505 - Child passenger restraint systems.
46.37.510 - Seat belts and shoulder harnesses.
46.37.517 - Body and body hardware.
46.37.518 - Street rod, custom, and kit vehicles—Optional and required equipment.
46.37.5185 - Street rod and custom vehicles—Blue dot taillights.
46.37.520 - Beach vehicles with soft tires—"Dune buggies"—Inspection and approval required—Fee.
46.37.522 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—When head lamps and tail lamps to be lighted.
46.37.523 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
46.37.524 - Motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
46.37.525 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Tail lamps, reflectors, and stop lamps.
46.37.527 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Brake requirements.
46.37.528 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Performance ability of brakes.
46.37.529 - Motor-driven cycles—Braking system inspection.
46.37.535 - Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds—Helmet requirements when rented.
46.37.537 - Motorcycles—Exhaust system.
46.37.539 - Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Additional requirements and limitations.
46.37.540 - Odometers—Disconnecting, resetting, or turning back prohibited.
46.37.550 - Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer turned back unlawful.
46.37.560 - Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer replaced unlawful.
46.37.570 - Odometers—Selling, advertising, using, or installing device registering false mileage.
46.37.590 - Odometers—Purchaser plaintiff to recover costs and attorney's fee, when.
46.37.600 - Liability of operator, owner, lessee for violations.
46.37.610 - Wheelchair conveyance standards.
46.37.620 - School buses—Crossing arms.
46.37.630 - Private school buses.
46.37.640 - Air bags—Definitions.
46.37.660 - Air bags—Replacement requirements, diagnostic system—Penalties.
46.37.670 - Signal preemption devices—Prohibited—Exceptions.
46.37.671 - Signal preemption device—Possession—Penalty.
46.37.672 - Signal preemption device—Use, sale, purchase—Penalty.
46.37.674 - Signal preemption device—Accident—Substantial bodily harm—Penalty.
46.37.675 - Signal preemption device—Accident—Death—Penalty.
46.37.680 - Sound system attachment.
46.37.685 - License plate flipping device—Unlawful use, display, sale—Penalty.