32-17-8. Rear lamps required--Visibility--Combination of vehicles--Height of mounting--Violation as petty offense.
Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, except as otherwise provided in this section, 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 §32-17-4 shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear. However, motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers manufactured and assembled prior to July 1, 1973, shall have one tail lamp mounted on the left side of the rear which when lighted as required in §32-17-4 shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear. Motorcycles and motor driven cycles, except mopeds as defined in §32-20-1, shall have at least one tail lamp, which when lighted as required in §32-17-4 shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear. Mopeds shall have at least one tail lamp which when lighted as required in §32-17-4 shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of two hundred and fifty feet to the rear. Farm vehicles which are being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles may be equipped with two four-inch reflectors in lieu of lighted lamps as provided in this section so as to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear. On a combination of vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles with more than one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches. A violation of this section is a petty offense.
Source: SDC 1939, §44.0352 (4); SL 1955, ch 175; SL 1973, ch 207; SL 1974, ch 220, §1; SL 1978, ch 230, §5; SL 1980, ch 221; SL 1989, ch 255, §43.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 17 - Vehicle Lights And Flares
Section 32-17-1 - Headlamps required--Exceptions--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-4 - Periods during which lamps must be lighted--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-6 - Requirements respecting adjustment of headlamps--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-7 - Circumstances under which headlamps must be dimmed--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-8.1 - Stop lamps required--Mounting--Visibility--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-9 - Red lights on front of vehicle prohibited--Excepted vehicles--Misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-10 - Tow truck or wrecker defined--Amber or blue flashers--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-13 - Mounting of reflectors--Visibility--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-15.1 - Silage or seasonal farm trucks exempt--Gross weight--Restrictions on use.
Section 32-17-15.2 - Fertilizer and agricultural chemical trailers exempt--Rear reflector required.
Section 32-17-17 - Auxiliary driving lamps--Mounting--Lighting restricted.
Section 32-17-18 - Turn light requirements--Visibility--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-19 - Spot lamps--Aiming and adjustment--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-20 - Adjustment of other lamps--Violation as misdemeanor.
Section 32-17-21 - Fire vehicles exempt when equipped with other approved devices.
Section 32-17-24 - Headlamps on motorcycles--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-24.1 - Headlamps on mopeds--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-25 - Bicycle lamps--Visibility and color--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-26 - Lights on other vehicles--Color and visibility--Violation as petty offense.
Section 32-17-30 - Subsequent violations of flare requirements--Revocation of license.
Section 32-17-43 - Exemption of towed highway maintenance vehicles.
Section 32-17-44 - Command post vehicle to be equipped with green light.
Section 32-17-45 - Red and blue lights authorized for law enforcement officers.