Contrary to what appears to be a prevailing opinion, the state law regulating headlights on motor vehicles has not been repealed, but is still in full force or would be if law enforcement officers paid any attention to it.

The error in thinking the law governing headlights is no longer in effect probably is due to the fact that a humber of sections of the old motor vehicle law were repealed, including the section governing headlights.

But in the new road law, passed by the last legislature, the section referred to was re-written and embodied in this law. It is now a part of Section 13, Chapter 416, laws of 1925, and reads as follows:

“Sec. 13. Every motor vehicle operated upon a highway shall, during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, display at least two lighted lamps of not to exceed 32 candle power each visible from the front, and one in the rear of such vehicle, which shall also display a red light, visible from the rear for a distance of at least 150 feet. The rear of two or more joined vehicles shall likewise display a rear lamp. The white rays of such rear lamp shall shine upon the number plate carried on the rear of such vehicle in such manner as to make the lettering on said plate clearly discernible. The light of the front lamps shall be sufficient to render discernible on a level road, a person, vehicle or other substantial object at least distant 150 feet in the direction in which the motor vehicle is proceeding. No person shall use or cause to be used on any motor vehicle operated on any highway any electric headlights equipped with a reflector unless the reflector or the glass in front of such light be so constructed that the lighted filament shall appear blurred or all light emitted therefrom and projected above the level of the lighted filament shall be free from brilliant luster. No so-called spot light or search light shall be used upon vehicles upon highways except when such spot light or search light is of such construction as to make it impossible to make the center of the beam of light strike the level highway at a greater distance than 100 feet in front of the motor vehicle; except that when such light is permanently fixed so that the beam of light is swung 30 degrees to the right or to the left of the straight ahead position, no limitation is placed on the height to which the beam is raised.”

Brown County Journal,

August 14, 1925

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