VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ON DURING PRECIPITATION
House Bill 5430
Sponsor: Rep. Randy Richardville
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 11-2-04
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5430 AS INTRODUCED 1-27-04
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to add a new requirement that a motor vehicle being driven on a highway have its lights on ("display lighted headlamps") when precipitation causes the driver to operate windshield wipers.
The code currently requires a vehicle to have its lights on 1) between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and 2) when there is insufficient light to make persons and vehicles on a highway clearly discernable at a distance of 500 feet. The bill would retain those requirements but rewrite the whole section. As now, the bill would specify that the distance requirement be based on a straight, level, unlighted portion of a highway under normal atmospheric conditions, and that the height requirement of a lamp be measured from its center to level ground when the vehicle is without a load.
In addition, the bill specifies that a violation of the section being amended is a civil infraction (as appears to be the case now for equipment violations in Sections 683 to 714, with a few exceptions; see MCL 257.683).
MCL 257.684
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill indicatesthat a person in violation of the section is responsible for a civil infraction. Revenue from civil infraction fines under the Michigan Vehicle Code is earmarked for county law libraries and local libraries. We do not have an estimate of the number or amount of civil fines which may be levied for violations of this section.
Fiscal Analyst: William Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.