The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired. The light shall be actuated only in conjunction with the vehicle's brake lights and hazard lights. Some states require all motor vehicles to be equipped with a third brake light. Such brake lights shall automatically exhibit a red or amber light plainly visible in clear weather from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle when the brake is applied. The laws regarding the use of a so-called third brake light vary from state to state in the U.S. To pass state inspection, all factory lights must be functional. 2010 Code of Virginia Title 46.2 - MOTOR VEHICLES. © Copyright Commonwealth of Virginia, document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). 12‑204. As I drive a Seven, the fitting of a third brake light is very tempting from a visibility point of view. 1(a), the inoperable third brake light did not give Miller a reasonable articulable basis to stop the vehicle. 53, 256; 2020, Sp. In some cases, the legislation is long standing. Just because your state may not have a specific law applying to your 3rd brake light, or modification of, dosen't mean you can go out an modify it. A: Yes you can. The additional wire for ground on the truck body. No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer for a violation of this section, except that a law-enforcement officer may stop a vehicle if it displays no brake lights that meet the requirements set forth in subsection A. The top third brake light was completely out. 1970, c. 17, § 46.1-262.1; 1972, c. 6; 1989, c. 727; 2000, cc. They need no reason to ASK if they can search your car anytime. The light shall be mounted as near the vertical center line of the vehicle as possible. A: Yes you can. As I drive a Seven, the fitting of a third brake light is very tempting from a visibility point of view. Additionally, the third light must be comparable to the other brake lights on the vehicle so that it is not distracting to the drivers behind the vehicle. 45, 51. I second that you need your third brake light. The light shall be mounted as near the vertical center line of the vehicle as possible. When I asked around, others with the same 35% tint in va did not have this happen to them. "A brake light is indicated by a bright, solid red light. (Effective March 1, 2021) Supplemental high mount stop light. The cop called it in and he said I was right. Therefore, if the manufacturer built the vehicle with two tail brake lights and a third center mounted brake light, then all three brake lights must be operating as designed by the manufacturer. Sign In, § 46.2-1014.1. The brake light in your rear window is required to be functional so it sounds like the stop was valid. The law says that all passenger vehicles manufactured after 1986 (there was likely a phase-in based on vehicle type) must be manufactured with a third, center-mounted brake light. Shea blogged here about State v. Heien, the case in which the court of appeals ruled that having one burned-out brake light was not a violation of G.S. Table of Contents » Title 46.2. 53, 256. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained with the operator's consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. The laws regarding the use of a so-called third brake light vary from state to state in the U.S. 2005 California Vehicle Code Sections 24600-24616 Article 3. (The stop led to a consent search of the defendant’s vehicle, which led to the discovery of drugs and to drug trafficking charges.) 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