Indiana Auxiliary Light Laws: Installation Codes

In Indiana, auxiliary lights on vehicles must comply with specific regulations to ensure safe and legal customization. Here are the key requirements:

Auxiliary Passing Lamps

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	1
Height above level surface	At least 24 inches and not more than 42 inches

Auxiliary Driving Lamps

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	1
Height above level surface	At least 16 inches and not more than 42 inches

Fog Lamps

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	2
Height above level surface	At least 12 inches and not more than 30 inches
Illumination standard	Aim lamps so high-intensity light does not project higher than 4 inches below lamp center at 25 feet ahead

Warning Lamps

Amber warning lights on pilot, security, and construction vehicles must be mounted on top for visibility.
Ambulance warning lamps must rotate, flash, or oscillate with at least 180-degree visibility.
Police vehicle warning lamps must be visible from at least 180 degrees.

Clearance and Marker Lamps

Requirement	Specification
Height above ground	Not less than 24 inches and not more than 60 inches
Mounting location	On permanent structure to indicate vehicle width, as near top as practicable

Follow these installation codes and regulations to ensure your vehicle’s auxiliary lights comply with Indiana laws.

Rules for Auxiliary Passing Lamps

Legal Height for Installation

When installing auxiliary passing lamps on your vehicle in Indiana, you need to follow specific height requirements. According to Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles § 9-19-6-15, the lamp must be mounted at a height of at least 24 inches and not more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. This ensures the lamp is positioned safely and effectively to provide additional illumination on the road.

Lamp Combination Limits

Indiana law also regulates the number of auxiliary passing lamps that can be used in combination with other lamps on your vehicle. Section 20 of this chapter applies to any combination of head lamps and auxiliary passing lamps, ensuring that the lamps do not cause glare or distraction to other drivers on the road.

Auxiliary Passing Lamp Requirements

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	1
Height above level surface	At least 24 inches and not more than 42 inches

By following these regulations, you can ensure that your vehicle is equipped with safe and legal auxiliary lighting.

Rules for Auxiliary Driving Lamps

Auxiliary driving lamps provide additional light on the road, and Indiana has specific regulations for their installation and use.

Legal Height for Driving Lamps

When installing auxiliary driving lamps on your vehicle in Indiana, you need to follow specific height requirements. According to Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles § 9-19-6-16, the lamp must be mounted at a height of at least 16 inches and not more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.

Headlamp and Driving Lamp Installation

Indiana law also regulates the combination of headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps on your vehicle. This ensures that the lamps do not cause glare or distraction to other drivers on the road.

Auxiliary Driving Lamp Requirements

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	1
Height above level surface	At least 16 inches and not more than 42 inches

By following these regulations, you can ensure that your vehicle is equipped with safe and legal auxiliary lighting.

Fog Lamp Installation Rules

Follow Indiana’s administrative code for installing fog lamps on your vehicle, focusing on legal standards for positioning and performance.

Fog Lamp Placement and Height

When installing fog lamps, follow these height and placement requirements:

Requirement	Specification
Maximum number of lamps	2
Height above level surface	At least 12 inches and not more than 30 inches

Fog Lamp Illumination Standards

In addition to placement and height, Indiana law regulates fog lamp illumination standards:

Aim fog lamps so that when the vehicle is not loaded, none of the high-intensity part of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle will at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of 4 inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which the light comes.

By following these regulations, you can ensure your vehicle is equipped with safe and legal fog lamps that provide additional visibility on the road.

Warning Lamp Usage Rules

Warning Lamp Color and Placement

In Indiana, warning lamps on vehicles have specific color and placement regulations. Pilot vehicles, security vehicles, and construction vehicles can use amber warning lights, which must be mounted on the top of the vehicle for optimal visibility. These lights serve as a warning to other drivers of potential hazards or road conditions ahead.

Warning Lamp Visibility Requirements

Indiana law dictates that warning lamps must meet certain visibility standards to ensure they are effective in alerting other drivers. The following requirements apply:

Vehicle Type	Visibility Requirement
Ambulance	Rotating, flashing, or oscillating with a visibility range of at least 180 degrees
Police Vehicles	Visible from a distance of 180 degrees at a minimum

By following these warning lamp usage rules, vehicle owners and operators can ensure they are complying with Indiana’s laws and regulations, ultimately promoting road safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

Other Lighting Regulations

Other essential lighting regulations in Indiana include those for clearance, marker, and tail lamps. These regulations are particularly important for larger vehicles such as trucks and trailers.

Clearance and Marker Lamp Rules

In Indiana, clearance and marker lamps are required on certain vehicles to indicate their width and height. The following rules apply:

Clearance and Marker Lamp Requirements	Specification
Height above ground	Not less than 24 inches and not more than 60 inches
Mounting location	On the permanent structure of a vehicle to indicate its extreme width and as near the top of the vehicle as practicable

Municipal Lighting Exemptions

In well-lit municipalities, certain vehicles may be exempt from lighting requirements. The following exemptions apply:

Vehicle Type	Exemption
Passenger buses	Exempt from clearance and sidemarker lamp requirements within a municipality where there is sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet
Trucks, truck tractors, and certain trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers	Exempt from clearance and sidemarker lamp requirements within a municipality where there is sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet

Complying with Indiana Auxiliary Light Laws

To ensure vehicle safety and legality, it’s crucial to comply with Indiana auxiliary light laws. Vehicle owners must understand the installation codes and regulations outlined in the Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles to avoid fines and penalties.

Key Considerations

Legal Height for Installation: Auxiliary passing lamps, driving lamps, and fog lamps have specific height requirements. For example:

Lamp Type	Height Requirement
Auxiliary Passing Lamps	At least 24 inches and not more than 42 inches above the level surface
Driving Lamps	At least 16 inches and not more than 42 inches above the level surface
Fog Lamps	At least 12 inches and not more than 30 inches above the level surface

Lamp Combination Limits: Vehicle owners must also comply with lamp combination limits. For instance:

Lamp Combination	Limit
Auxiliary Passing Lamps	Not more than 1
Auxiliary Driving Lamps	Not more than 1
Spot Lights	Not more than 2

Warning Lamp Usage Rules: Warning lamps, such as fog lamps, must be used in accordance with Indiana regulations. For example, fog lamps must be aimed so that when the vehicle is not loaded, none of the high-intensity part of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle will at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of 4 inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which the light comes.

By understanding and complying with these regulations, vehicle owners can ensure their safety on Indiana roads and avoid legal issues.