09/12/2025
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Time again for !
Today we are covering a "pet peeve" of many people, and one that causes may safety issues: When to use your headlights. Although this has been posted before, we continue to get questions - and complaints - about it! We can post the law, but the most important part is that you share it, so that we educate others!!! Here are a few of the common questions:
1) When do I actually have to have my headlights on?? READ the law below, it will explain what time of the day you must have your lights on, and explain weather permitting occurrences.
2) Why is this law not enforced? This law is what is called a SECONDARY LAW. This does not mean it is not enforced, it just means a trooper must have another primary reason to stop a vehicle or to detain a person before citing the driver for a violation of a traffic law that is subject to secondary enforcement.
3) Can I just turn on my hazard lights so everyone sees me when its raining? Arkansas law states hazard light usage is not permitted while driving except to indicate a traffic hazard. So please, we ask that you use your headlights only if you are traveling on the roadway. If you must pull to the shoulder, you can activate your hazard lights.
27-36-204. When lighted lamps required.
(a) (1) Every vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, upon a highway within this state at any time from one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet (500') ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as stated.
(2) (A) Every vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, upon a street or highway within this state shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices, as respectively required for different classes of vehicles, during any period in which the vehicle's windshield wipers are being used for clearing or cleaning rain, snow, or other precipitation from the windshield because of inclement weather.
(B) (i) No vehicle or the operator of the vehicle shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely for violations of the requirements of subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section.
(C) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and, if a person is convicted, pleads guilty, pleads nolo contendere, or forfeits bond for a violation hereof, no court costs or other costs or fees shall be assessed.
(b) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle upon a street or highway within this state at any time shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as stated.
27-36-207 - Number of driving lamps required or permitted.
(a) At all times, at least two (2) lighted lamps shall be displayed, one (1) on each side at the front of every motor vehicle, except when the vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles.
(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlamps as required in this subchapter is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred candlepower (300 cp), not more than a total of four (4) of any lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when on a highway.
