Understanding Arizona's Vehicle Headlight Regulations And Safety

I have had times when I am driving home after a long day, and suddenly a car comes chasing up behind me, blinding me with its abnormally bright headlights. Most people have had experiences like that and have felt frustrated. Believe it or not, Arizona has specific laws on headlight brightness, height, and color.

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Colored Headlights

Arizona law requires headlights to be white or amber only. This comes directly from A.R.S. § 28‑947, which prohibits headlights that display red, blue, or other colors typically reserved for emergency vehicles.

Aftermarket bulbs that are purple, green, pink, or any other color are not legal for on-road use. The goal of this law is to prevent confusion and ensure every driver can instantly recognize the vehicle that is approaching them.

READ: Arizona's Wackiest Law Has Good Reason for Being There

Headlight Height

There are specific laws regarding how high off the ground your headlamps are allowed to be. A.R.S. § 28‑924(A) requires every motor vehicle (except motorcycles) to have two functioning headlights mounted at the proper height for safe operation.

In practice, Arizona follows the national standard: headlights must be mounted between 22 and 54 inches from the ground. This range ensures the beams hit the roadway rather than blinding oncoming traffic and the cars in front of them. If you have a lifted vehicle, ensure that your headlights are within protocol to ensure other drivers' safety.

READ: Arizona's Weirdest Law for Motorcyclists

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Headlight Brightness

Arizona limits headlight brightness in A.R.S. § 28‑947. This law states that headlights on vehicles may not have "...a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred candlepower..."

On top of the law on brightness, A.R.S. § 28‑942 explains that you must turn off your high beams when you are following a car within 200 feet. When an oncoming vehicle is approaching at night, you must turn off your high beams when it is within 500 feet of you.

Arizona's headlights are not insanely strict. Next time you are driving down the road, remember the laws regarding your headlights. The last thing any of us wants is to feel blinded at night by oncoming cars.

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