N.J.S.A. 39:3-54 — Warning lights on vehicles

39:3-54. Warning lights on vehicles 39:3-54. a. Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than a headlamp, spot lamp, or auxiliary driving lamp which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle. Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, motorcycles, and motor-drawn vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn, provided, however, any vehicle may be equipped, and when required under this article shall be equipped, with lamps for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing and when so equipped shall display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required by law. The lamps used to display such warning shall be of a type approved by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; those used to display warning to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and shall display simultaneously flashing white or amber lights or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display such warning to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights or any shade of color between amber and red. These warning lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet at any time when lighted lamps are required. The two front and two rear turn signals shall be flashed simultaneously to display such warning on vehicles of the types mentioned in R.S.39:3-64. b. In addition to the flashing devices permitted in subsection a. of this section, an omnibus may be equipped with two flashing devices for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles and law enforcement officials that an emergency situation exists within the omnibus. These devices shall be capable of activation by the operator of the omnibus and shall be of a type approved by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. They shall be mounted one at the front and one at the rear of the omnibus and shall display flashing red lights which shine on the roadway under the vehicle. c. Under the authority of the Department of Transportation and without any additional permit required by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in addition to the amber light authorized to be displayed pursuant to subsection a. of this section, one or more green lights may be affixed to any motor vehicle that is used for the removal or prevention of ice and snow on roadways, and which vehicle is owned and operated by the State , any bi-state or interstate governmental agency or authority, or any local government unit, or is contracted by the Department of Transportation for such use, except that the green lights may only be displayed on such vehicle when the vehicle is engaged in an operation that presents a vehicular traffic hazard that requires the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing the vehicle, and the vehicle also displays the amber light or lights required pursuant to subsection a. of this section. Amended by L. 1956, c. 27, p. 70, s. 1; L. 1964, c. 136, s. 4; L. 1985, c. 536, s. 1; 2025, c.209, s.1.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 39:3-54, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.