(a) Every motor vehicle other than any passenger car, any road roller, road machinery or farm tractor having a width of eighty inches (80″) or more shall be equipped with at least the following lighting devices and reflectors:

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-9-405

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Driver: means :
    (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Farm tractor: means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Pole trailer: means every vehicle without motive power designed to be driven by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads, such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Semitrailer: means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Tractor: means any self-propelled vehicle designed or used as a traveling power plant or for drawing other vehicles, but having no provision for carrying loads independently. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Trailer: means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Truck: means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(1) On the front, at least two (2) headlamps, an equal number at each side; two (2) turn signals, one (1) at each side; two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; three (3) identification lamps, mounted on the vertical centerline of the vehicle, or the vertical centerline of the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle, except that where the cab is not more than forty-two inches (42″) wide at the front roofline, a single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirements for identification lamps. No part of the identification lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle windshield;
(2) On the rear, two (2) tail lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) stop lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) turn signals, one (1) at each side; two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side; and three (3) identification lamps, mounted on the vertical center line of the vehicle; provided, that the identification lamps need not be lighted if obscured by a vehicle towed by the truck; and
(3) On each side, one (1) side-marker lamp at or near the front, one (1) side-marker lamp at or near the rear; one (1) reflector at or near the front, and one (1) reflector at or near the rear.
(b) Every truck tractor shall be equipped as follows:

(1) On the front, at least two (2) headlamps, an equal number at each side; two (2) turn signals, one (1) at each side; two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; and three (3) identification lamps, mounted on the vertical centerline of the vehicle, or the vertical centerline of the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle, except that where the cab is not more than forty-two inches (42″) wide at the front roofline, a single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirement for identification lamps. No part of the identification lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle windshield; and
(2) On the rear, one (1) tail lamp; one (1) stop lamp; two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side; and, unless the turn signals on the front are so constructed (double faced) and located as to be visible to passing drivers, two (2) turn signals on the rear of the cab, one (1) at each side.
(c) Every semitrailer or full trailer eighty inches (80″) or more in overall width, except converter dollies, shall be equipped as follows:

(1) On the front, two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side;
(2) On the rear, two (2) tail lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) stop lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) turn signals, one (1) at each side; two (2) clearance lamps, one (1) at each side; two (2) reflectors, one (1) at each side; and three (3) identification lamps, mounted on the vertical centerline of the vehicle; provided, that the identification lamps need not be lighted if obscured by another vehicle in the same combination;
(3) On each side, one (1) side-marker lamp at or near the front; one (1) side-marker lamp at or near the rear; one (1) reflector at or near the front; one (1) reflector at or near the rear; and, in case of semitrailers and full trailers thirty feet (30′) or more in length, at least one (1) additional side-marker lamp at optional height and at least one (1) additional reflector, the additional side-marker lamp or lamps and reflector or reflectors to be at or near the center or at approximately uniform spacing in the length of the vehicle; and
(4) For the purposes of these regulations, “converter dolly” is a motor vehicle with a fifth wheel lower half or equivalent mechanism, the attachment of which vehicle converts a semitrailer to a full trailer. Each dolly, when towed singly by another vehicle, and not as part of a full trailer, shall be equipped with one (1) stop lamp, one (1) tail lamp, and two (2) reflectors on the rear. No lighting devices or reflectors are required on the front or sides of any dolly.
(d)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (d)(2), from one-half (1/2) hour before sunset to one-half (1/2) hour after sunrise and at all other times when lights are required to be displayed, there shall be attached to the rearmost extremity of any load that projects four feet (4′) or more beyond the rear of the body of the motor vehicle, or at any tailboard or tailgate so projecting, or to the rearmost extremity of any load, carried on a pole trailer, at least one (1) red lamp, securely fastened thereto, which shall be visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500′) to the sides and rear under normal atmospheric conditions. At all other times one (1) red flag, at least eighteen inches (18″) square, made of cloth, synthetic or man-made material, shall be so displayed.
(2) This subsection (d) shall apply only to:

(A) Any noncommercial motor vehicle transporting property intrastate; and
(B) Any commercial motor vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of twenty six thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.) or less when such motor vehicle is transporting property intrastate.
(3) Title 65, chapter 15, and all applicable federal rules shall apply to all commercial vehicles having a GVWR or a GCWR of more than twenty six thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.).
(e)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(2), a motor vehicle or trailer transporting intrastate a load of logs, long pulpwood, poles, or posts that projects four feet (4′) or more beyond the rear of the body or bed of the vehicle, when the vehicle is operated on a highway or parked on the shoulder or immediately adjacent to the traveled portions of the highway, must have either of the following securely affixed as close as practical to the end of the projecting load:

(A)

(i) One (1) amber strobe-type lamp, complying with SAE J595, equipped with a multidirectional type lens so mounted as to be visible from the rear and both sides of the projecting load. If the mounting of one (1) amber strobe lamp cannot be accomplished so that it is visible from the rear and both sides of the projecting load, then multiple amber strobe lights, complying with SAE J595, must be utilized so as to meet the visibility requirements of this subdivision (e)(1)(A)(i). The amber strobe lamp must flash at a rate of at least sixty (60) flashes per minute and be plainly visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500′) to the rear and sides at a radius of one hundred eighty degrees (180°) of the projecting load; or
(ii) One (1) amber light-emitting diode (LED) light, complying with SAE J595, equipped with a multidirectional type lens, mounted so as to be visible from the rear and from both sides of the projecting load; provided, that if the mounting of one (1) amber LED light cannot be accomplished so that it is visible from the rear and from both sides of the projecting load, then multiple amber LED lights, complying with SAE J595, must be utilized so as to meet the visibility requirements of this subdivision (e)(1)(A)(ii). The amber LED light must flash at a rate of at least sixty (60) flashes per minute and be plainly visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500′) from the rear and sides at a radius of one hundred eighty degrees (180°) of the projecting load. The LED light must be constructed of durable, weather-resistant material and may be powered by the vehicle’s electrical system or by an independent battery system, or both. If the LED light is powered by an independent battery system, then the driver of the vehicle must have in the driver’s immediate possession charged, spare batteries for use in case of battery failure. Any solid state LED lighting that consists of multiple LED lights must not have less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the LED lights in operable condition; or
(B) Two (2) red flags or two (2) fluorescent orange flags, or a combination of such flags, that are each at least eighteen inches (18″) square, made of cloth, synthetic, or man-made material, must be so displayed.
(2) From one-half (1/2) hour before sunset to one-half (1/2) hour after sunrise and at all other times when lights are required to be displayed, a motor vehicle or trailer transporting intrastate a load of logs, long pulpwood, poles, or posts that projects four feet (4′) or more beyond the rear of the body or bed of the vehicle, when the vehicle is operated on a highway or parked on the shoulder or immediately adjacent to the traveled portions of the highway, must have the following securely affixed as close as practical to the end of the projecting load:

(A)

(i) One (1) amber strobe-type lamp, or, if applicable, multiple amber strobe lights, meeting the requirements of subdivision (e)(1)(A)(i); or
(ii) One (1) amber light-emitting diode (LED) light, or, if applicable, multiple amber LED lights, meeting the requirements of subdivision (e)(1)(A)(ii); and
(B) At least one (1) red flag or at least one (1) fluorescent orange flag, or both, that is at least eighteen inches (18″) square, made of cloth, synthetic, or manmade material, must also be so displayed.
(f) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
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