It’s that time of the year where you see cars sporting holiday decorations, like fake antlers or elf legs sticking out from the trunk.
Then there are the cars decked out in colorful Christmas lights. In California, that could get you into trouble — and not just because it could damage the paint on your car.
Here’s what to know.
Can you put holiday lights on your car?
If you drive around with holiday lights on your car, know that you could get pulled over and cited for laws relating to lights under the California Vehicle Code, said California Highway Patrol Officer David Torres in an email to The Desert Sun.
Motorists could be cited for a section under the California Vehicle code, 24003, that says, “No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code, nor shall any lamp or illuminating device be mounted inside a vehicle unless specifically permitted by this code,” according to Torres.
Multicolored or flashing lights, especially red or blue lights, could cause motorists to see the vehicles as emergency vehicles, said Torres. The California Vehicle Code says that flashing lights “are prohibited” on cars with exceptions such as on emergency vehicles or when someone is using their turn signals, so motorists with flashing, holiday lights could be stopped for that.
As for those who have red or blue lights, the California Vehicle Code also outlines what color a light can be emitted from a car, and that’s what could get someone stopped for, said Torres. For example, according to the vehicle code, foglamps may be in the spectrum from white to yellow.
Last year, several CHP offices took to social media to remind motorists not to put holiday lights on their cars. CHP officers in the San Joaquin Valley city of Madera pulled over cars that were decked out in holiday lights last December, citing a section of the California Vehicle Code.
Are there any exceptions to this?
Yes, such as when a car is on private property or when a car is moving in a permitted parade, said Torres.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Can I put Christmas lights on my car? California laws explained
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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