WSR 97-06-100
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
[Filed March 4, 1997, 4:20 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 204-72 WAC, Standards for mounting, adjusting, and aiming of lamps. WAC 204-72-040(4) Fog lamps, amend this section to bring it in compliance with the state law, RCW 46.37.180(2).
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.180.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The amendment to this rule will ensure motorists only use fog lamps with the low beam headlamps as indicated by RCW 46.37.180(2).
Process for Developing New Rule: In order to ensure rule complies with state law.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ms. C. Morton, Washington State Patrol, Equipment and Standards Review Unit, P.O. Box 42635, Olympia, WA 98504-2635, (360) 412-8934, FAX 493-9090.
March 4, 1997
Annette M. Sandberg
Chief
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 80-12-01, filed 12/5/80)
WAC 204-72-040 Mounting requirements, specific. (1) Clearance, sidemarker, and identification lamps.
(a) Clearance lamps, sidemarker lamps, and combination clearance and sidemarker lamps shall be mounted as specified in FMVSS 108, except for combination clearance and sidemarker lamps on pole trailers which shall be mounted as required by RCW 46.37.090 (5)(c). On vehicles manufactured prior to May 1, 1980, clearance lamps need not be visible at the inboard angles, and clearance and sidemarker lamps need not comply with the mounting height requirements of FMVSS 108.
(b) Identification lamps shall be mounted as specified in FMVSS 108, except where the cab of a vehicle is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roof line a single identification lamp shall be deemed to comply with the requirements for front identification lamps.
(c) Specialized lamps. Specialized combination lamps designed to be mounted with the base at angles other than 0, 45, or 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
(2) Cornering lamps. Cornering lamps shall be mounted on the front of the vehicle near the side or the side near the front and not lower than 12 inches nor higher than 30 inches.
(3) Deceleration lamps. Deceleration lamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle on or adjacent to the centerline of the vehicle at a height not lower than 20 inches and not higher than 72 inches.
(4) Fog lamps. A fog lamp is a lighting device mounted to provide
illumination forward of the vehicle under conditions of rain, snow, dust,
or fog. Fog lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 12
inches nor more than 30 inches, and so that the inner edge of the lens
retaining ring is no closer than 4 inches to the optical center of the
front turn signal lamp. The fog lamp(s) may be used ((at the driver's
discretion)) only with ((either)) the low ((or high)) beam headlamps.
Fog lamps shall not be used alone in lieu of headlamps.
(5) Headlamps. Headlamps shall be mounted as specified in FMVSS 108 and as follows:
(a) Spacing. Headlamp units installed after November 15, 1975, shall not be closer to the centerline of the vehicle than 12 inches measured from the center of the lens, except on motorcycles and motorized bicycles, and shall be spaced as far apart as practicable. In cases of customized headlamp installation, headlamps shall not be mounted closer together than at the time or original manufacture of the vehicle body.
(b) Height. Headlamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more than 54 inches.
(c) Covers. No grille, plastic or glass covers, or any other obstruction which distorts the color or the distribution of light or substantially decreases its intensity shall be in front of the headlamp lens, except for headlamp concealment devices meeting the requirements of FMVSS 112.
(6) Auxiliary passing lamps. A passing lamp is an auxiliary low beam lamp meeting the photometric requirements of SAE Standard J582a. Passing lamps shall be mounted not lower than 24 inches nor higher than 42 inches, and so the inner edge of the lens retaining ring is no closer than 4 inches to the optical center of the front turn signal lamp. The lamp may be used at the driver's discretion with either low or high beam headlamps. Passing lamps shall not be used alone in lieu of headlamps.
(7) Auxiliary driving lamps. A driving lamp is a lighting device mounted to provide illumination forward of the vehicle to supplement the upper beam of a standard headlamp system. Driving lamps shall be mounted on the front not lower than 16 inches nor higher than 42 inches. Driving lamps shall be wired so that the taillights are lighted whenever the driving lamps are lighted. If driving lamps are not wired to operate only with headlamp high beams, then a separate switch and indicator lamp shall be provided to operate the driving lamps. Driving lamps shall not be used alone in lieu of headlamps.
(8) Side turn signal lamps. Side turn signal lamps shall be mounted on the side not lower than 20 inches nor higher than 72 inches. The lamps shall flash with the front and rear turn signal lamps on their respective sides of the vehicle. On vehicles equipped with sequential turn signal lamps, the side turn signal lamps shall flash with the front turn signal lamps. If the side turn signal lamps flash when the hazard warning switch is actuated, all such lamps shall flash with the rear turn signal lamps.
(9) Supplemental signal lamps. Supplemental stop or turn signal lamps shall be single-faced, shall be actuated in the same manner and at the same time as the required stoplamps or turn signal lamps, and shall not be used in lieu of such lamps. Supplemental turn signal lamps and supplemental combination stop-and-turn signal lamps shall be mounted in pairs facing the rear with one lamp near each side of the vehicle, at the same height and equally spaced from the vehicle centerline. Supplemental stoplamps shall be mounted in pairs as specified above or with not more than two lamps on or adjacent to the centerline of the vehicle. Supplemental stop or turn signal lamps shall be mounted not lower than 35 inches nor higher than 55 inches. Standard stop or turn signal lamps not combined with tail lamps or reflex reflectors may be used respectively as supplemental lamps in which case they shall be mounted at any height not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches.
(10) Turn signal lamps. Turn signal lamps shall be mounted and operated as follows:
(a) Motor vehicles. Turn signal systems on motor vehicles shall consist of at least two single-faced or double-faced turn signal lamps on or near the front and at least two single-faced turn signal lamps on the rear. Double-faced turn lamps shall be mounted ahead of the center of the steering wheel or the center of the outside rearview mirror, whichever is rearmost. A truck-tractor or a truck chassis without body or load may be equipped with one double-faced turn signal lamp on each side in lieu of the four separate lamps otherwise required on a motor vehicle. Front and rear turn signal lamps on motorcycles shall be at least 9 inches apart, except that front turn signals on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1973, shall be at least 16 inches apart. Turn signal lamps on other vehicles shall be spaced as far apart as practical. The optical center of the front turn signal lamp shall be at least 4 inches from the inside diameter of the retaining ring of the lower beam headlamp unit, fog lamp unit, or passing lamp unit. Original equipment turn signals that emit two and one-half times the minimum candela requirements may be closer.
(b) Towed vehicles. The rearmost vehicle in a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two single-faced turn signal lamps on the rear. The signal system on a combination of vehicles towed by a motor vehicle equipped with double-faced front turn signal lamps may be connected so only the double-faced turn signal lamps on the towing vehicle and the signal lamps on the rear of the rearmost vehicle are operative.
(c) Operation. Turn signal lamps visible to approaching or following drivers shall flash in unison, except that a turn signal consisting of two or more units mounted horizontally may flash in sequence from inboard to outboard. The lamps may be either extinguished simultaneously or lighted simultaneously. Turn signal lamps shall flash at a rate of 60 to 120 flashes per minute.
(11) Warning lamps. Required front warning lamps other than school
bus warning lamps shall be mounted so the entire projected area of the
lens is visible from all eye heights of drivers of other vehicles at
angles within 45 degrees left to 45 degrees right of the front of the
vehicle. If the light within these required angles is blocked by the
vehicle or any substantial object on it, an additional warning lamp shall
be displayed within the obstructed angle. Warning lamps may be mounted
at any height.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.320. 81-01-009 (Order 80-12-01), 204-72-040, filed 12/5/80.]