The Road Traffic Regulations – Lamp Requirements on Vehicles
February 27, 2023
The Full Story
All lamps that are fitted to the motor vehicle, pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022:
- Must be in good working condition
- Must be capable of being lit and properly secured
- Must be kept lit during the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable weather conditions, persons and vehicles on the road are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres
No motorist is allowed to operate a motor vehicle on a road unless it is fitted with:
- Headlamps (regulation 86)
- Daytime running lamps (regulation 87) an automatic lighting device, installed in pairs (and in the case of a motorcycle, at least one) on the front of a motor vehicle, for the purpose specified in regulation 87.
- Parking lamps (regulations 89 and 61)
- Front-position lamps, where so required (regulation 91)
- Rear lamps (regulation 93)
- Brake lamps (regulation 94)
- Registration plate lamps (regulation 95)
- Reversing lamps (regulation 99)
- Identification lamps (regulation 102), where the laden weight of the goods being carried by the motor vehicle exceeds that specified in that regulation
Prohibited Lamps
The following lamps are prohibited without approval of the Authority:
- A lamp which, except in the case of a brake anti-lock warning light to the front of a trailer, emits a light which is not white, amber or yellow in colour, towards the front of the motor vehicle; emits a light, which is not yellow or amber in colour, towards either side of the motor vehicle; or except in the case of a direction indicator or reversing lamp, emits a light which is not red in colour, towards the rear of the motor vehicle (regulation 82 [1])
- Spot lamps (regulation 101)
- Revolving lamps (regulation 103)
A person operating a motor vehicle on a road must extinguish the high beam of the light emitted by the headlamp of the motor vehicle, where the high beam could cause a glare that presents danger to oncoming traffic or to traffic driving in front of the person in the same direction.
Where two or more lamps of the same specification emitting light in the same direction are fitted to a motor vehicle, they shall be fitted so as to emit light of the same colour.
Offences and Penalties
|
Offence |
Penalty |
| 1. A lamp fitted to a motor vehicle or used in contravention of regulation. | 1. On summary conviction in a Parish Court, a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days
2. $10,000 – where liability to conviction may be discharged by payment of a fixed sum |
| 2. A motorist operating a motor vehicle fitted with a spot lamp, which can be adjusted to enable a beam of light emitted from the lamp to be deflected in any direction | 1. On summary conviction in a Parish Court, a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days
2. $10,000 – where liability to conviction may be discharged by payment of a fixed sum |
| 3. A motorist operating a motor vehicle fitted with, or which displays a lamp or lamps emitting a blue light or which is capable of emitting a blue light | 1. On summary conviction in a Parish Court will be subject to a fine not exceeding $30,000
2. $15,000 – where liability to conviction may be discharged by payment of a fixed sum |
| 4. A motorist using a revolving lamp in contravention of regulation
|
1. On summary conviction in a Parish Court will be subject to a fine not exceeding $30,000
2. $10,000 – where liability to conviction may be discharged by payment of a fixed sum |
To view the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022, please visit:
For additional information, contact:
Island Traffic Authority
38H Maxfield Avenue
Kingston 10
Tel: 876-754-1900-1/876-754-2590-3
Email: ps@mtw.gov.jm
Website: https://mtm.gov.jm/ita
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Twitter: @MTMJamaica