New Mass. Law: Headlights Must Be on When Roads Are Wet

By Susan Petroni (Patch Staff)

Massachusetts drivers will be required to turn on their headlights whenever they turn on their windshield wipers, effective April 7.

The Massachusetts legislature passed the new law - M.G.L.c.85, sec 15 - in December 2014.

Basically, if you need your wipers, you must use your headlights, even on a sunny, but rainy day.

Under the law, a police officer can pull you over for failing to comply. The police officer also can issue a ticket for failure to compile with the new Massachusetts headlight law. The ticket is considered a surchargable traffic violation. These violations can increase car insurance premiums.

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This is the new law:

A vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on a public way, shall have attached to it headlights and taillights which shall be turned on by the vehicle operator and so displayed as to be visible from the front and rear during the period of 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise; provided, however, that such headlights and taillights shall be turned on by the vehicle operator at all other times when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, visibility is reduced such that persons or vehicles on the roadway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet or when the vehicle’s windshield wipers are needed; provided further, that this section shall not apply to a vehicle which is designed to be propelled by hand; and provided further, that a vehicle carrying hay or straw for the purpose of transporting persons on a hayride shall display only electrically operated lights which shall be 2 flashing amber lights to the front and 2 flashing red lights to the rear, each of which shall be at least 6 inches in diameter and mounted 6 feet from the ground.

Photo credit: Steven Pisano via Flickr