This week’s question has a couple parts. First, “Are “smoked” or tinted headlight and taillight covers legal?” The second part, “What is the requirement for headlights in regards to sunrise or sunset and bad weather?”

Looking at the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.699 requires headlamps to emit a white light, with “high-beams” of intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead, and low-beams of intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead.

Since smoked headlamp covers change the color of light, and/or decrease their intensity below the requirements, they should not be used when headlamps are required to be on. However, smoked headlamp covers may be used when headlamps are not on, and not required.

For the taillights, we will look at MCL 257.686. It requires a tail lamp to emit a red light plainly visible for at least 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle. We also need to know the requirements of brake lights. In MCL 257.697, we learn brake lights are required to emit a red or amber light and be capable of being seen and distinguished from other lamps for a distance of 100 feet, including during normal daylight. If the cover you apply prohibits the lamp from meeting these requirements, then it is unlawful.

MCL 257.684 discusses the use of Headlamps; lighting, distance. Section 257.684(a) states, “Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles … When lighted lamps and illuminated devices are required by law no vehicle shall be operated upon any highway of this state with only the parking lights illuminated on the front of the vehicle.”

So to sum this all up … A vehicle operating the roadways in Michigan 30 minutes after sunset up until 30 minutes before sunrise or in inclement weather that hinders view, the driver must have the headlights illuminated. As for the tinted covers for the headlights or taillights, they cannot be used if the driver is required to have their lights illuminated during the times I stated in the previous sentence or cannot hinder the view of other drivers from seeing the lights. Failing to comply with the above requirements could result in the driver being cited with a civil infraction.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police — Alpena Pot, 3283 W. Washington Ave, Alpena, MI 49707.