Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 9. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT

Part 2. Lighting Equipment

Multiple-Beam Road-Lighting Equipment

61-9-220. Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment. Except as provided in this part, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamps or combination of both on a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, quadricycle, motor-driven cycle, or low-speed electric vehicle, must be arranged so that the driver may select between distributions of light projected to different elevations. The selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:

(1) There must be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, capable of revealing persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(2) There must be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, capable of revealing persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead. On a straight level road under any condition of loading the high-intensity portion of the beam may not be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

(3) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, quadricycle, motor-driven cycle, or low-speed electric vehicle, manufactured after January 1, 1956, that has multiple-beam road-lighting equipment must be equipped with a beam indicator that must be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and may not otherwise be lighted. The indicator must be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle.

History: En. Sec. 132, Ch. 263, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 32-21-135; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 431, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 209, L. 2011.