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HRS §291-31

Rear lights required for vehicles, motorcycles, and motor scooters

From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, vehicles on public highways must show red tail lights visible from at least 200 feet behind. Motorcycles and motor scooters need one red tail light. License plates must be lit so numbers are visible from 50 feet.

The statute, as written — Tail lights on vehicles, motorcycles and motor scooters

(a) From thirty minutes after sunset to thirty minutes before sunrise, at any time while a vehicle, other than a bicycle, motorcycle or motor scooter, is operated on any public highway, there shall be displayed at the rear thereof at least two tail lights, spaced as far apart as practicable, which shall display red lights visible not less than two hundred feet from the rear thereof; provided that vehicles manufactured prior to 1968 originally equipped with a single tail light assembly need only display a single tail light; and where a registration number plate is required by law to be carried on the rear thereof, the same shall be illuminated by a white light in such manner that the registration number thereon can be plainly distinguished at a distance of not less than fifty feet from the rear thereof. (b) From thirty minutes after sunset to thirty minutes before sunrise, at any time while a motorcycle or motor scooter is operated on any public highway, there shall be displayed at the rear thereof, a tail light which shall display a red light visible not less than two hundred feet from the rear thereof; and if a registration number plate is required by law to be carried on the rear of the motorcycle or motor scooter, the same shall be illuminated by a white light in such manner that the registration number thereon can be plainly distinguished at a distance of not less than fifty feet from the rear thereof. [RL 1945, pt of §11707; RL 1955, §311-13; HRS §291-31; am L 1984, c 125, §1]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

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