M.C.L.A. 257.685. Head lamps; number, height; auxiliary or spot lamps
Sec. 685. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), a motor vehicle shall be equipped
with at least 2 head lamps with at least 1 head lamp on each side of the front of the motor
vehicle, in compliance with this chapter. An implement of husbandry manufactured on or after
January 1, 2007 shall comply with section 684a.1
(2) A motorcycle or moped shall be equipped with at least 1 and not more than 2 head lamps
that comply with this chapter.
(3) A motorcycle or moped head lamp may be wired or equipped to allow either its upper beam
or its lower beam, but not both, to modulate from a higher intensity to a lower intensity. A
head lamp modulator installed on a motorcycle or moped with 2 head lamps shall be wired in a
manner to prevent the head lamps from modulating at different rates or not in synchronization
with each other. A head lamp modulator installed on a motorcycle or moped shall meet the
standards prescribed in 49 CFR 571.108.
(4) Every head lamp upon a motor vehicle shall be located at a height measured from the
center of the head lamp of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches above the level
surface upon which the vehicle stands.
(5) When a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as required in this section is also equipped
with auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front of the motor vehicle
projecting a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower, not more than a total of 4 of
those lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at a time when upon a highway.
(6) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this
section if the vehicle as originally equipped failed to meet these requirements. An historic
vehicle shall not be operated in violation of section 684.2
M.C.L.A. 257.686. Rear lamps; visibility of registration plates
Sec. 686. (1) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle which is being drawn in
a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least 1 rear lamp mounted on the rear, which,
when lighted as required by this act, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500
feet to the rear.
(2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed so as to illuminate with
a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to
the rear. A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear
registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary
driving lamps are lighted.
(3) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this
section if the vehicle as originally equipped failed to meet these requirements.
M.C.L.A. 257.697. Signal lamps and devices
Sec. 697. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be
equipped with the following signal lamps or devices:
(1) A stop lamp on the rear which shall emit a red or amber light and which shall be actuated
upon application of the service or foot brake and which may but need not be incorporated with
a tail lamp.
(2) A lamp or lamps or mechanical signal device which conveys an intelligible signal or warning
to another driver approaching from the rear.
(b) A stop lamp shall be capable of being seen and distinguished from a distance of 100 feet to
the rear both during normal sunlight and at nighttime and a signal lamp or lamps indicating
intention to turn shall be capable of being seen and distinguished during daytime and nighttime
from a distance of 100 feet both to the front and rear. When a vehicle is equipped with a stop
lamp or other signal lamps, the lamp or lamps shall at all times be maintained in good working
condition. A stop lamp or signal lamp shall not project a glaring or dazzling light.
(c) All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the times mentioned in
section 684.1
(d) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this
section if the vehicle as originally equipped failed to meet these requirements.
M.C.L.A. 257.697a. Sale or operation of certain vehicles unlawful; exception
Sec. 697a. No person shall sell or offer for sale or operate on the highways any vehicles
manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1955, except those exempted from certificate of
title requirements under the provisions of section 216 of chapter 2 of this act,1 as amended,
unless it is equipped with mechanical or electrical turn signals meeting the requirements of
section 697.2 This section shall not apply to any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
M.C.L.A. 257.697b. Rear stop lamps
Sec. 697b. A person shall not sell or offer for sale or operate on the highways a vehicle
manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1965, except those exempted from certificate of
title requirements under the provisions of section 216,1 unless the vehicle is equipped with 2
rear stop lamps except on a motorcycle or moped meeting the requirements of section 697.2 A
motorcycle or moped shall be required to have 1 rear stop lamp.
M.C.L.A. 257.706. Horns and other warning devises
Sec. 706. (a) A motor vehicle, including a motorcycle or moped, when operated upon a highway
shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible
under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet but a horn or other warning
device shall not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor
vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his
horn but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.
(b) A vehicle shall not be equipped with nor shall a person use upon a vehicle a siren, whistle, or
bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section.
(c) A commercial vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged
that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.
(d) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, whistle, air horn, or bell
capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500
feet, but the siren shall not be used except when the vehicle is operated in response to an
emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law. In
those cases the driver of the vehicle shall sound the siren when necessary to warn pedestrians
and other drivers of the approach of the vehicle.
(e) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle may be equipped with a siren, whistle, or
bell which may be used when participating in a parade, exhibition, tour, or similar event.
M.C.L.A. 257.708. View to rear, mirrors
Sec. 708. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle on a highway which is so constructed or
loaded as to prevent the driver from obtaining a view of the highway to the rear by looking
backward from the driver's position, unless the vehicle is equipped with a mirror located so as
to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle. In addition all motor
vehicles shall be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on the driver's side which shall be
positioned to give the driver a rearviewing angle from the driver's side of the vehicle, except a
motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle if the vehicle was not originally equipped with an
outside rearview mirror. Rearview mirrors may be positioned on the helmet or visor worn by
the operator of a motorcycle if the helmet is securely attached to the head of the operator.
Every commercial vehicle of ½ ton capacity or more, operating upon the public highways of this
state, shall be equipped with 2 mirrors, 1 on each side, adjusted so that the operator shall have
a clear view of the highway behind the commercial vehicle. The outside mirrors shall not be
considered to be a part of the vehicle for the purpose of determining the maximum width
under section 717.1
M.C.L.A. 257.708a. Windshields; exceptions; motorcycle
Sec. 708a. A motor vehicle shall not be operated on the public highways of this state unless it is
equipped with a windshield of sufficient dimensions to protect the driver and occupants from
insects, other airborne objects, and highway surface water and debris, when the motor vehicle
is moving forward. A farm tractor, other implement of husbandry, and historic vehicles as
defined in section 803a1 are exempt from this section. When a motorcycle operated on the
public highways of this state in excess of 35 miles per hour is not equipped with a windshield,
the operator shall wear goggles with transparent lenses or a transparent face shield or
eyeglasses, which goggles, eyeglasses, or face shield shall be of shatter resistant material and of
sufficient size to protect his eyes against insects, other airborne material, and highway surface
water and debris.
M.C.L.A. 257.709. Windshields; windows; wipers; obstruction of view
Sec. 709. (1) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with any of the following:
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4) Except as provided in subsection (5), the windshield on each motor vehicle shall be equipped
with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield, which device shall
be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle. A vehicle licensed
as an historical vehicle is exempt from this subsection if the vehicle was not originally
equipped with such a device. Each windshield wiper upon a motor vehicle shall be maintained
in good working order.
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M.C.L.A. 257.710. Metal or plastic tracks, tires equipped with metal or plastic; studded tires;
pneumatic tires; rules; sale of unsafe tires; unsafe tires
Sec. 710. (a) A person shall not operate on a public highway of this state a vehicle or special
mobile equipment which has metal or plastic track or a tire which is equipped with metal that
comes in contact with the surface of the road or which has a partial contact of metal or plastic
with the surface of the road, except as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (e).
(b) A person shall not operate on a highway a vehicle which has a tire that has on its periphery a
block, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or other protuberance of a material other than rubber which
projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except as provided in subsections
(c), (d), and (e). A person may, however, use farm machinery with a tire having a protuberance
which will not injure a highway. A person may also use a tire chain of reasonable proportion
upon a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to
cause a vehicle to skid.
(c) A person may operate on a highway a vehicle which has a pneumatic tire in which wire of
.075 inches in diameter or less is embedded if the tire is constructed so that the percent of
metal in contact with the highway does not exceed 5% of the total tire area in contact with the
roadway, except that during the first 1,000 miles of use or operation of the tire the metal in
contact with the highway shall not exceed 20% of the area.
(d) The department of state highways and transportation shall promulgate rules establishing
acceptable standards to permit the use of a tire with studs or other traction devices to be used
on a street or highway after April 1, 1975. The rules shall make separate provision for the
extreme winter snow and ice conditions of the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower
Peninsula. The rules shall include a restriction on the amount and dimension of protrusions that
may be allowed on a tire, the type of material that may be used in a stud, traction device, or
tire, and the amount of road wear that a tire with studs or other traction devices may cause on
a street or highway.
(e) A person may operate on a highway a vehicle which has a pneumatic tire in which are
inserted ice grips or tire studs if the person is a law enforcement officer operating a vehicle
owned by a law enforcement agency, a person operating an ambulance, or a United States
postal service rural carrier driving a vehicle the rural carrier owns and maintains as a
prerequisite to employment in the postal service.
(f) A person shall not operate a vehicle on a highway when a tire in use on that vehicle is unsafe
as provided in subsection (h).
(g) A person in the business of selling tires shall not sell or offer for sale for highway use a tire
which is unsafe as provided in subsection (h).
(h) A tire is unsafe if it is in any of the following conditions:
(i) Has a part of the belting material, tire cords, or plys exposed.
(ii) Has evidence of cord or tread separations.
(iii) Is worn to or below the minimum tread level in 2 or more adjacent major grooves at
3 or more locations spaced around the circumference of the tire. Minimum allowable
tread levels are as follows:
motorcycles and moped
1/32 inch front and rear
passenger cars and vehicles weighing less than 10,000
pounds
2/32 inch front and rear
vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more
4/32 inch front and 2/32 rear
Measurements shall not be made at locations of tread wear indicators or tie bars. A
motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle under section 803a is exempt from the
tread depth requirements of this subsection.
(iv) Has a marking “not for highway use”, “for racing purposes only”, “for farm use only”,
or “unsafe for highway use”.
(v) Has been regrooved or recut below the original tread design depth except in the case
of special purpose designed tires having extra undertread rubber provided for this
purpose and identified as those tires.
M.C.L.A. 257.233a. Odometer mileage statement; tampering with odometer; records;
penalties
Sec. 233a. (1) When the owner of a registered motor vehicle transfers his or her title or interest
in that vehicle, the transferor shall present to the transferee before delivery of the vehicle,
written disclosure of odometer mileage by means of the certificate of title or a written
statement signed by the transferor including the transferor's printed name, containing all of the
following:
(a) The odometer reading at the time of transfer not to include the tenths of a mile or
kilometer.
(b) The date of transfer.
(c) The transferor's name and current address.
(d) The transferee's name and current address.
(e) The identity of the vehicle, including its make, model, body type, year, and vehicle
identification number.
(f) A reference to this section and comparable federal law, and a statement that failing to
complete the title or form or providing false information may result in civil liability and civil or
criminal penalties being imposed on the transferor.
(g) One of the following:
(i) A statement by the transferor certifying that to the best of his or her knowledge the
odometer reading reflects the actual mileage of the vehicle.
(ii) If the transferor knows that the odometer reading reflects the amount of mileage in excess
of the designed mechanical odometer limit, a statement to that effect.
(iii) If the transfer knows that the odometer reading differs from the mileage and the difference
is greater than that caused by odometer calibration error, a statement that the odometer
reading does not reflect the actual mileage and should not be relied upon. This notice shall
include a warning notice to alert the transferee that a discrepancy exists between the
odometer and the actual mileage.
(h) Space for the signature and printed name of the transferee, and the date of presentation to
the transferee.
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(5) The odometer information described in subsection (1) shall not be required for any of the
following:
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(c) A vehicle that is 10 years old, or older.
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M.C.L.A. 257.701. Single-beam road-lighting equipment, intensity
Sec. 701. Head lamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light not supplemented by
auxiliary driving lamps shall be permitted on motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to
the effective date of this act in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment herein specified
if the single distribution of light complies with the following requirements and limitations:
1. The head lamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the highintensity
portion of the light shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of 5
inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, and in no case higher
than 42 inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead.
2. The intensity shall be sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 200
feet.
M.C.L.A. 257.697a. Sale or operation of certain vehicles unlawful; exception
Sec. 697a. No person shall sell or offer for sale or operate on the highways any vehicles
manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1955, except those exempted from certificate of
title requirements under the provisions of section 216 of chapter 2 of this act,1 as amended,
unless it is equipped with mechanical or electrical turn signals meeting the requirements of
section 697.2 This section shall not apply to any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
M.C.L.A. 257.710e. Safety belt requirements; applicability; enforcement
Sec. 710e. (1) This section does not apply to an operator or passenger of any of the following:
(a) A motor vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1965.
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(3) Each operator and front seat passenger of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway
in this state shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt except as follows:
(a) A child who is less than 4 years of age shall be protected as required in section 710d.1
(b) A child who is 4 years of age or older but less than 8 years of age and who is less than 4 feet
9 inches in height shall be properly secured in a child restraint system in accordance with the
child restraint manufacturer's and vehicle manufacturer's instructions and the standards
prescribed in 49 CFR 571.213.
(4) If there are more passengers than safety belts available for use, and all safety belts in the
motor vehicle are being utilized in compliance with this section, the operator of the motor
vehicle is in compliance with this section.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3)(b), each operator of a motor vehicle
transporting a child 4 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age in a motor vehicle shall
secure the child in a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt and seated as required under
this section. If the motor vehicle is transporting more children than there are safety belts
available for use, all safety belts available in the motor vehicle are being utilized in compliance
with this section, and the operator and all front seat passengers comply with subsection (3), the
operator of a motor vehicle transporting a child 8 years of age or older but less than 16 years of
age for which there is not an available safety belt is in compliance with this subsection if that
child is seated in other than the front seat of the motor vehicle. However, if that motor vehicle
is a pickup truck without an extended cab or jump seats, and all safety belts in the front seat
are being used, the operator may transport the child in the front seat without a safety belt.
(6) The operator of a motor vehicle shall wear a lap belt, but is not required to wear a shoulder
harness, if the operator is operating the vehicle for the purpose of performing road
construction or maintenance in a work zone.
(7) If after December 31, 2005 the office of highway safety planning certifies that there has
been less than 80% compliance with the safety belt requirements of this section during the
preceding year, enforcement of this section by state or local law enforcement agencies shall be
accomplished only as a secondary action when an operator of a motor vehicle has been
detained for a suspected violation of another section of this act.
(8) Failure to wear a safety belt in violation of this section may be considered evidence of
negligence and may reduce the recovery for damages arising out of the ownership,
maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle. However, that negligence shall not reduce the
recovery for damages by more than 5%.
(9) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.
(10) A law enforcement agency shall conduct an investigation for all reports of police
harassment that result from the enforcement of this section.
(11) The secretary of state shall engage an independent organization to conduct a 3-year study
to determine the effect that the primary enforcement of this section has on the number of
incidents of police harassment of motor vehicle operators. The organization that conducts the
study shall submit a report to the legislature not later than June 30, 2001 and an annual report
not later than June 30 each year thereafter.
(12) The secretary of state shall promote compliance with the safety belt requirements of this
section at the branch offices and through any print or visual media determined appropriate by
the secretary of state.
(13) It is the intent of the legislature that the enforcement of this section be conducted in a
manner calculated to save lives and not in a manner that results in the harassment of the
citizens of this state.
(14) Points shall not be assessed under section 320a2 for a violation of this section.