316.221. Taillamps
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is
being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two
taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in s. 316.217, shall emit a red
light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and
pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, which were originally
equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one taillamp. On a combination of vehicles,
only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified.
On vehicles equipped with more than one taillamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same
level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. An object, material, or covering that alters
the taillamp's visibility from 1,000 feet may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or
applied over a taillamp.
(2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed 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. Any taillamp or taillamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating
the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or
auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. Dump trucks and vehicles having dump bodies are exempt
from the requirements of this subsection.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving
violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.226. Visibility requirements for reflectors, clearance lamps, identification lamps and
marker lamps
(1) Every reflector upon any vehicle referred to in s. 316.2225 shall be of such size and
characteristics and so maintained as to be readily visible at nighttime from all distances within
600 feet to 100 feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful lower beams of
headlamps, except that the visibility for reflectors on vehicles manufactured or assembled
prior to January 1, 1972, shall be measured in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
Reflectors required to be mounted on the sides of the vehicle shall reflect the required color of
light to the sides and those mounted on the rear shall reflect a red color to the rear.
(2) Front and rear clearance lamps and identification lamps shall be capable of being seen and
distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at all
distances between 550 feet from the front and rear, respectively, of the vehicle.
(3) Side marker lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal
atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at all distances between 550 feet from
the side of the vehicle on which mounted.
(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving
violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.251. Maximum bumper heights
(1) Every motor vehicle of net shipping weight of not more than 5,000 pounds shall be
equipped with a front and a rear bumper such that when measured from the ground to the
bottom of the bumper the maximum height shall be as follows:
NET WEIGHT
FRONT
REAR
Automobiles for private use:
Net weight of less than 2,500 pounds
22″
22″
Net weight of 2,500 pounds or more, but less than 3,500 pounds
24″
26″
Net weight of 3,500 pounds or more
27″
29″
Trucks:
Net weight of less than 2,000 pounds
24″
26″
Net weight of 2,000 or more, but not more than 3,000 pounds
27″
29″
Net weight of 3,000 pounds, but not more than 5,000 pounds
28″
30″
(2) “New motor vehicles” as defined in s. 319.001(9), “antique automobiles” as defined in s.
320.08, “horseless carriages” as defined in s. 320.086, and “street rods” as defined in s.
320.0863 shall be excluded from the requirements of this section.
(3) A violation of this section shall be defined as a moving violation. A person charged with a
violation of this section is subject to the penalty provided in s. 318.18.
316.261. Brake equipment required
Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any combination of such vehicles,
operating upon a highway within this state shall be equipped with brakes in compliance with
the requirements of this chapter.
(1) Service brakes; adequacy.--Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles, except special
mobile equipment not designed to carry persons, shall be equipped with service brakes
adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle under all conditions of
loading, and on any grade incident to its operation.
(2) Parking brakes; adequacy.--Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles shall be
equipped with parking brakes adequate to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is
operated, under all conditions of loading, on a surface free of loose material. The parking
brakes shall be capable of being applied in conformance with the foregoing requirements by
the driver's muscular effort or by spring action or by equivalent means. Their operation may be
assisted by the service brakes or other source of power provided that failure of the service
brake actuation system or other power assisting mechanism will not prevent the parking brakes
from being applied in conformance with the foregoing requirements. The parking brakes shall
be so designed that when once applied they shall remain applied with the required
effectiveness despite exhaustion of any source of energy or leakage of any kind. The same
brakedrums, brakeshoes and lining assemblies, brakeshoe anchors, and mechanical brakeshoe
actuation mechanism normally associated with the wheel-brake assemblies may be used for
both the service brakes and the parking brakes. If the means of applying the parking brakes and
the service brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any
one part shall not leave the vehicle without operative brakes.
(3) Brakes on all wheels.--Every vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels
except:
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(f) “Antique cars” as defined in s. 320.08, and “horseless carriages” as defined in s.
320.086.
(4) Automatic trailer brake application upon breakaway.--Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole
trailer with air or vacuum-actuated brakes, every trailer and semitrailer with a gross weight in
excess of 3,000 pounds, and every pole trailer with a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds
manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1972, shall be equipped with brakes acting on all
wheels and of such character as to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied
for at least 15 minutes, upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.
(5) Tractor brakes protected.--Every motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1,
1972, and used to tow a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer equipped with brakes, shall be
equipped with means for providing that in case of breakaway of the towed vehicle, the towing
vehicle will be capable of being stopped by the use of its service brakes.
(6) Trailer air reservoirs safeguarded.--Air brake systems installed on trailers manufactured or
assembled after January 1, 1972, shall be so designed that the supply reservoir used to provide
air for the brakes shall be safeguarded against backflow of air from the reservoir through the
supply line.
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316.222. Stop lamps and turn signals
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two or more
stop lamps meeting the requirements of s. 316.234(1). Motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers and
pole trailers manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, shall be equipped with at
least one stop lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the stop lamps on the rearmost vehicle
need actually be seen from the distance specified in s. 316.234(1).
(2) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with electric turn
signal lamps meeting the requirements of s. 316.234(2).
(3) Passenger cars and trucks less than 80 inches in width, manufactured or assembled prior to
January 1, 1972, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.
(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving
violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.239. Single-beam road-lighting equipment
(1) Headlamp systems which provide only a single distribution of light shall be permitted on all
farm tractors regardless of date of manufacture, and on other motor vehicles manufactured
and sold prior to January 1, 1972, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment herein
specified if the single distribution of light complies with the following requirements and
limitations:
(a) The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the
high intensity portion of the light shall, at a distance of 25 feet ahead, project higher
than a level of five 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.
(b) The intensity shall be sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at
least 200 feet.
(2) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving
violation as provided in chapter 318.
319.225. Transfer and reassignment forms; odometer disclosure statements
(4) Upon transfer or reassignment of a certificate of title to a used motor vehicle, the transferor
shall complete the odometer disclosure statement provided for by this section and the
transferee shall acknowledge the disclosure by signing and printing his or her name in the
spaces provided. This subsection does not apply to a vehicle that has a gross vehicle rating of
more than 16,000 pounds, a vehicle that is not self-propelled, or a vehicle that is 10 years old or
older. A lessor who transfers title to his or her vehicle without obtaining possession of the
vehicle shall make odometer disclosure as provided by 49 C.F.R. s. 580.7. Any person who fails
to complete or acknowledge a disclosure statement as required by this subsection is guilty of a
misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. The
department may not issue a certificate of title unless this subsection has been complied with.