Colo. Rev. Stat. » Title 42
Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-217 (2026)

Use of multiple-beam lights

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in section 42-4-204, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(a) Whenever a driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within five hundred feet, such driver shall use a distribution of light or composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light or composite beam specified in section 42-4-216 (1)(b) shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.

(b) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within two hundred feet to the rear, except when engaged in the act of overtaking and passing, such driver shall use a distribution of light permissible under this title other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in section 42-4-216 (1)(a).

(c) A low-speed electric vehicle may use the distribution of light authorized in section 42-4-216 (1.5).

(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic infraction.

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2253, § 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2009: (1)(c) added, (SB 09-075), ch. 418, p. 2324, § 11, effective August 5.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-4-215 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-217 was relocated to § 42-4-219.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2000–2022 · leading case: United States v. Bustillos-Munoz, 235 F.3d 505 (10th Cir. 2000).
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United States v. Bustillos-Munoz, 235 F.3d 505 (10th Cir. 2000). · cites it 2× “Since we find that this conduct violates Colorado law, namely Colo.Rev.Stat. § 42-4-217, we believe that it was a sufficient basis upon which Trooper Cox could conduct a traffic stop.”
United States v. Hight, 127 F. Supp. 3d 1126 (D. Colo. 2015). · cites it 2× “See Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-217 . Trooper Chmielewski also observed certain driving behavior that he testified “surprised” him: Defendant, who was driving in the center lane, moved into the right lane, where the trooper was driving, got behind the trooper, and slowed down.”
State v. L. Gardner, 2022 MT 3 (Mont. 2022). “Code § 24409 (LexisNexis 2021); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-217 (2021); Conn.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-217(l)(b) — 1 case
United States v. Bustillos-Munoz, 235 F.3d 505 (10th Cir. 2000). “Since we find that this conduct violates Colorado law, namely Colo.Rev.Stat. § 42-4-217, we believe that it was a sufficient basis upon which Trooper Cox could conduct a traffic stop.”
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