Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 316.215 (2025)
Scope and effect of regulations.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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316.215 Scope and effect of regulations.—
(1) It is a violation of this chapter for any person to drive or move, or for the owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle, or combination of vehicles, which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person, which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter, or which is equipped in any manner in violation of this chapter, or for any person to do any act forbidden, or fail to perform any act required, under this chapter.
(2) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(3) The provisions of this chapter with respect to equipment required on vehicles shall not apply to implements of husbandry, road machinery, road rollers, or farm tractors except as herein made applicable.
(4) The provisions of this chapter with respect to equipment required on vehicles shall not apply to motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, except as herein made applicable.
(5) The provisions of this chapter and 49 C.F.R. part 393, with respect to number, visibility, distribution of light, and mounting height requirements for headlamps, auxiliary lamps, and turn signals shall not apply to a front-end loading collection vehicle, when:
(a) The front-end loading mechanism and container or containers are in the lowered position;
(b) The vehicle is engaged in collecting solid waste or recyclable or recovered materials; and
(c) The vehicle is being operated at speeds less than 20 miles per hour with the vehicular hazard-warning lights activated.
(6) The provisions of any motor vehicle equipment laws or regulations of this state which relate to or support motor vehicle operation by a human driver but are not relevant for an automated driving system shall not apply to fully autonomous vehicles that are designed to be operated exclusively by the automated driving system for all trips.
(7) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 6, ch. 97-280; s. 31, ch. 97-300; s. 170, ch. 99-248; s. 3, ch. 2021-233.
Note.—Former s. 316.059.
Civil Citations under F.S. 316.215
Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension§316.215DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT - OWNER permitting use with
§316.215DRIVER operating vehicle with unsafe/defective equipment -1 defect per citation
§316.215Defective lights/brakes/tires/steering/Defective or no muffler/other Defective equipment
§316.215(1)Owner permitting use with defective equipment
§316.215(1)DRIVER operating vehicle with unsafe/defective equipment
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1982–2016 · leading case: State v. Cobbs, 411 So. 2d 212 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).
State v. Cobbs, 411 So. 2d 212 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982). “The first was that the provisions of Section 316.215, Florida Statutes (1979), which, inter alia, make it a violation of the State Uniform Traffic Control Law to operate ill-equipped vehicles are inapplicable to motorcycles.”
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). “2952, Florida Statutes (2002), provides: (1) A windshield in a fixed and upright position, which windshield is equipped with safety glazing as required by federal safety-glazing material standards, is required on every motor vehicle which is operated on the public highways,…”
Classy Cycles, Inc. v. Bay Cnty., 201 So. 3d 779 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). “156 (signal lamps), § 316.215 (vehicles in unsafe condition), § 316.”
Walter Byron Lewis v. United States, 491 F. App'x 84 (11th Cir. 2012). “Fla. Stat. Ann. §§ 316.215 (1) and 316.294 (2012).”
Scott v. State, 710 So. 2d 1378 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998). “[3] See also §§ 316.215; 316.222; 316.234, Fla. Stat. (1995).”
— 316.215(1) — 1 case
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). “2952, Florida Statutes (2002), provides: (1) A windshield in a fixed and upright position, which windshield is equipped with safety glazing as required by federal safety-glazing material standards, is required on every motor vehicle which is operated on the public highways,…”
— 316.215(4) — 1 case
State v. Cobbs, 411 So. 2d 212 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982). “The first was that the provisions of Section 316.215, Florida Statutes (1979), which, inter alia, make it a violation of the State Uniform Traffic Control Law to operate ill-equipped vehicles are inapplicable to motorcycles.”
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