Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 316.220 (2025)

Headlamps on motor vehicles.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section FL-LEGleg.state.fl.us JustiaFla. Statutes CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
316.220 Headlamps on motor vehicles.
(1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter, and shall show a white light. An object, material, or covering that alters the headlamp’s light color may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a headlamp.
(2) Every headlamp upon every motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches to be measured as set forth in s. 316.217.
(3) 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. 172, ch. 99-248; s. 9, ch. 2000-313.

Civil Citations under F.S. 316.220

Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension
§316.220HEADLIGHTS - Minimum 1 on each side of motor vehicle, white light 24"-54" from road level.
§316.220(1)Headlights required/tinted
§316.220(2)Head lamp violation
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1992–2016 · leading case: Thomas E. Terrell v. Steve Smith, 668 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2012).
Thomas E. Terrell v. Steve Smith, 668 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2012). “Fla. Stat. Ann. § 316.220 (1). Vehicles “shall display lighted lamps .”
Doctor v. State, 596 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1992). · cites it 2× “, § 316.220, Fla. Stat. (1987) (headlamps); id.”
Classy Cycles, Inc. v. Bay Cnty., 201 So. 3d 779 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). “217 (when lighted lamps are required), § 316.220 (headlamps), § 316.221 (tail-lamps), § 316.”
Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., Bureau of Driver Improvement v. Thompson, 622 So. 2d 1169 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993). · cites it 2× “Section 316.220, Florida Statutes (1991), requires that every motor vehicle be equipped with at least two headlamps, and section 316.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 316 matters in the context of traffic and automobile accident law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.