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Florida Statute 316.237 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 316.237 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 316.237 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
316.237 Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
(1) Except as hereinafter provided, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamp or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination thereof on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and such lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:
(a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 450 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.
(b) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 150 feet ahead; and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

An object, material, or covering that alters the headlamp’s visibility from at least 450 feet for an uppermost distribution of light or at least 150 feet for a lowermost distribution of light may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a headlamp.

(2) Every new motor vehicle registered in this state shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. Said indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.
(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. 186, ch. 99-248; s. 13, ch. 2000-313.

Civil Citations under F.S. 316.237

Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension
§316.237HEADLIGHTS - IMPROPER distribution/adjustment/visibility
§316.237(1)Headlight/Auxiliary/Driver/Passenger Lamp Select
§316.237(1)(a)Upper beam Improper adjustment/distribution
§316.237(1)(b)Lower beam Improper adjustment/distribution
§316.237(2)Beam indicator none/improper

Cases Citing F.S. 316.237

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·Junger Util. & Paving Co. Inc. v. Myers, 578 So. 2d 1117 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).

Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1989 WL 139127

...s. PER CURIAM. Appellants seek reversal of a final judgment against them in a negligence action based upon a vehicular accident. They claim reversible error in the trial judge's ruling that their expert accident reconstructionist could not rely upon section 316.237, Florida Statutes, for an assumption that the headlights of the vehicle in which the plaintiff was a passenger illuminated at least 150 feet, the minimum standard set by the statute....
0 red0 yellow5 green0 procedural
Cited as authorityBradley (2006)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (1998)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityBonnell (1995)
phrase: "rule_authority"

This Florida statute resource is curated by an Orange Park personal injury and workers' comp lawyer, 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.