Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 189
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.030 (2026)

Time when lights must be on

✓ current as of May 2026 Cite as: Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.030 (2026)
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(1) Headlamps, when required on a vehicle, shall be illuminated: (a) During the period from one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise; and (b) At such other times as atmospheric conditions render visibility as low as or lower than is ordinarily the case during that period. (2) Provisions as to distances that lights must be visible refer to visibility under ordinary atmospheric conditions. Effective: July 12, 2006 History: Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2006. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g- 23, 2739g-24.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1946–2024 · leading case: Cheatham v. Chabal
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Cheatham v. Chabal (1946) kyctapphigh · cites it 2× “But he calls our attention to the provisions of KRS 189.030, the section immediately preceding the one requiring the 350 foot visibility, which says therein: “Provisions as to distances that lights must be visible refer to visibility under ordinary atmospheric conditions.”
Duff v. Lykins (1957) kyctapp · cites it 2× “KRS 189.030(1) requires lights on vehicles generally.”
Commonwealth v. Lamberson (2006) kyctapp “Bryan Lamberson until such time as the above-styled interlocutory appeal becomes final. 1 .”
Crawford Transport Co. v. Wireman Ex Rel. Wireman (1955) kyctapphigh “2739g-24 and 2739g-30), now KRS 189.030 et seq., relating to the lights on a car while “in operation”, did apply.”
Cottrell v. Martin A. Ceder, Inc. (1964) kyctapp “450(1), 4 KRS 189.030, 5 or § 18-129 of the Lexington city ordinances 6 and, if so, whether any of such violations was sufficiently related to the accident to entail civil liability therefor.”
Schoenbaechler v. Louisville Taxicab & Transfer Co. (1959) kyctapp “(The question of negligence of the taxi driver is not argued, the appellee apparently conceding that testimony of the appellant and a companion that the taxi had no lights, and that atmospheric conditions were such that the lights were required under KRS 189.030, was sufficient…”
Commonwealth v. Lamberson (2010) kyctapp “010G), (5)(d), a Class D felony. Lamberson was also indicted on a single count of reckless driving, a violation under KRS 189.”
Keller v. Morehead (1952) kyctapphigh “KRS 189.030(1) provides: “Lights, when required on a vehicle shall be illuminated during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, and at such other times as atmospheric conditions render visibility as low as or lower than is ordinarily the case…”
Johnson v. Hunt (1954) kywd “Sections 189.030 and 189.040 require that an automobile be equipped with lights on the occasion in question.”
Cimiotta v. Slaubaugh (2019) kywd · cites it 2× “170(1), “Plates shall be kept legible at all times and the rear plate shall be illuminated when being operated during the hours designated in KRS 189.030.” Defendant states that as Plaintiff’s truck “turned onto Pierce Street, I could not read the truck’s license plate.”
Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Donna Marie Blake (2018) ky · cites it 2× “170(1), which provides, in part: "Plates shall be kept legible at all times and the rear plate shall be illuminated when being operated during the hours designated in KRS 189.030." Further, KRS 189.030 states, in part: "(1) Headlamps, when required on a vehicle, shall be…”
Dyvontae Troy Rondell Davis v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (2021) kyctapp “170 requires, in pertinent part, “Plates shall be kept legible at all times and the rear plate shall be illuminated when being operated during the hours designated in KRS 189.030.” -2- Davis’s motion to suppress statements made by him prior to Officer Mascoe reading Miranda…”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.030(1) — 4 cases
Commonwealth v. Lamberson (2006) kyctapp “Bryan Lamberson until such time as the above-styled interlocutory appeal becomes final. 1 .”
Duff v. Lykins (1957) kyctapp “KRS 189.030(1) requires lights on vehicles generally.”
Commonwealth v. Lamberson (2010) kyctapp “010G), (5)(d), a Class D felony. Lamberson was also indicted on a single count of reckless driving, a violation under KRS 189.”
Keller v. Morehead (1952) kyctapphigh “KRS 189.030(1) provides: “Lights, when required on a vehicle shall be illuminated during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, and at such other times as atmospheric conditions render visibility as low as or lower than is ordinarily the case…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.030(2) — 1 case
Duff v. Lykins (1957) kyctapp “KRS 189.030(1) requires lights on vehicles generally.”
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