Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 257 / Act 300 of 1949
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686 (2026)

Rear lamps; exemption; requirements for implement of husbandry; pickup camper.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.686 Rear lamps; exemption; requirements for implement of husbandry; pickup camper.

Sec. 686.

    (1) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle which is being drawn in a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least 1 rear lamp mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required by this act, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.

    (2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed so as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

    (3) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this section if the vehicle as originally equipped failed to meet these requirements.

    (4) When operated or moved on a highway at the times specified in section 684, an implement of husbandry shall meet either of the following requirements:

    (a) For implements of husbandry manufactured before January 1, 2007, the following:

    (i) Display lighted rear lamps which meet the requirements of subsection (1).

    (ii) Be accompanied by a vehicle which follows behind the implement of husbandry at a distance of not more than 50 feet, illuminates the implement of husbandry with the vehicle's headlights, and displays on the rear of the vehicle lighted rear lamps as required by this section.

    (b) For implements of husbandry manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, the provisions of section 684a.

    (5) A pickup camper shall be attached to the motor vehicle in a manner so that the registration plate of the motor vehicle is clearly visible.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 55, Imd. Eff. Mar. 10, 1978 ;-- Am. 1987, Act 90, Imd. Eff. July 1, 1987 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 98, Eff. Jan. 1, 1991 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 14, Imd. Eff. Feb. 9, 2006

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1963–2026 · leading case: People v. Williams, 601 N.W.2d 138 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999).
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People v. Williams, 601 N.W.2d 138 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “Resolution of this issue requires judicial interpretation of § 686 of the Vehicle Code, MCL 257.686; MSA 9.2386, which addresses rear lamps.”
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 510 N.W.2d 184 (Mich. 1994). · cites it 2× “MCL 257.686(4)(b); MSA 9.2386(4)(b). In light of these facts, it cannot be seriously argued that the tractor in this case was designed for highway use.”
Klinke v. Mitsubishi Motors Corp., 581 N.W.2d 272 (Mich. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 257.686; M.S.A. § 9.2386, which requires rear lamps; M.”
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y of the United States, 493 N.W.2d 447 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “MCL 257.686(4)(b); MSA 9.2386(4)(b). In light of these facts, it cannot be seriously argued that the tractor in this case was designed for highway use.”
State v. Antonio D. Brown, 2014 WI 69 (Wis. 2014). · cites it 2× “Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 257.686 (1) (West 2014).”
Strick v. Cicchirillo, 683 S.E.2d 575 (W. Va. 2009). “at 140 (quoting Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686 ) (emphasis in original).”
Schian v. Bierlein, 119 N.W.2d 611 (Mich. 1963). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] Paragraph (a) of section 686 of the Michigan vehicle code (CLS 1956, § 257.686 [Stat Ann 1960 Rev § 9.2386]), reads: "Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole-trailer and any other vehicle which is being drawn in a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at…”
People v. Balog, 224 N.W.2d 725 (Mich. Ct. App. 1974). “Defendants’ automobile lights did not illuminate the rear license plate in violation of MCLA 257.686; MSA 9.2386. As indicated in People v Johnson, 48 Mich App 50 ; 209 NW2d 868 (1973), that statute plus MCLA 257.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 10× “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 10× “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
State v. Hunt, 302 S.W.3d 859 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “90, § 6 ; Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686 (2); Tex. *865 Transp.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 8× “” MCL 257.686(1). In turn, subsection (2) provides in relevant part, “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving -3- lamps are lighted.”
Show all 30 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686(1) — 7 cases
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “” MCL 257.686(1). In turn, subsection (2) provides in relevant part, “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving -3- lamps are lighted.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
Est. of Earl King v. Christopher Sawyers (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686(2) — 13 cases
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.”
People of Michigan v. Marcus Kalvin Thornton (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “” MCL 257.686(1). In turn, subsection (2) provides in relevant part, “A tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be wired so as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving -3- lamps are lighted.”
City of East Grand Rapids v. Trevor Allen Vanderhart (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686(4)(b) — 2 cases
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y, 510 N.W.2d 184 (Mich. 1994). “MCL 257.686(4)(b); MSA 9.2386(4)(b). In light of these facts, it cannot be seriously argued that the tractor in this case was designed for highway use.”
Mull v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y of the United States, 493 N.W.2d 447 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992). “MCL 257.686(4)(b); MSA 9.2386(4)(b). In light of these facts, it cannot be seriously argued that the tractor in this case was designed for highway use.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.686(b) — 1 case
People v. Johnson, 209 N.W.2d 868 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).
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