Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-221 (2026)

Use Of Multiple-Beam Road-Lighting Equipment

✓ current as of May 2026

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TITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 9. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT

Part 2. Lighting Equipment

Use Of Multiple-Beam Road-Lighting Equipment

61-9-221. Use of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent to a roadway during the times specified in 61-9-201, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, capable of revealing persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(1) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 1,000 feet, the driver shall use a distribution of light or composite beam that does not project into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light specified in 61-9-220(2) must avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.

(2) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within 500 feet to the rear, the driver shall use a distribution of light permissible under this chapter other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in 61-9-220(1).

History: En. Sec. 133, Ch. 263, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 32-21-136; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 431, L. 1997.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2022 · leading case: State v. L. Gardner, 2022 MT 3 (Mont. 2022).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

State v. L. Gardner, 2022 MT 3 (Mont. 2022). · cites it 27× “¶14 Thus, we must first determine whether the plain language of § 61-9-221, MCA, prohibits momentary flashing of high beams to warn oncorning drivers.”

White v. Murdock, 877 P.2d 474 (Mont. 1994). · cites it 6× “Section 61-9-221(2), MCA. In other words, it makes no difference that defendant Murdock claims not to have seen a 600 to 900 pound moose lying in the middle of the highway until she was *480 two car lengths away, and it makes no difference that defendant Lynds failed to see the…”

Lindberg v. Leatham Bros., Inc., 693 P.2d 1234 (Mont. 1985). · cites it 3× “] Section 61-9-221(1), MCA, provides: “ ‘61-9-221.”

Califato v. Gerke, 852 P.2d 121 (Mont. 1993). · cites it 4× “2d 1234 , we held that where there was evidence that defendant failed to comply with § 61-9-221, MCA, which sets forth requirements for the use of multiple beam lighting equipment on vehicles, it would have been appropriate for the trial court to instruct the jury that failure…”

State v. Rorvik, 2005 MT 344N (Mont. 2005). · cites it 4× “¶7 Rorvik contends that he did not violate § 61-9-221, MCA, due to the fact that the high beam lights on his truck were not operational on the night in question.”

— Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-221(1) — 2 cases

State v. L. Gardner, 2022 MT 3 (Mont. 2022). “¶14 Thus, we must first determine whether the plain language of § 61-9-221, MCA, prohibits momentary flashing of high beams to warn oncorning drivers.”

Lindberg v. Leatham Bros., Inc., 693 P.2d 1234 (Mont. 1985). “] Section 61-9-221(1), MCA, provides: “ ‘61-9-221.”

— Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-221(2) — 1 case

White v. Murdock, 877 P.2d 474 (Mont. 1994). “Section 61-9-221(2), MCA. In other words, it makes no difference that defendant Murdock claims not to have seen a 600 to 900 pound moose lying in the middle of the highway until she was *480 two car lengths away, and it makes no difference that defendant Lynds failed to see the…”

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