Tex. Codes » Transportation Code · TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC · SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD · CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
Texas Codes

Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322 (2026)

Taillamps Required

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Sec. 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.

(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one taillamp.

(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:

(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and

(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.

(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.

(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).

(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that:

(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and

(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.

(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary driving lamp is lighted.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 89 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: State of Texas v. Mazuca, Alvaro, 375 S.W.3d 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
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State of Texas v. Mazuca, Alvaro, 375 S.W.3d 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “) at 312-13 (discussing application of Texas Transportation Code § 547.322). The col- or photograph of the vehicle’s taillights that was provided to the trial court showed that the taillights were in compliance with the law.”
Spence v. State, 325 S.W.3d 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “Compare TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 547.322(f) (stating, "A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that: (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.”
St. George v. State, 237 S.W.3d 720 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 547.322 (Vernon 1995).”
Gelinas, James Henry, 398 S.W.3d 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). “Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f) ("A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that: (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.”
State v. Johnson, 219 S.W.3d 386 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “[2] TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 547.322(f), (g). [1] TEX.”
Palacios v. State, 319 S.W.3d 68 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). · cites it 3× “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 547.322 (f) (Vernon 1999).”
Blakely v. Andrade, 360 F. Supp. 3d 453 (N.D. Tex. 2019). “" Tex. Trans. Code Ann. § 547.322 (a), (g).”
United States v. Estrada, 459 F.3d 627 (5th Cir. 2006). “The driver, Jorge, was told that he was stopped for having a defective rear *629 license plate lamp in violation of Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 547.322 (Vernon 1995).”
Montanez v. State, 211 S.W.3d 412 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006). · cites it 2× “Tex. TraNSP. Code Ann. § 547.322 (f) (Vernon 1999).”
Washington v. State, 215 S.W.3d 551 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007). “See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 547.322(g) (Vernon 1999).”
Donna Lynn Martin v. State, 565 S.W.3d 814 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f)(2). The video recording shows that the deputy initially spent about a minute talking to the driver about the purpose for the stop and to ask for the driver’s license, registration, and insurance.”
United States v. Flores-Fernandez, 418 F. Supp. 2d 908 (S.D. Tex. 2006). “As required by Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 547.322 (f), “[a] taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that: (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.”
Show all 89 citing cases →
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(a): 4 cases
State v. Jesus Tabares, No. 08-17-00175-CR, 2019 WL 2315004 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 31, 2019).
Clayton Ray Mockabee v. State of Texas, No. 10-22-00053-CR (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 22, 2023).
David Rodriguez Montes v. State, No. 08-13-00060-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Feb. 20, 2015).
Victoria Morin v. State, No. 07-14-00101-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 16, 2015).
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(d): 7 cases
State of Texas v. Mazuca, Alvaro, 375 S.W.3d 294 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). “) at 312-13 (discussing application of Texas Transportation Code § 547.322). The col- or photograph of the vehicle’s taillights that was provided to the trial court showed that the taillights were in compliance with the law.”
Thomas Damien McLean v. State, No. 05-18-00545-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 6, 2018).
Eric James Freeman v. State, No. 11-17-00134-CR (Tex. App.—Eastland May 9, 2019).
State of Texas v. Mazuca, Alvaro, No. PD-1035-11 (Tex. Crim. App. May 23, 2012).
State of Texas v. Mazuca, Alvaro, No. PD-1035-11 (Tex. Crim. App. May 23, 2012).
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f): 30 cases
Spence v. State, 325 S.W.3d 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). “Compare TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 547.322(f) (stating, "A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that: (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.”
Gelinas, James Henry, 398 S.W.3d 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). “Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f) ("A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that: (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and (2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.”
State v. Johnson, 219 S.W.3d 386 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[2] TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 547.322(f), (g). [1] TEX.”
Montanez v. State, 211 S.W.3d 412 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006). “Tex. TraNSP. Code Ann. § 547.322 (f) (Vernon 1999).”
Kellie Lynn Dominy-Gatz v. State, No. 05-15-01194-CR, 2016 WL 7321435 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 16, 2016).
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f)(1): 1 case
Ernest Green v. State, No. 08-14-00131-CR (Tex. App.—El Paso Apr. 22, 2016).
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f)(2): 3 cases
Donna Lynn Martin v. State, 565 S.W.3d 814 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(f)(2). The video recording shows that the deputy initially spent about a minute talking to the driver about the purpose for the stop and to ask for the driver’s license, registration, and insurance.”
Susan Oden v. State, No. 03-16-00055-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 15, 2016).
Donna Lynn Martin v. State, No. 14-17-00965-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 29, 2018).
Tex. Transp. Code § 547.322(g): 3 cases
Washington v. State, 215 S.W.3d 551 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007). “See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 547.322(g) (Vernon 1999).”
Mark David Zimmerman v. State, No. 05-17-00492-CR, 2018 WL 3968419 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 20, 2018).
State v. Jesus Tabares, No. 08-17-00175-CR, 2019 WL 2315004 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 31, 2019).
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