Except as provided in this chapter, the head lamps, or the auxiliary driving lamps, or combinations of them, on motor vehicles other than a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, shall be arranged so that selection may be made between distributions of light projected to different elevations, subject to the following requirements and limitations:
(1) 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 three hundred fifty feet (350′) ahead for all conditions of loading.
(2) 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 one hundred feet (100′) ahead; and 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.
(3) Every new motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, registered in this state, which has multiple beam road lighting equipment, shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the head lamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. The indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of that vehicle.
(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
History of Section.
P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 34, § 19; P.L. 1954, ch. 3291, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-24-22; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 121.