SB 865

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate a vehicle

upon a highway during hours of darkness or during a period of limited visibility

unless the vehicle's required headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps are lighted.

Current law defines “hours of darkness" as the period of time from one-half

hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and when visibility is 500 feet or

less. Under this bill, “hours of darkness" means the period of time from sunset to

sunrise and when visibility is 1,000 feet or less. The modification of this definition

will also apply to current law provisions relating to the operation of all-terrain and

utility terrain vehicles, driving experience requirements for issuance of operator's

licenses, restrictions applicable to instruction permits and restricted licenses, and

requirements for the examination of applicants for a motorcycle license.

Current law defines “period of limited visibility” as any time that weather

conditions limit visibility such that objects on a highway are not clearly discernible

at 500 feet from the front of a vehicle. Under the bill, “period of limited visibility”

means any time that weather conditions limit visibility such that objects on a

highway are not clearly discernible at 1,000 feet from the front of a vehicle or the

vehicle's windshield wipers are in use.