Is it Illegal to Put Christmas Lights on Your Vehicle in Indiana?
'Tis the season for Christmas lights, but can you legally put them on your vehicle for the holidays in Indiana?
We all know someone who goes all out for Christmas each year. You've seen the homes around Indiana full of lights, inflatables, and epic Christmas displays. They are the Clark Griswald of the neighborhood. Everything is adorned with Christmas lights. Some people get so into in that they decorate their vehicles for the holidays. I've seen some people with a red Rudolph nose on the grill of their vehicle, reindeer antlers on top of their car, and even some folks who put Christmas lights on their vehicles. So, that got me wondering. Can you drive around Indiana in what's basically a moving, lit-up Christmas tree?
Before you say "I see it all the time, so it's gotta be okay," keep in mind that just because you see people doing something doesn't mean that they're following the law. People do a lot of things, especially on the roadways, that aren't necessarily legal. So, can you legally put Christmas lights on your car in Indiana?
Is it Illegal to Put Christmas Lights on Your Vehicle in Indiana?
In a Facebook post from ISP's Lowell Post, submitted photos show an SUV decked out in Christmas lights, candy canes and even sporting a Christmas tree on its roof driving around the northern Indiana city of Portage. It's a very festive and cool look. However, it's a distraction to other drivers and also illegal.
According to the post on Facebook:
According to Indiana Code 9-21-7-10, using colored lights anywhere outside the front and back of a non-emergency vehicle is illegal. We didn’t write the law, but it is on the books.
“A person may not drive or move a vehicle or equipment upon a highway with a lamp or device on the vehicle or equipment displaying light other than white or amber visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle or equipment,” IC 9-21-7-10.
The bottom line is that this is pretty much what could and probably will happen to you if you decide to give it a try this year. So, while you might be in the Christmas spirit, leave the Christmas lights on your home and not your vehicle.
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