Lights—Lighting devices and reflectors on vehicles having width in excess of 80 inches, truck tractors and trailers—Lamp or flag on projecting load.
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 11-32-11
in effectSec. 11-32-11. - Lights—Lighting devices and reflectors on vehicles having width in excess of 80 inches, truck tractors and trailers—Lamp or flag on projecting load.
A. Generally. Every motor vehicle other than any passenger car, any road roller, road machinery or farm tractor having a width of 80 inches or more shall be equipped with at least the following lighting devices and reflectors:
1. On the front, at least two headlamps, an equal number at each side; two turn signals, one at each side; two clearance lamps, one at each side; three identification lamps, mounted on the vertical center line of the vehicle, or the vertical center line of the cab where different from the center line of the vehicle, except that where the cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roofline, a single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirements for identification lamps. No part of the identification lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle windshield;
2. On the rear, two tail lamps, one at each side; two stop lamps, one at each side; two turn signals, one at each side; two clearance lamps, one at each side; two reflectors, one at each side; three identification lamps, mounted on the vertical center line of the vehicle, provided that the identification lamps need not be lighted if obscured by a vehicle towed by the truck;
3. On each side, one side-marker lamp at or near the front, one side-marker lamp at or near the rear; one reflector at or near the front, and one reflector at or near the rear.
B. Truck tractors. Every truck tractor shall be equipped as follows:
1. On the front, at least two headlamps, an equal number at each side; two turn signals, one at each side; two clearance lamps, one at each side; three identification lamps, mounted on the vertical center line of the vehicle, or the vertical center line of the cab where different from the center line of the vehicle, except that where the cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roofline, a single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirement for identification lamps. No part of the identification lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle windshield;
2. On the rear, one tail lamp; one stop lamp; two reflectors, one at each side; and, unless the turn signals on the front are so constructed (double faced) and located as to be visible to passing drivers, two turn signals on the rear of the cab, one at each side.
C. Trailers. Every semitrailer or full trailer 80 inches or more in overall width, except converter dollies, shall be equipped as follows:
1. On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side;
2. On the rear, two tail lamps, one at each side; two stop lamps, one at each side; two turn signals, one at each side; two clearance lamps, one at each side; two reflectors, one at each side; three identification lamps, mounted on the vertical center line of the vehicle, provided that the identification lamps need not be lighted if obscured by another vehicle in the same combination;
3. On each side, one side-marker lamp at or near the front; one side-marker lamp at or near the rear: one reflector at or near the front; one reflector at or near the rear; and, in case of semitrailers and full trailers 30 feet or more in length, at least one additional side-marker lamp at optional height and at least one additional reflector, the additional side-marker lamp (or lamps) and reflector (or reflectors) to be at or near the center or at approximately uniform spacing in the length of the vehicle.
4. For the purposes of these regulations, a "converter dolly" is a motor vehicle with a fifth wheel lower half or equivalent mechanism, the attachment of which vehicle converts a semitrailer to a full trailer. Each dolly, when towed singly by another vehicle, and not as part of a full trailer, shall be equipped with one stop lamp, one tail lamp, and two reflectors on the rear. No lighting devices or reflectors are required on the front or sides of any dolly.
D. Projections. During the time when lights are required to be displayed, there shall be attached to the rearmost extremity of any load which projects four feet or more beyond the rear of the of the body of the motor vehicle, or at any tailboard or tailgate so projecting, or to the rearmost extremity of any load, carried on a pole trailer, at least one red lamp, securely fastened thereto, which shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the sides and rear under normal atmospheric conditions. At all other times a red flag or cloth, synthetic or manmade material shall be so displayed.
E. Towed vehicles. Any vehicle attached to, or being towed, drawn or hauled by another vehicle, shall have separately displayed thereon the lights required herein to be displayed on vehicles to which they belong.
F. Electric turn signal lights; exceptions. Every passenger vehicle and truck shall be equipped with electric turn signal lights except that passenger cars and trucks less than 80 inches in width, manufactured or assembled prior to 1955, and motorcycles and motor-drive cycles, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lights.
The electric turn signal lights shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights showing to the front and rear of a vehicle or on a combination of vehicles on the side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.
The lights showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber. The light showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber. Turn signal lights on vehicles 80 inches or more in overall width shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet in normal sunlight. Turn signal lights on vehicles less than 80 inches wide shall be visible at a distance of not less than 300 feet in normal sunlight. Turn signal lights may, but need not be, incorporated in other lights on the vehicle.
(Code 1967, §§ 23-1(c), (e)—(g), 23-112, 23-113; Code 1985, § 21-331; Ord. No. 3514, § 1(1), (2), 1-7-1986)
Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11VETR_CH11-32VEEQ_S11-32-11LIIGDEREVEHAWIEX80INTRTRTRAMFLPRLOFetched: 10/28/2026