Defective/improper taillamps
Florida Statute § 316.221
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Quick Summary
Covered vehicles generally need two rear red taillamps visible from 1,000 feet when required to be lit, mounted at the same level and as widely spaced as practicable. Pre-1972 passenger cars/pickups originally equipped with one need only one. In combinations, the required visibility is from the rearmost vehicle. Covers may not alter the required visibility. Rear plates must be white-lit and legible from 50 feet whenever headlamps/auxiliary driving lamps are lit; dump-body vehicles have the subsection (2) exception.
Summary sources
Classification, Points & Penalties
Classification, Points & Penalties
- Category
- Lighting
- Type
- Non-Moving
- Civil / Criminal
- Civil
- Offense Classification
- Nonmoving infraction
- Points
- 0
- Fine / Penalty
- $30 base nonmoving penalty; offense-specific penalties/court costs may differ
Base fines are not the total payable amount. Costs, enforcement method, crash consequences, prior history, and court disposition can change penalties or points. A reported zero does not rule out license suspension or revocation.
Court & Enforcement
Court & Enforcement
- Mandatory Court
- No, generally
- NTA Eligible
- N/A — civil citation
- Custodial Arrest
- No — civil infraction (absent separate lawful basis)
NTA means notice to appear. Eligibility is conditional; these fields do not independently authorize arrest. Confirm the exact statutory track, lawful arrest authority, traffic procedure, and agency policy.
Arrest authority guideCivil infractions resulting in death or serious bodily injury require a hearing under §318.19.