Title 32 — MOTOR VEHICLES
55 chapters · 1,941 sections in this title.
SDCL § 32-17-1 Headlamps required--Exceptions--Violation as petty offense
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Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery, or farm tractor shall be equipped with at least two headlamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. A violation of this section is a petty offense. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0352 (2…
Tow truck or wrecker defined--Amber or blue flashers--Violation as misdemeanor
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Unless the context otherwise requires, a tow truck or wrecker means any motor vehicle which is specially equipped to tow, haul, or push disabled automobiles, trucks, or tractors for commercial considerations, or operated by any person, for the purpose of towing or servicing any a…
SDCL § 32-17-11 Registration plate illumination--Requirements respecting on - off switch--Violation as petty offense
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Either the rear lamps required by § 32-17-8 or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. If the rear registration plate is illuminated…
SDCL § 32-17-12 Rear reflector required--Mounting and construction of rear reflector--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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Every new motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer hereafter sold and every commercial vehicle hereafter operated on a highway shall also carry at the rear, either as a part of the rear lamp or separately, a red reflector located at the extreme rear of the vehicle at a height not t…
SDCL § 32-17-13 Mounting of reflectors--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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Whenever in this chapter red reflectors are required upon a vehicle, every such reflector shall be maintained at a height not greater than forty - two inches nor less than twenty - four inches above the ground upon which the vehicle stands, and every such reflector shall be so de…
SDCL § 32-17-14 Vehicles requiring clearance lamps--Location and visibility of clearance lamps--Violation as petty offense
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Every truck, truck tractor, bus with a capacity of ten or more passengers, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer having a width at any part in excess of eighty inches shall be equipped with four clearance lamps. Two of such lamps shall be located at the extreme right and left si…
SDCL § 32-17-15 Vehicles requiring identification lamps--Mounting and spacing of identification lamps--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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Every vehicle referred to in § 32-17-14 or combination of such vehicles having a length in excess of thirty feet or a width in excess of eighty inches shall be equipped with lamps on the front displaying three amber lights and lamps on the rear displaying three red lights, and th…
SDCL § 32-17-15.1 Silage or seasonal farm trucks exempt--Gross weight--Restrictions on use
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Any silage truck or seasonal farm truck, licensed under the provisions of § 32-5-97.1 and having a gross vehicle weight of six to twenty tons, shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 32-17-1 , 32-17-8 , 32-17-11 , 32-17-14 , and 32-17-15 ; provided, however, such motor vehicles…
SDCL § 32-17-15.2 Fertilizer and agricultural chemical trailers exempt--Rear reflector required
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Any vehicle used primarily for the distribution and application of agricultural fertilizer or chemicals, when drawn by another vehicle shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. However, those vehicles are not exempt from the provisions of §
SDCL § 32-17-16 Vehicles transporting passengers for compensation as requiring clearance and identification lamps--Buses excepted--Times during which lamps must be lighted--Violation as misdemeanor
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Every motor propelled or motor drawn vehicle designed or used for the transportation of property or for the transportation of passengers for compensation, except buses operated entirely within municipalities when their interiors are illuminated, shall display lighted lamps at the…
SDCL § 32-17-17 Auxiliary driving lamps--Mounting--Lighting restricted
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Any motor vehicle may be equipped with up to three auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twelve inches nor more than twenty - four inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, and every such auxiliary driving lamp or lamps shall m…
SDCL § 32-17-18 Turn light requirements--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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If a motor vehicle is equipped with a signal lamp to comply with the provisions of § 32-26-23 , the signal lamp shall be so constructed and located on the vehicle as to give a signal, yellow or red in color, which shall be plainly visible in normal sunlight from a distance of one…
SDCL § 32-17-19 Spot lamps--Aiming and adjustment--Violation as misdemeanor
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Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one spot lamp and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left s…
SDCL § 32-17-2 Repealed by SL 1984, ch 228 , § 2
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32-17-3
SDCL § 32-17-20 Adjustment of other lamps--Violation as misdemeanor
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Any device other than headlamps, spot lamps, or auxiliary driving lamps, which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than twenty - five candle power shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the surface on which the vehicle stands at a dist…
SDCL § 32-17-21 Fire vehicles exempt when equipped with other approved devices
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Fire trucks and apparatus shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 32-17-14 and 32-17-15 providing such fire trucks and apparatus are equipped with sirens or horns and red warning lights as provided for in §
SDCL § 32-17-22 United States mail vehicles--Warning lights--Color--Mounting and location--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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Any vehicle, operated by a person authorized to carry United States mail, may be equipped with a single rotating beacon light or lamps to warn the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, over…
SDCL § 32-17-23 Special lights for vehicles operated by persons with disabilities--Violation as petty offense
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Any vehicle owned and operated by a person authorized by the Department of Public Safety to display a special handicapped license plate may be equipped with not to exceed two flashing lights which shall emit an amber light without glare. One such lamp may be mounted on the front …
SDCL § 32-17-24 Headlamps on motorcycles--Violation as petty offense
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Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two headlamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in §§ 32-17-5 and
SDCL § 32-17-24.1 Headlamps on mopeds--Violation as petty offense
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A moped shall be equipped with a headlamp of a single beam type. The headlamp of the moped shall be of sufficient intensity to render clearly discernible a person or vehicle at a distance of not less than one hundred feet. A violation of this section is a petty offense. Source: S…
SDCL § 32-17-25 Bicycle lamps--Visibility and color--Violation as petty offense
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Every bicycle shall be equipped with a lighted lamp on the front thereof visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of at least three hundred feet in front of such bicycle and shall also be equipped with a reflex mirror or lamp on the rear exhibiting a yellow or …
SDCL § 32-17-26 Lights on other vehicles--Color and visibility--Violation as petty offense
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All vehicles not required in §§ 32-17-1 to 32-17-25 , inclusive, to be equipped with specified lighted lamps shall carry one or more lighted lamps or lanterns displaying a white light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the…
SDCL § 32-17-27 Lights on parked vehicles--Color and visibility--Vehicles parked within municipality--Violation as misdemeanor
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Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a highway whether attended or unattended during the times mentioned in § 32-17-4 , there shall be displayed upon such vehicle one or more lamps projecting a white or amber light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distan…
SDCL § 32-17-27.1 Repealed by SL 1989, ch 255 , § 41
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32-17-28 Vehicles required to be equipped with portable flares, lights or reflectors--Visibility--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-17-29 Time during which flares must be displayed--Location and spacing of flares--Removal of vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor--Exceptions. 32-17-30 Subs…
SDCL § 32-17-28 Vehicles required to be equipped with portable flares, lights or reflectors--Visibility--Violation as misdemeanor
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Every motor truck, tractor, truck tractor, farm tractor, road tractor, or road patrol, or any and all combinations thereof, including trailers and semitrailers, and all vehicles exceeding a width at any point of eighty inches operated on the public highways of this state whether …
SDCL § 32-17-29 Time during which flares must be displayed--Location and spacing of flares--Removal of vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor--Exceptions
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Every operator of a motor truck, tractor, truck tractor, farm tractor, road tractor, or road patrol, or any combination thereof, including trailers and semitrailers, and all vehicles exceeding a width at any point of eighty inches, shall, immediately upon bringing his vehicle to …
SDCL § 32-17-3 Repealed by SL 1998, ch 189 , § 1
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32-17-4 Periods during which lamps must be lighted--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-17-4.1 Circumstances exempting law enforcement officers from use of motor vehicle lights. 32-17-5 Construction and adjustment of headlamps--Visibility distance--Four headlight system--High beam indic…
SDCL § 32-17-30 Subsequent violations of flare requirements--Revocation of license
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If a person violates § 32-17-28 or 32-17-29 more than once, the court may impose as an additional penalty the revoking of any permit or license, or both, which the person so convicted holds pertaining to ownership or operation of motor vehicles. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.9918; SL 19…
SDCL § 32-17-4 Periods during which lamps must be lighted--Violation as misdemeanor
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Each motor vehicle on a highway during the period from sunset to sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any person on the highway at a distance of two hundred feet ahead, shall be equipped with lighted front and rear lamps f…
SDCL § 32-17-4.1 Circumstances exempting law enforcement officers from use of motor vehicle lights
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The requirements of § 32-17-4 do not apply to a law enforcement officer, as defined in § 23-3-27 , while operating a motor vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise the property of the state or a political subdivision, in the performance of the officer's law enforcement duties if the o…
SDCL § 32-17-42 Blue lights on emergency vehicles--Driver duty and liability--Authorization to use lights--Penalty
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A motor vehicle may be equipped with blue lights if it is: (1) Authorized by the Department of Transportation; (2) A tow truck or wrecker as defined in § 32-17-10 ; or (3) Operated by: (a) A member of a fire department or search and rescue unit; or (b) An ambulance operator certi…
SDCL § 32-17-43 Exemption of towed highway maintenance vehicles
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A vehicle used primarily for the maintenance of highways and drawn by another vehicle equipped and operated with flashing yellow lights is exempt from the provisions of this chapter when operated during daylight hours. Source: SL 1985, ch 254 .
SDCL § 32-17-44 Command post vehicle to be equipped with green light
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Any vehicle used as a command post at the site of any accident or emergency incident involving any hazard may be equipped with one green rotating beacon light to be visible 360 degrees. Source: SL 1989, ch 269 .
SDCL § 32-17-45 Red and blue lights authorized for law enforcement officers
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Any law enforcement officer may operate a police vehicle with a combination of red lights as provided by § 32-31-4 and blue lights as described in §
Warning light on certain slow - moving vehicles during darkness--Violation as misdemeanor
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No vehicle that is required to display a slow - moving vehicle emblem pursuant to § 32-15-20 may be operated during the period of day between one - half hour after sunset and one - half hour before sunrise on the following day on any public highway unless the vehicle has a flashi…
SDCL § 32-17-47 Flashing lights required on certain animal-drawn vehicles--Violation as misdemeanor
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Any animal-drawn vehicle operating on a highway during the period from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render the vehicle clearly discernible to any person on the highway at a distance of two hundr…
SDCL § 32-17-5 Construction and adjustment of headlamps--Visibility distance--Four headlight system--High beam indicator--Violation as misdemeanor
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The headlamps of motor vehicles shall be so constructed, arranged, and adjusted that, except as provided in § 32-17-7 , they shall at all times mentioned in § 32-17-4 and under normal atmospheric conditions and on a level road produce a driving light sufficient to render clearly …
SDCL § 32-17-6 Requirements respecting adjustment of headlamps--Violation as misdemeanor
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Headlamps shall be deemed to comply with the provisions of § 32-17-5 prohibiting glaring and dazzling lights, if none of the main bright portion of the headlamp beams rises above a horizontal plane passing through the lamp centers parallel to the level road upon which the loaded …
SDCL § 32-17-7 Circumstances under which headlamps must be dimmed--Violation as misdemeanor
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Whenever a motor vehicle, except a moped equipped with a single beam headlamp as provided in § 32-17-24.1 , is being operated upon a highway, or a portion thereof, which is sufficiently lighted to reveal a person on the highway at a distance of two hundred feet ahead of the vehic…
SDCL § 32-17-8 Rear lamps required--Visibility--Combination of vehicles--Height of mounting--Violation as petty offense
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Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, except as otherwise provided in this section, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, which when lighted as …
SDCL § 32-17-8.1 Stop lamps required--Mounting--Visibility--Violation as petty offense
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Except for a vehicle equipped with a slow-moving vehicle emblem in compliance with §§ 32-15-20 and 32-15-21 , each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two stop lamps with at least one on each side. The side stop lamps shall be mou…
SDCL § 32-17-9 Red lights on front of vehicle prohibited--Excepted vehicles--Misdemeanor
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Except for any authorized emergency vehicle as defined by § 32-14-1 , any person who drives or moves any vehicle upon a highway with any red light thereon visible from directly in front thereof, is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SDC 1939, § 44.9924; SL 1967, ch 208 , § …