Home
Menu
Call attorney Graham Syfert at 904-383-7448
Personal Injury Lawyer
Florida Statute 316.221 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
F.S. 316.221 Case Law from Google Scholar
Statute is currently reporting as:
Link to State of Florida Official Statute Google Search for Amendments to 316.221

The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 316.221
316.221 Taillamps.
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in s. 316.217, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, which were originally equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one taillamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one taillamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. An object, material, or covering that alters the taillamp’s visibility from 1,000 feet may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a taillamp.
(2) Either a taillamp 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 50 feet to the rear. Any taillamp or taillamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. Dump trucks and vehicles having dump bodies are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 79-97; s. 173, ch. 99-248; s. 10, ch. 2000-313; s. 17, ch. 2006-290.

F.S. 316.221 on Google Scholar

F.S. 316.221 on Casetext

Amendments to 316.221


Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 316.221
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 316.221.


Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.221
R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.221 TAILLIGHTS - No/improper - 2 red lights required except on vehicles made prior to 01/72 with 1 light - Points on Drivers License: 0
S316.221 REGISTRATION PLATE (TAG) LIGHT - White light illumination from a distance of 50' to the rear required - Points on Drivers License: 0
S316.221 (1) Tail Lights None/improper - Points on Drivers License: 0
S316.221 (2) No Tag Light (Dump trucks and dump bodies are exempt - Points on Drivers License: 0


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

CLASSY CYCLES, INC. v. BAY COUNTY, a a, 201 So. 3d 779 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2016)

. . . approval of lighting devices), § 316.217 (when lighted lamps are required), § 316.220 (headlamps), § 316.221 . . .

UNITED STATES v. WRIGHT, a. k. a., 615 F. App'x 565 (11th Cir. 2015)

. . . . § 316.221(2)-(3). . . .

K. S. a v. STATE, 85 So. 3d 566 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2012)

. . . Section 316.221 governs taillamps in motor vehicles and provides, in relevant part: (2) Either a taillamp . . . violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a non-moving violation.... § 316.221 . . .

C. EVERETT, v. MARIANNA POLICE DEPARTMENT, P., 431 F. App'x 819 (11th Cir. 2011)

. . . . § 316.221(2); see Tackett v. Florida, 745 So.2d 477, 477 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999); United States v. . . .

DAVISON, v. STATE, 15 So. 3d 34 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2009)

. . . He contends that because the officer was mistaken in his belief that section 316.221(2), Florida Statutes . . . his contention that so long as the rear registration tag was clearly legible from 50 feet, as section 316.221 . . . operational and the officers erroneously believed that having one light out was a violation of section 316.221 . . . Section 316.221(2), Florida Statutes, requires that “either a taillamp or separate lamp shall be ... . . . Even though the officer mistakenly believed that section 316.221(2), Florida Statutes (2007), required . . .

PAUL, v. STATE, 991 So. 2d 404 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2008)

. . . Similarly, section 316.221(1), Florida Statutes (2002), does not require taillamps free from cracks or . . .

UNITED STATES v. ZALDIVAR,, 292 F. App'x 868 (11th Cir. 2008)

. . . Stat., § 316.221(2). We cannot consider Zaldivar’s second argument that his consent to Lt. . . .

LANGELLO, v. STATE, 970 So. 2d 491 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2007)

. . . The officer who stopped Lan-gello believed this violated section 316.221(2), Florida Statutes (2004). . . . Section 316.221(2) requires vehicles to be equipped with “either a taillamp or a separate lamp” that . . . The State contends that even if Langello did not violate section 316.221(2), the stop was proper under . . .

UNITED STATES v. ST. LOUIS,, 255 F. App'x 432 (11th Cir. 2007)

. . . . §§ 316.221, 316.217(l)(a). . . .

STATE v. LEE,, 957 So. 2d 76 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2007)

. . . ’s observation that Defendant’s taillamp was not operating justified the traffic stop under section 316.221 . . . Section 316.221, Florida Statutes (2005) provides: (2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be . . .

STATE v. SCHUCK,, 913 So. 2d 69 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005)

. . . reasonable cause to stop the vehicle based on a founded suspicion that it was in violation of section 316.221 . . . findings, the officer was reasonable in his belief that the vehicle was not in compliance with section 316.221 . . . See § 316.221(1). . . . A violation of section 316.221 is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a non-moving violation . . . See § 316.221(3), Fla. Stat. . Review to the Florida Supreme Court granted by State v. . . .

HILTON, v. STATE, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005)

. . . As the supreme court noted, section 316.221(1) specified the requirements for taillights: Every motor . . . because her tag light was too dim to make the tag clearly legible for 50 feet, as required by section 316.221 . . . Snead, 707 So.2d at 770, involved an inoperable taillight in violation of section 316.221, which requires . . .

FRIERSON, v. STATE, 851 So. 2d 293 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

. . . Section 316.221(1), Florida Statutes (2000) requires a motor vehicle to be equipped with “at least two . . .

E. COLE, v. STATE, 838 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

. . . Fla. 2d DCA 1990) (upholding traffic stop based on driving at night with an inoperable tag light); § 316.221 . . .

MICHEL v. STATE, 752 So. 2d 6 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2000)

. . . specifically the statutes requiring taillamps, stop lamps, and prohibiting the obstruction of the highway, ss. 316.221 . . .

TACKETT, v. STATE, 745 So. 2d 477 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

. . . Tackett’s vehicle failed to illuminate the license plate as required by section 316.221(2) of the Florida . . .

STATE v. PARRISH,, 731 So. 2d 101 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

. . . See §§ 316.221(2), 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (1995). . . .

HOLMES, v. STATE, 710 So. 2d 651 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1998)

. . . See §§ 316.221(2), 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (1995). . . .

UNITED STATES v. L. HOLLOMAN,, 113 F.3d 192 (11th Cir. 1997)

. . . Section 316.221(2) of the Florida Uniform Control Law requires a tail lamp or separate lamp to illuminate . . .

INDIALANTIC POLICE DEPARTMENT, v. ZIMMERMAN,, 677 So. 2d 1307 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1996)

. . . State, 540 So.2d 210 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); §§ 316.217, 316.221, Fla. . . .

UNITED STATES v. HOLLOMAN, 908 F. Supp. 917 (M.D. Fla. 1995)

. . . of June 29, 1995, at about 10:30 p.m. for not having a tag light in violation of Florida Statute § 316.221 . . . Holloman’s violation of Florida Statute § 316.221(2), having no tag light, is objectively determinable . . .

R. WILLIAMS, v. STATE, 640 So. 2d 1206 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1994)

. . . State, 588 So.2d 1014 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); § 316.221, Fla.Stat. (1993). . . .

DOCTOR, v. STATE, 596 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1992)

. . . . § 316.221 (taillamps); id. § 316.222 (stop lamps and turn signals); id. § 316.2225 (additional equipment . . . The only such statute arguably applicable in the present case is section 316.221(1), which specifies . . . reasonable officer would have known the statutory requirements for taillights as prescribed by section 316.221 . . .

V. JOSEPH, v. STATE FRANCOIS, v. STATE, 588 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)

. . . Section 316.221, Florida Statutes (1987), requires that a motor vehicle have two taillights emitting . . .

DOCTOR, v. STATE, 573 So. 2d 157 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)

. . . See §§ 316.221 & 316.234, Fla.Stat. (1987). . . .

ANDREWS, v. STATE, 540 So. 2d 210 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1989)

. . . However, appellant overlooks section 316.221(2), Florida Statutes (1987) which provides in part: Any . . .

STATE v. FERNANDEZ,, 526 So. 2d 192 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1988)

. . . vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, under the following conditions; ****** 316.221 . . .

WILHELM, v. STATE, 515 So. 2d 1343 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1987)

. . . However, section 316.221, Florida Statutes (1985), provides in pertinent part: (1) Every motor vehicle . . .

S. KEENER, v. STATE K. SMITH, v. STATE, 290 So. 2d 513 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1974)

. . . . § 316.221, F.S.A., (1971). . . . .