Section 699 - Turn Signal LampsTurn signal lamps shall be mounted and operated as follows:
(a) Motor Vehicles. Turn signal systems on motor vehicles shall consist of at least two single-faced or double-faced turn signal lamps on or near the front and at least two single-faced turn signal lamps on the rear. Double-faced turn signal lamps shall be mounted ahead of the center of the steering wheel or the center of the outside rearview mirror, whichever is rearmost. A truck-tractor or a truck chassis without body or load may be equipped with one double-faced turn signal lamp on each side in lieu of the four separate lamps otherwise required on a motor vehicle. Front and rear turn signal lamps on motorcycles shall be at least 23 cm (9 in.) apart, except that front turn signals on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1973, shall be at least 40 cm (16 in.) apart. Turn signal lamps on other vehicles shall be spaced as far apart as practical. The optical axis of the front turn signal lamp shall be at least 10 cm (4 in.), or as specified by FMVSS 108 in effect at the time of vehicle manufacture, from the inside diameter of the retaining ring of the lower beam headlamp unit, fog lamp unit or passing lamp unit. Additional turn signal lamps may be mounted closer than the 10 cm (4 in.) dimension provided the primary lamps equal or exceed that distance. Original equipment turn signals that emit two and one-half times the minimum candela requirements may be closer.(b) Towed Vehicles. The rearmost vehicle in a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two single-faced turn signal lamps on the rear. The signal system on a combination of vehicles towed by a motor vehicle equipped with double-faced front turn signal lamps may be connected so only the double-faced turn signal lamps on the towing vehicle and the signal lamps on the rear of the rearmost vehicle are operative. Towed vehicles not required to be equipped with turn signals by Vehicle Code Section 24951(b) shall be equipped with rear turn signal lamps when turn signal lamps are required or used in lieu of hand and arm signals under Vehicle Code Section 22110. Such lamps are not required on the following vehicles when the rear signal lamps on the preceding vehicle in the combination can be seen by a following driver from straight to the rear of the lamp to 45 deg outboard: Vehicles with a gross weight of less than 2722 kg (6,000 lb)
Special mobile equipment
Pole and pipe dollies
Logging dollies
Auxiliary dollies
(c) Operation. Turn signal lamps visible to approaching or following drivers shall flash in unison, except that a turn signal consisting of two or more units mounted horizontally may flash in sequence from inboard to outboard. The lamps may be either extinguished simultaneously or lighted simultaneously. Turn signal lamps shall flash at a rate of 60 to 120 flashes per minute.(d) Pilot Indicator. An effective visual signal operating at the same rate as the turn signal flasher shall be incorporated in the circuit to give clear and unmistakable indication to the driver that the turn signal lamps are turned on. Failure of one or more turn signals to operate shall be indicated by a steady-on, steady-off, or significant change in the flashing rate of the illuminated indicator, except on combinations of vehicles using a variable load flasher.(e) Visibility. Lamps shall be mounted so the signal light from at least one lamp on each side is visible from directly to the front or rear within a 45-deg outboard angle on its side of the vehicle. Within these angles, no part of the vehicle or load shall obstruct the lamp from the view of another driver. On combinations of vehicles, rear turn signal lamps on other than the rearmost vehicle shall be mounted so that at least one lamp at each side is not obstructed by any towed vehicle within angles of 10 to 45 deg on its side of the vehicle.(f) Mounting Height. Required turn signal lamps shall be mounted at a height not less than 38 cm (15 in.) nor higher than 2.1 m (83 in.). A turn signal function may be combined in the high mounted stoplamps permitted on tow trucks by Vehicle Code Section 24603.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 13, § 699
1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 2-8-2008; operative 3-9-2008 (Register 2008, No. 6). Note: Authority cited: Section 26103, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 24012 and 26103, Vehicle Code.
1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 2-8-2008; operative 3-9-2008 (Register 2008, No. 6).