Florida Statute 316.234 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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316.234 Signal lamps and signal devices.—

(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and, when required under this chapter, shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light, visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps. An object, material, or covering that alters the stop lamp’s visibility from 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a stop lamp.

(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and, when required under s. 316.222(2), shall be equipped with electric turn signals which 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 lamps 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. The lamps 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. Turn signal lamps on vehicles 80 inches or more in overall width shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp’s visibility from a distance of 500 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps on vehicles less than 80 inches wide shall be visible at a distance of not less than 300 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp’s visibility from a distance of 300 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps may, but need not be, incorporated in other lamps on the vehicle.

(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. 184, ch. 99-248; s. 12, ch. 2000-313.

F.S. 316.234 on Google Scholar

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Amendments to 316.234

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.234

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.234 SIGNAL LIGHTS or DEVICE (stop/turn signal) No/Improper - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.234 (1) Improper/No Rear Stop Lamps - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.234 (2) Improper/No Turn Signals - Points on Drivers License: 0

Cases Citing Statute 316.234

Total Results: 3 | Sort by: Relevance | Newest First

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State v. Burger, 921 So. 2d 847 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2006 WL 508334

...Burger as the result of an unauthorized traffic stop. Charlotte County Sheriff's deputies stopped Mr. Burger's car for a violation of section 316.222(1), Florida Statutes (2004), which requires "[e]very motor vehicle . . . to be equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of section 316.234(1)." That section, in turn, requires a motor vehicle to be equipped with rear stop lamps that display "a red or amber light, visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be activated upon application of the service (foot) brake." § 316.234(1)....

...s of the legislature. State v. Rife, 789 So.2d 288, 292 (Fla.2001) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). Section 316.222(1) clearly provides that a motor vehicle must be equipped with two or more stop lamps. When read in conjunction with section 316.234(1), the apposite language requires that two or more stop lamps, when activated, must emit light capable of being seen from a certain distance....

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Zarba v. State, 993 So. 2d 1000 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2007 WL 3400308

...Unlike our sister district, we are unwilling to assume that having only two of three brake lights working creates a safety hazard that endangers persons or property when the statute only requires that two rear "stop lamps" display "a red or amber light ... upon application of the service (foot) brake." See §§ 316.222(1), 316.234(1)....

...the 1994 model year. See http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1998/nht1698.htm (site last visited October 25, 2007). The Ford Explorer driven by Mr. Zarba was a 1995 model. [2] Section 316.222(1) refers to further detailed requirements for brake lights under section 316.234(1).

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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2003).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...fication of such registration and inspection? 2. May a municipality impose additional safety standards for golf carts that use public streets, including a requirement that golf carts be equipped with rear stop lights meeting the minimum standards in section 316.234 (1), Florida Statutes, turn signals meeting the minimum standards in section 316.234 (2), Florida Statutes, and safety belts? 3....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. Attorney Syfert regularly works with Chapter 316 in the context of traffic and automobile accident law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.