What are the US lighting laws?

Regardless of the law in your state, there are things you can do to reduce your chances of being hassled.

Hide the light source so it is not directly visible from the road. For underbody kits, make a shield with a long piece of “L” aluminum or steel. Use black electrical tape to hide a section of the light.

Take extra caution to obey all laws. If neons are perfectly legal in your area, and you are speeding just a few miles over the limit, a cop is more likely to give you a speeding ticket than if you had no neons on.

Save the strobing red/blue for the car show or your driveway. Blue and red might be fine to cruise with as a solid color, but as soon as they strobe, you may cross the line as “impersonating a cop”

Keep a copy of the vehicle code in your car. You can just print or copy the section that deals with lighting. Present it to the officer if you are pulled over.

Respect police officers. They protect you when you are being shot at, they protect you when your house is broken into. Respect them and they should respect you.

So, my recommendation is, if you want the lights, go ahead and get them and enjoy them. If it turns out you get hassled a lot for them, then you can just save them for offroad/show use.

It isn’t illegal unless you get caught

There are a couple of sections to the lighting laws in the US:

• SECTION 56-5-4830. Special restrictions on lamps; degree of intensity; red, blue and flashing lights. [SC ST SEC 56-5-4830] 
• SECTION 56-5-4840. Selling or using devices or equipment to change the design or performance of lamps or reflectors. [SC ST SEC 56-5-4840] 
• SECTION 56-5-4530. Illumination of rear registration plate. [SC ST SEC 56-5-4530] 
• SECTION 56-5-4540. Motor vehicles shall be equipped with rear reflectors. [SC ST SEC 56-5-4540] 
• SECTION 56-5-4590. Color of clearance lamps, side-marker lamps, reflectors, stop lights and back-up lamps.[SC ST SEC 56-5-4590]

Visit Justia US Law for more information regarding US lighting Laws.

https://law.justia.com/

Is underglow legal or not?

Whether underglow is illegal or not depends on the state that you reside in, the laws are usually similar but will differ slightly for every state. Be on the safe side and make sure you know the law on underglow and other additional aftermarket lighting for your state.

Check out the lighting laws for your state:

Alabama

While there are no specific laws prohibiting neon lights in Alabama and it would be considered legal while driving, there are a few restrictions you should heed to prevent yourself from being hassled too much by the authorities:

• Make sure you don’t install any red lights to the front of your vehicle and that no other red light lights are visible from the front. It’s important to note that auxiliary driving and fog lights are meant for the sole use as auxiliary lighting and are not meant to be used as headlights
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing and all non-stationary lights are strictly prohibited
• It’s best to avoid all blue and red color lights in, on and around your vehicle as these are used for emergency vehicles. White or amber underglow would be the safest bet.

Alaska

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Alaska, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers: 

• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Red lights should not be visible from the front of the vehicle
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• If you have underglow lights, they’ll need to be white in the front, amber on the sides, and red at the back of your car
• Avoid combinations of red and white so as not to be confused for an emergency vehicle.

Arizona

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arizona, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Any lights that are visible from the front of your car must be white or amber
• All lights that are visible from the back of your car will have to be red
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• You should also try to avoid red and blue lights so as not to be confused with an emergency vehicle.

Arkansas

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arkansas, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• In Arkansas, you’re allowed just two extra ornamental lights in front of your car, these need to be white
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Red, blue and green lights that are visible from the front of your car are strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• You may also want to avoid blue, green and red color lights to avoid being confused for an emergency vehicle.

California

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting and underglow are considered legal in California as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Red lights that are visible from the front of your car are strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are also permitted
• Your underglow should never emit more than 0.05 candela per square inch, white and amber underglow will then be allowed in the front of your car, and red underglow will be allowed at the back
• Make sure that any aftermarket lights are further than at least 12 inches from your car’s required lights
• You’ll want to avoid red, blue and green light colors so you won’t get yourself confused for an emergency vehicle.
• For an underglow system emitting more than the allowed 0,05 candela/square inch, you’ll be allowed to use white and amber in the front, and red in the rear of your vehicle.

Colorado

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arkansas, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Green lights are strictly prohibited
• Make sure all red or blue lights are not visible from the front of the car
• Avoid blue and red color lights as these are used for emergency vehicles.
• These are not prohibited but you should avoid flashing, rotating or oscillating street glow systems as these may be a distraction the road.

Connecticut

All additional aftermarket lighting is considered to be illegal in Connecticut, even when turned off and not in use.

Delaware

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arkansas, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Lights that are visible from the front should only be either white or amber
• Lights that are visible from the back of your car should be either red or amber
• Make sure red lights are not visible from the front of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid blue, green and red lights so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Florida

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arkansas, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that any red lights aren’t visible from the front of the car
• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Rear lights can only be red
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid red and green color lights so you won’t get confused for an emergency vehicle.
• Underglow would be considered legal in Florida as the laws don’t prohibit their installation.

Georgia

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Georgia, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Red, blue, violet and green aftermarket and underglow lights are strictly forbidden
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Never make use of blue, red, violet and green lights as these are for emergency vehicles only, also avoid flashing, rotating or oscillating underglow.

Hawaii

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Hawaii, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• WARNING: If you’re caught using blue lights or a combination of blue and red lights, you may receive a fine of up to $1,000, up to 1 year in prison, or both!
• Also avoid green or violet color lights
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Avoid flashing, rotating or oscillating lights so you don’t distract other drivers.

Idaho

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Idaho, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure red lights aren’t visible from the front of the car
• Flashing lights are strictly permitted
• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Make sure only red light is visible from the back of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Amber flashing lights are allowed for emergency use

Illinois

Additional aftermarket lighting and underglow are considered illegal in the state of Illinois

Indiana

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Indiana, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Headlights and all other lamps that are mounted on the front of your vehicle have to be either white or amber, but you can get away with any shade in between. Any colored lights will unfortunately not be permitted.
• Stop lamps and taillights are required to be red.
• The indiana license plate light law requires that your license plate light be white.
• Your backup light has to be white or amber.
• Flashing lights are prohibited
• Any and all combinations of red, blue, white, and amber colored lights are strictly prohibited

Iowa

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Iowa, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that there are no red lights that are visible from the front of the vehicle, while only red lights should be visible from the back of your car
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited and will only be allowed in an emergency.
• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Avoid red and green aftermarket and underglow lights so you won’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Kansas

Additional aftermarket vehicle lighting is not restricted in Arkansas, so your underglow shouldn’t necessarily be illegal as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Red underglow is strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Neon tubes need to be completely hidden and are not allowed to be visible
• Try to avoid blue and green aftermarket lights so you don’t get your car confused for an emergency vehicle

Kentucky

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Kentucky, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Flashing and rotating lights are prohibited, but may be used in an emergency
• Blue lights are strictly permitted
• Make sure there are no red lights from the front of your car
• You may want to avoid using red or green aftermarket or underglow lights so you won’t get confused for an emergency vehicle.
• All lights that are visible from the front of your car must be either white or amber
• All lights that are visible from the back of your car must either be white, amber or red
• To be safe, keep your underglow to white and amber colors and make sure they’re not directly visible.

Louisiana

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Lousiana, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Blue-colored lights are strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are also strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Red and green lights must not be visible from the front of your car
• Avoid using any and all combinations of white, red, and blue colored lights

Maine

• Car underglows are ocnsidered illegal anywhere other than at shows or exhibitions
• Never use car underglow while driving or even public parking
• You’re allowed to have underglow colors in white or amber for the front of your car, amber on the side, and amber or red at the back.
• Flashing or rotating lights are strictly prohibited.

Maryland

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Maryland, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that red or blue lights aren’t visible from the front of your car
• Make sure only red lights are visible from the back of your car
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Avoid blue and red additional aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• You’re allowed to have one running board light in white or amber on either side of your car
• You’re allowed two lamps at your side cowl or fender as well as in the front of your car in white or amber

Massachusetts

Additional aftermarket lighting and underglow are considered illegal in the state of Massachusetts

Michigan

Underglow is considered legal while driving in the State of Michigan, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• So long as the lights are shielded and not illuminated when driving, you can add car underglow.
• The use of any kind of flashing lights is forbidden.
• The only approved aftermarket lighting colors are white or amber on the front and front sides, and red or amber on the back and back sides of a car.
• Installing underglow isn’t illegal in Michigan as long as you’re using it on private property only

 Minnesota

Additional aftermarket lighting and underglow are considered illegal in the state of Minnesota. Also consider these pointers:

• Make sure only white or amber lights are visible from the front of your car and only red and amber are visible from the back
• Blue and red lights are strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid using additional aftermarket lights and underglow in the colors of your required lights -white, amber and red

Mississippi

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while not on a public road would be considered legal in Mississippi, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure all lights visible from the front of your car are either white or amber, those visible from the side of your car must be amber, and those visible from the back of the car must be red
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited

Missouri

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Missouri, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure no red lights are visible from the front of your car
• Flashing neon lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Avoid red and blue aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle.

Montana

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Montana, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights are strictly prohibited
• Blue, red, and green lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Green, blue and red color aftermarket lights and underglow are strictly prohibited when on highways or public roads, but are allowed in other settings

Nebraska

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Nebraska, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• No red or green color may be visible from the front of the vehicle.
• Rotating or flashing lights are strictly prohibited.
• You may want to avoid green, red, blue and purple underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle.

Nevada

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Nebraska, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Flashing amber lights are strictly prohibited
• Make sure the only visible lights from the back of your car are red
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• You may want to avoid green, blue and red aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle.
• Amber underglow that’s visible from the front of the vehicle only would be considered safe, and red from the back.

New Hampshire

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Nebraska, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Red, blue, amber and green aftermarket lights and underglow are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Although not prohibited, you may want to avoid flashing lights
• You may also want to avoid rotation and oscillating lights while driving
• Avoid purple shades of aftermarket lights and underglow

New Jersey

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting, although not legal while driving, would not be considered to be illegal in New Jersey as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure all lights that are visible from the front of your car are either white or amber
• Make sure all lights that are visible from the front-sides of the car are amber
• Make sure the only visible lights from the back of your car are red
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• To be safe, make sure your aftermarket lights and underglow DON’T have the ability to change color to colors which are prohibited

New Mexico

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in New Mexico, as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that there are no red lights that are visible from front of your car
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid using green, red and blue aftermarket  lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

New York

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in New York as long as they are white in color, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• Only white color aftermarket lights and underglow are allowed in New York!
• Rotating, flashing, oscillating and moving lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white

North Carolina

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in North Carolina as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Blue or red lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid flashing amber lights
• Make sure only red lights are visible from the back of your car, and never white light.
• To be safe, avoid using purple shades and green aftermarket lights underglow
• To be safe, avoid using  flashing, oscillating and rotating lights

North Dakota

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in North Dakota as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that there are no red or green lights that are visible from the front of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• To be safe, avoid blue and purple shade lights so you won’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Ohio

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Ohio as long as you follow these few pointers:

• No flashing, rotating or oscillating lights are permitted
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Make sure your aftermarket lights and underglow lights never exceeds 300 candlepower
• There are no color restrictions according to ohio law, but to be safe, avoid using red or blue aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• Make sure all additional side cowl and fender lights are either white or amber

Oklahoma

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Oklahoma as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white, and no additional lights near the license plate are permitted
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Make sure that there are no red or blue lights that are visible from the front of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white, and never install any other additional lights near your license plate

Oregon

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Oregon as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Only permitted color in the rear of your car is red (white license plate illumination excluded)
• Avoid red and blue lights so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• Flashing,  revolving, rotating and oscillating lights are strictly prohibited
• Make sure no red lights are visible from the front of your car

Pennsylvania

Additional aftermarket lighting and underglow are considered illegal in the state of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Rhode Island as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Red and blue lights in front of the car are strictly prohibited
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited, but considered legal in an emergency
• Your license plate lights need to always be white

South Carolina

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in South Carolina as long as you follow these few pointers:

• No red lights may be visible from the front of the vehicle
• Avoid blue lights so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• Flashing, rotating, oscillating and fading lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white

South Dakota

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in South Dakota as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure there are no red lights that are visible from the front of your car
• Avoid using blue lights
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights aren’t prohibited, but you may want to avoid these
• Flashing, rotating and oscillating lights may be a distraction to other drivers so you may want to avoid these
• Avoid using any red and green aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Tennessee

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Tennessee as long as you follow these few pointers:

• Never use any combination of white, amber or red lights in front of the vehicle
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid blue and red aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Texas

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Texas as long as you follow these few pointers:

• You may want to avoid flashing, rotating and oscillating lights, but they will be allowed in an emergency
• Make sure that there are no red lights that are visible from the front of your car
• To be safe, avoid using flashing lights
• Avoid red and blue aftermarket lights and underglow as well as combinations of red, blue and white lights
• Only white and amber aftermarket lights and underglow are allowed on your motorcycle
• Fender lights and running board courtesy lamps on your car are allowed in Texas

Utah

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered illegal in Utah unless used on private property or off-road, to be safe you may want to follow these few pointers:

• Make sure that there are no red and blue lights that are visible from the front of the car
• No flashing or rotating lights are allowed
• You may want to avoid red and blue lights as well as combinations of red, blue and white lights so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle

Vermont

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would be considered legal in Vermont as long as it’s on a private road or off-road, to be safe, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• Red, blue and amber aftermarket lights and underglow are strictly prohibited
• Make sure your aftermarket lights and underglow never emits more than 4 candle power
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• To be safe, you may want to avoid flashing, rotating or oscillating lights

 Virginia

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting while driving would only be considered legal in Virginia as long as it’s on a private road or off-road, to be safe, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• No flashing or rotating lights are allowed
• Avoid red and blue aftermarket lights and underglow
• If you have underglow, it will need to be covered and kept unlit on public roads

Washington

Additional aftermarket lights and underglow is illegal in the state of Washington when used on public roads, it would only be considered legal when lit on private property as long as you don’t use red or blue lights, or flashing or rotating lights.

Washington, D.C.

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting an underglow while driving is not illegal in Washington D.C., to be safe make sure you follow these few pointers:

• No red lights may be visible from the front of the vehicle
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are prohibited
• You may want to avoid using blue and red aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• To be on the safe side, stick to white or amber underglow

West Virginia

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting an underglow while driving is not illegal in West Virginia, to be safe make sure you follow these few pointers:

• No flashing, rotating or oscillating lights are allowed
• Make sure that only red lights are visible from the back of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Make sure that only white or amber light is visible from the front of the car
• Avoid blue or red lights, flashing and non-flashing, so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle
• White and amber underglow are allowed on your motorcycle but should not flash or rotate

Wisconsin

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting an underglow while driving is considered legal in Wisconsin, to be safe, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure white and amber lights are the only colors visible from the front of your car
• Make sure red is the only color visible from the back of your car
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Blue lights are strictly prohibited
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• White, red and amber underglow are strictly prohibited on your motorcycle, whichever color you choose, make sure they don’t should not flash or rotate

Wyoming

The use of additional aftermarket vehicle lighting an underglow while driving is considered legal in Wyoming, to be safe, make sure you follow these few pointers:

• Make sure red is the only color of light visible from the back of your car
• Make sure there are no red or blue lights visible from the front of your car
• Your license plate lights need to always be white
• Flashing lights are strictly prohibited
• Avoid red and blue aftermarket lights and underglow so you don’t get confused for an emergency vehicle