University of Virginia Library

Article X. Vending in Streets from Vehicles.

Sec. 18-176. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them
by this section:

Vehicle. Any motor vehicle used for vending to a retail customer
on the city streets.

Vending. The sale of food, drink, ice cream or other frozen
dessert to a retail customer within the street right of way of
any public street in the city. (6-4-62.)

Sec. 18-177. Vehicles, subject to article.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every motor
vehicle used to transact the business of vending to a retail

have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat or spike or any
other protuberance of any material other than rubber which
projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire;
except, that it shall be permissible to use farm machinery having
protuberances which will not injure the street or highway and to
use tire chains of reasonable proportions when required for safety
because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle
to slide or skid. It shall also be permissible to use upon any
vehicle, whose gross weight does not exceed ten thousand pounds,
tires with studs which project not more than one-sixteenth of an
inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire when
compressed and which cover not more than three per cent of the
traction surface of the tire. The use of such studded tires shall be
permissible from October 15, 1969, to April 15, 1970, from October
15, 1970 to April 15, 1971, and from October 15, 1971 to April 15,
1972. (10-19-70.)

Sec. 18-98.5. Same—Sale of tires having cleats, etc., prohibited;
exceptions.[235]

No person shall sell to any resident of the city a tire which shall
have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat or spike or any
other protuberance of any material other than rubber which
projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire;
except, that farm machinery having protuberances which will not
injure the highway and tire chains of reasonable proportions may
be sold; provided, that it shall be permissible to sell studded tires
whose use is permitted under section 18-98.4 until April 15, 1972.
(2-5-68; 10-19-70.)

Sec. 18-99. Steering gear.[236]

Every motor vehicle being operated upon a street shall be
equipped with steering gear adequate to insure the safe control of
the vehicle which shall not show signs of weakness or breaking
under ordinary conditions. (Code 1959, § 18-99.)

Sec. 18-100. Horns.[237]

Every motor vehicle operated upon a street shall be equipped

with a horn in good working order, capable of emitting sound
audible under normal conditions over a distance of not less than
two hundred feet. (Code 1959, § 18-100.)

Sec. 18-101. Illegal sirens, whistles, etc.; unlawful use of
horns, etc.[238]

It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be equipped with or for
any person to use upon any vehicle any siren or exhaust,
compression or spark plug whistle or horn, except as may be
authorized in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to
be equipped with or for any person to use any horn or warning
device while upon a street or any way open to public travel
that is not of a type that has been approved by the superintendent
or for any person at any time to use a horn otherwise than as a
reasonable warning or to make any unnecessary or unreasonably
loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device;
except, that the vehicles of common carriers or extraordinarily
large and heavy vehicles may be equipped with such type of
warning device as the superintendent may require or permit.
(Code 1959, § 18-101.)

Sec. 18-102. Sirens or exhaust whistles upon emergency vehicles.[239]

Every police vehicle and vehicle used for the purpose of fighting
fire and every ambulance or rescue vehicle used for emergency
calls shall be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle or air
horn designed to give automatically intermittent signals of a type
not prohibited by the superintendent. Publicly owned vehicles
used by a state forest warden may also be so equipped. (Code 1959,
§ 18-102.)

Sec. 18-103. Mirrors.[240]

(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a street which
is not equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the
operator a view of the street for a distance of not less than

two hundred feet to the rear of such vehicle.

(b) No motor vehicle registered in this state designed and
licensed primarily for passenger vehicular transportation on
the public streets and manufactured for the year 1969 or for
subsequent years shall be operated on the streets unless
equipped with at least one outside and at least one inside
rear view mirror meeting the requirements of subsection (a)
of this section. (Code 1959, § 18-103.)

Sec. 18-104. Signs on windshields, etc.[241]

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor
vehicle, trailer or semitrailer upon a street with any sign,
poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield,
sideshields or rear windows of such motor vehicle
other than a certificate or other paper required to be placed
by law or which may be permitted by the superintendent.
(Code 1959, § 18-104.)

Sec. 18-104.1. Suspension of objects so as to obstruct driver's
view.[242]

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle
upon a street in this city with any object other than rear
view mirror, sunvisor or other equipment of a motor vehicle
approved by the superintendent, suspended from any part of
such motor vehicle, in such manner as to obstruct the driver's
clear view of the street or highway through the windshield,
the front side windows or the rear window. (6-21-65, § 33.)

Sec. 18-105. Windshield wipers.[243]

Every permanent windshield on a motor vehicle shall be
equipped with a device for cleaning snow, rain, moisture or
other matter from the windshield directly in front of the
operator. The device shall be so constructed as to be controlled
or operated by the operator of the vehicle; provided,
that every such device on a vehicle designed or used to carry
passengers for compensation or hire or as a public conveyance

to transport school children or others shall be of a mechanically
or electrically operated type. The device or devices on
any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after January
1, 1943, shall clean both the right and left sides of the windshield
and shall be of a mechanically or electrically operated
type. (Code 1959, § 18-105.)

Sec. 18-106. Restrictions as to equipment traveling upon
streets.[244]

No vehicle, tractor, motorized shovel, traction engine or
any other type of motorized equipment, other than a regulation
road roller or a standard farm wagon with smooth wheel
covering, may travel or operate upon any paved street in the
city, so as to come in contact with the street surface, unless
its wheels are equipped with pneumatic-type rubber tires, or
unless a special permit shall have been obtained from the city
manager. (Code 1959, § 18-106.)

Sec. 18-107. When signal device required.[245]

(a) Any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer which is so
constructed or carries a load in such a manner as to prevent
a hand and arm signal required by section 18-58 from being
visible both to the front and rear of such motor vehicle,
trailer or semitrailer, or any vehicle the driver of which is incapable
of giving the required hand and arm signals, shall be
equipped with a mechanical or electrical signal device which
meets the requirements of state law and is of a type that has
been approved by the superintendent.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate within the
city a motor vehicle registered in this state and manufactured
or assembled after January 1, 1955, unless such vehicle
is equipped with such a mechanical or electrical signal device
on both the front and rear of such vehicle.

(c) Any such mechanical or electrical signal device may be
used in lieu of the hand arm signal required by section 18-58.

(d) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply

to any motorcycle. The provisions of this section shall not apply
to motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers used for agricultural
or horticultural purposes which are exempted from
annual registration under section 46.1-45 of the Code of
Virginia. (Code 1959, § 18-107; 6-21-65, § 12.)

Sec. 18-108. Requirements of signal devices.[246]

(a) Every device intended and used to give a signal of
intention to turn or to stop a vehicle shall be so constructed
and so installed as to give a signal plainly visible in clear
weather and under normal traffic conditions from a distance
of at least one hundred feet to the rear and one hundred
feet to the front of the vehicle; except, that a stop signal
need be visible only to the rear; provided, that no front signal
shall be required on vehicles manufactured or assembled before
January 1, 1943.

(b) Motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, when temporarily
stopped on the traveled or paved portion of a street so
as to create a traffic hazard, shall use all four turn signals
simultaneously to signal approaching motorists of the existing
hazard whenever such vehicle is equipped with a device
which will cause the four turn signals to flash simultaneously.
All four signals may be flashed simultaneously on a vehicle
stopped at the scene of a traffic hazard, but in no event shall
all four signals be flashed simultaneously while the vehicle
is in motion. (Code 1959, § 18-108.)

Sec. 18-109. Flag or light at end of load.[247]

Whenever the load on any vehicle shall extend more than
four feet beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof, there
shall be displayed at the end of such load in such position as
to be clearly visible at all times from the rear of such load, a
red flag not less than twelve inches, both in length and width,
except that between one-half hour after sunset and one-half
hour before sunrise, there shall be displayed at the end of
such load a red light, plainly visible in clear weather at least
five hundred feet to the sides and rear of such vehicle. (Code
1959, § 18-109.)

Sec. 18-110. Exhaust system in good working order required.[248]

(a) No person shall drive and no owner of a motor vehicle
shall permit or allow the operation of any owned vehicle within
the city unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an exhaust
system of a type installed as standard factory equipment,
or comparable to that designed for use upon the particular
vehicle as standard factory equipment, in good working
order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual
noise, or annoying smoke and escape of excessive gas,
steam or oil. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent
excessive or unusual noise if it permits or allows the
escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard
factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor
vehicles or trucks of standard make.

(b) The term "exhaust system," as used in this section,
means all the parts of a motor vehicle through which the
exhaust passes after leaving the engine block. (Code 1159,
§ 18-110; 6-21-65, § 13.)

Sec. 18-111. Muffler cutout, etc., illegal.[249]

It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale (a) a muffler
without interior baffle plates or other effective muffling device,
or (b) any "gutted muffler," "muffler cutout" or
"straight exhaust." It shall be unlawful for any person to
operate on the streets of this city a motor vehicle equipped
with a "gutted muffler," "muffler cutout" or "straight exhaust."
(Code 1919, § 18-111; 6-21-65, § 14.)

Sec. 18-112. Construction must prevent escape of contents.[250]

No vehicle shall be operated or moved on any street unless
such vehicle is so constructed as to prevent its contents from
dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom.
(Code 1959, § 18-112.)

Sec. 18-113. Fastening load of logs, barrels, etc.[251]

No vehicle which is designed or used for the purpose of

hauling logs, poles or lumber, barrels, hogsheads or other
material or containers which by their very nature may shift
or roll, shall be operated or moved over any street unless its
load is securely fastened by adequate log chains or metal
cables so as to prevent the shifting or falling of such load
from the vehicle; provided, that tobacco hogsheads may, in
lieu of chains or metal cables, be secured by Manila or hemp
rope of such strength as to securely fasten the hogs-heads
against shifting, falling or rolling, and in any case of not
less than five-eights inch in diameter.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to release the
owner or operator from liability for failure to use reasonable
care in securing or fastening such load from shifting or falling.
(Code 1959, § 18-113.)

Sec. 18-114. Illegal possession, sale or use of unapproved
equipment.[252]

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, with intent
to sell or offer for sale, either separately or as a part of the
equipment of a motor vehicle, or to use or have as equipment
upon a motor vehicle operated on any street within the city,
any lighting device, warning device, signal device, safety glass
or other equipment on which approval is required by state
law or any part tending to change or alter the operation of
such device, glass or other equipment unless the type that has
been submitted to and approved by the superintendent, or
meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Society
of Automotive Engineers, the American Standards Association
and the federal Department of Transportation.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use or have as
equipment upon a motor vehicle operated on any street within
the city any device or equipment mentioned in the preceding
paragraph which is defective or in unsafe condition.
(Code 1959, § 18-114; 6-21-65, § 15.)

Sec. 18-115. Trademark or name and instructions required.[253]

Each device, glass or other equipment mentioned in section
18-114 offered for sale in this city shall bear thereon a

trademark or name or be identified in keeping with the superintendent's
regulations and shall be accompanied by
printed instructions as to the proper mounting, use and candle
power of bulbs, if any, to be used therewith and any particular
methods of mounting or adjustments necessary to meet
the requirements of this chapter, and any rule or regulation
of the superintendent. (Code 1959, § 18-115.)

Sec. 18-115.1. Seat belts or shoulder harnesses required on
certain vehicles.[254]

(a) No motor vehicle registered in this state, designed and
licensed primarily for private passenger vehicular transportation
on the public highways, and manufactured for the year
1968 or for subsequent years, shall be operated on the streets
and highways in this city unless the front seats thereof are
equipped with adult safety lap belts or a combination of lap
belts and shoulder straps or harnesses of a type or types
approved by the superintendent.

(b) Failure to use such safety lap belts or a combination
of lap belts and shoulder straps or harnesses after installation
shall not be deemed to be negligence.

(c) Passenger motor vehicles registered in this state and
manufactured after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with
lap belts or a combination of lap belts and shoulder straps or
harnesses as required to be installed at the time of manufacture
by the federal Department of Transportation. (6-21-65,
§ 34.)

Division 2. Lighting Equipment.

Sec. 18-116. Head lamps on motor vehicles.[255]

Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller,
road machinery or tractor used on a street shall be equipped
with at least two head lamps as approved by the superintendent,
at the front of and on opposite sides of the motor
vehicle. (Code 1959, § 18-116.)

Sec. 18-117. Head lamps on motorcycles.[256]

Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one and

not more than two head lamps which shall be of a type that
has been approved by the superintendent and shall be capable
of projecting sufficient light to the front of such motorcycle
to render discernible a person or object at a distance of two
hundred feet but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light
to persons approaching such motorcycle. (Code 1959, § 18117.)

Sec. 18-118. Rear lamps.[257]

Every motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer which is being
drawn at the end of one or more other vehicles, or motorcycles,
shall carry at the rear a lamp capable of exhibiting
a red light plainly visible in clear weather from a distance
of five hundred feet to the rear of such vehicle and such rear
lamp shall be constructed and so mounted in its relation to
the rear license plate as to illuminate by a white light such
license plate so that the same may be read from a distance
of fifty feet to rear of such vehicle; or a separate white light
shall be so mounted as to illuminate and make visible such
rear license from a distance of fifty feet to the rear of such
vehicle, such rear light or special white light to be of a type
that has been approved by the superintendent.

In any instance where the rear lamp is to be installed on a
boat trailer and the boat extends beyond the end of the trailer
or to the end of the trailer, an approved portable light assembly
may be attached to the exposed rear of the boat, provided
such installation complies with the visibility requirements of
this section. (Code 1959, § 18-118; 6-21-65, § 16.)

Sec. 18-119. Lamps on bicycles.[258]

Every bicycle when in use between sunset and sunrise shall
be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white
light visible in clear weather from a distance of at least five
hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the
rear of a type approved by the superintendent which shall be
visible from all distances in clear weather from fifty feet to
three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful
upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp
emitting a red light visible in clear weather from a distance
of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in lieu of or in
addition to the red reflector. (Code 1959, § 18-119.)

Sec. 18-120. Lamps on other vehicles; reflex reflectors.[259]

(a) All vehicles or other mobile equipment not heretofore
in this article required to be equipped with specified lamps
shall carry one or more lamps or lanterns capable of projecting
a white light to the front and a red light to the rear visible
in clear weather from a distance of not less than five hundred
feet to the front and rear of such vehicles.

(b) In lieu of or in addition to the lamps or lanterns a
reflex reflector of a type, size and color approved by the superintendent
may be permanently affixed to the rear and front
of such vehicle. (Code 1959, § 18-120.)

Sec. 18-121. Dimension or marker lights—Generally.[260]

(a) All motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers exceeding
seven feet in height or in width, or the widest portion of
which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes,
shall be equipped with lamps mounted at the extreme right
and left-hand front top corners of such vehicle, each of which
lamps shall be capable of projecting an amber light visible
in clear weather for a distance of at least five hundred feet
to the front of such vehicle, and shall be equipped with lamps
mounted at the extreme right and left-hand rear top corners
of such vehicle, each of which light shall be capable of projecting
a red light visible in clear weather for a distance
of at least five hundred feet to the rear of such vehicle. If the
front or the rear of such vehicle shall not be the widest portion
of such vehicle, the dimension or marker lights required
by this section shall be mounted on the widest portions of
the vehicle, with the amber lights herein required visible from
the front as herein required and the red lights herein required
visible from the rear as herein required. The lamps
herein required shall be of a type that has been approved by
the superintendent.

(b) In addition to the lamps required herein, each such
vehicle shall be equipped with amber reflectors located on the
side thereof, at or near the front. Red reflectors shall be used
on the rear of each such vehicle. Such reflectors shall be securely
fastened to the vehicle not less than twenty-four

inches and not more than sixty inches from the ground; provided,
that in the case of a vehicle which is less than twenty-four
inches in height, such reflectors shall be securely fastened
thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle
will permit. The reflectors required herein shall be of a type
that have been approved by the superintendent.

(c) If any vehicle is so constructed as to make compliance
with the requirements of this section impracticable, the lamps
and reflectors required herein shall be placed on the vehicle in
accordance with the superintendent's regulations; provided,
that the requirement of reflectors shall not apply to school
busses unless used during the time that lights are required
under section 18-125. (Code 1959, § 18-121; 6-21-65, § 17.)

Sec. 18-122. Same—Vehicles or loads exceeding thirty-five
feet.[261]

Whenever any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles
whose actual length, including the load thereon, shall exceed
thirty-five feet and is not subject to the provisions of section
18-121, such vehicles shall, when operated during the hours
of darkness, be equipped with reflectors of a type approved
by the superintendent. Such reflectors shall be mounted on
the widest part of the towed vehicle or the load thereon so as
to be visible from the front and sides of the vehicle. (Code
1959, § 18-124.)

Sec. 18-123. Spotlights and ditch lights.[262]

Any motor vehicle or motorcycle may be equipped with not
to exceed two spotlights or two ditch lights which when
lighted shall be aimed and used so that no portion of the
beam will be directed to the left of the center of the highway
at any time or more than one hundred feet ahead of the
vehicle and shall be of a type that has been approved by the
superintendent. No such spotlights shall be used in conjunction
with or as a substitute for required headlights, except
in case of emergency. (Code 1959, § 18-123.)

Sec. 18-124. Other permissible lights; police and fire department
vehicles, emergency vehicles, etc.[263]

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two
fog lamps, one passing lamp, one driving lamp, two side
lamps of not more than six candle power, an interior light of
not more than fifteen candle power, vacant or destination
signs on vehicles operated as public carriers and signal
lamps.

Only those vehicles listed in subsection (a) of section 1866.1
and paragraph (a) of this section and school buses may
be equipped with flashing, blinking or alternating red emergency
lights of a type approved by the superintendent.

Vehicles used for the principal purpose of towing disabled
vehicles or in constructing, maintaining and repairing streets
and highways or utilities on or along public streets and highways
may be equipped with flashing, blinking or alternating
amber warning lights of a type approved by the superintendent.

(a) A member of any fire department, volunteer fire company
or volunteer rescue squad may equip one vehicle owned
by him with a flashing or steady-burning red light of a type
approved by the superintendent, for use by him only in answering
emergency calls.

Any person violating the provision of this section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Blue lights, steady or flashing, of a type approved by
the superintendent, shall be reserved for civil defense vehicles,
publicly or privately owned.

No motor vehicle shall be operated on any street or highway
which is equipped with any lighting device other than
lamps required or permitted in this article or required or
approved by the superintendent. (Code 1959, § 18-124; 6-2165,
§ 18.)

Sec. 18-125. When lights to be lighted; number of lights to
be lighted at any time; use of warning lights.[264]

(a) Every vehicle upon a street within this city shall display
lighted lamps and illuminating devices as required by

this article from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before
sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient
light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons or vehicles
on the streets are not clearly discernible at a distance
of five hundred feet.

(b) Not more than four lamps used to provide general
illumination ahead of the vehicle, including at least two head
lamps and any other combination of fog lamps, passing lamps,
driving lamp or other auxiliary lamp approved by the superintendent
shall be lighted at any time; provided, that this
limitation shall not preclude the display of such warning
lights as may be authorized in section 18-124, nor such lights
as may be authorized by the superintendent for purposes of
identification, other than warning lights.

(c) Vehicles equipped with warning lights authorized in
section 18-124 shall display such lights at all times when engaged
in emergency calls, and if engaged in towing disabled
vehicles or in constructing, repairing and maintaining public
highways or utilities on or along public highways, such lights
shall be displayed during the periods prescribed in subsection
(a) of this section. (Code 1959, § 18-125; 6-21-65, § 19.)

Sec. 18-126. Requirements as to single-beam head lamps.[265]

Approved single-beam head lamps shall be aimed in accordance
with requirements adopted by the superintendent
so as not to project a glaring or dazzling light to persons
approaching such head lamps and shall be of sufficient intensity
to reveal persons and objects at a distance of at least
two hundred feet. (Code 1959, § 18-126.)

Sec. 18-127. Requirements as to multiple-beam head lamps.[266]

Approved multiple-beam head lamps shall be aimed in accordance
with requirements adopted by the superintendent
based on recommendations of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
An uppermost distribution of light shall be provided
of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and objects at least
three hundred fifty feet ahead and at least one lower, nonglaring
distribution of light shall be provided. All road lighting

beams shall be of such intensity as to reveal persons and
objects at least one hundred feet ahead. (Code 1959, § 18-127.)

Sec. 18-128. Indicator lamp required.[267]

Every new motor vehicle hereafter sold when operated on
a street shall be equipped with an indicator lamp in good condition
which shall indicate to the operator when the uppermost

distribution of light is being used. (Code 1959, § 18128.)

Sec. 18-129. Lighting equipment required or prohibited.[268]

Every vehicle operated or moved upon a street within this
city shall at all times be equipped with such lamps as are required
by this division for different classes of vehicles, which
lamps shall at all times be capable of being lighted, except
as therein otherwise provided (and which shall be installed
and aimed as set forth in such laws); but this section shall
not apply to any vehicle for transporting well-drilling machinery
licensed under section 46.1-156, Code of Virginia,
when operated only between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
(Code 1959, § 18-129.)

Sec. 18-130. When dimming headlights, etc., required.[269]

Whenever a vehicle is being operated upon a street or a
portion thereof which is sufficiently lighted to reveal any person
or object upon such way at a distance of three hundred
and fifty feet ahead, the operator of such vehicle shall use
one of the lowermost distributions of light or shall dim the
head lamps if the vehicle has single-beam lamps. Whenever
a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within five hundred
feet it shall be the duty of the operator of such vehicle to
use one of the lowermost distributions of light so aimed that
glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming
driver, or to dim the head lamps if the vehicle has single-beam
lamps.

Whenever the operator of any motor vehicle approaches
from the rear or follows within two hundred feet of another
vehicle proceeding in the same direction, such operator shall
use the lowermost distributions of light or shall dim the head
lamps if the vehicle has single-beam lamps. (Code 1959, §
18-130.)

Sec. 18-131. Dimming or lowering headlights on parked vehicles.[270]

Whenever a vehicle is parked so that the beam from the

headlights of such parked vehicle will glare into the eyes of
the driver of a vehicle approaching upon a street, it shall be
the duty of the operator of the parked vehicle to dim or low
beam such lights so that glaring rays are not projected into
the eyes of such approaching driver. (Code 1959, § 18-131.)

Sec. 18-132. Lights on parked vehicles.[271]

No lights need be displayed upon any vehicle parked within
the city when such vehicle is parked in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter. (Code 1959, § 18-132; 6-21-65, §
20.)

Sec. 18-133. Acetylene lamps on antique motor vehicles.[272]

(a) Antique motor vehicles, as defined in section 18-1, may
be equipped with two acetylene head lamps of approximately
equal candle power when equipped with clear plain glass
fronts, bright, six-inch spherical mirrors and standard acetylene
five-eighths foot burners, not more and not less, which
project a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible
a person upon the roadway within a distance of two hundred
feet but must not project a glaring or dazzling light into the
eyes of approaching drivers.

(b) Vehicles equipped with acetylene lights as hereinbefore
provided shall also be equipped with a rear lamp of acetylene
type, which, when lighted, shall project a red light visible for
a distance of three hundred feet to the rear of the vehicle
and shall be so constructed as to illuminate by a white light
the rear license plate of such vehicle so as to be read for
a distance of fifty feet from the rear of such vehicle. (Code
1959, § 18-133.)