Arizona Headlight & Wiper Law

Arizona ties lights to the 500-foot visibility line plus sunset-to-sunrise (A.R.S. 28-922). No standalone wiper law, but a monsoon downpour that runs your wipers drops you well under 500 feet, so lights are required. Moving in rain or dust, low beams on. The Arizona twist: in a blinding dust storm, pull fully off the road and kill all lights so no one rear-ends you tracking your tail lamps.

Wipers → lightsNot tied to wipers

Night triggerSunset to sunrise, and any time there isn't sufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles 500 feet ahead — which covers heavy dust, rain, smoke, or fog

FineCivil traffic violation; no separate wiper penalty

StatuteA.R.S. 28-922 (lighted lamps required)

A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm the exact figure with the state DMV before you rely on it.

01 The rule

When you light up in Arizona

02 The details

Night, low visibility, and daytime

Sunset to sunrise, and any time there isn't sufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles 500 feet ahead — which covers heavy dust, rain, smoke, or fog (A.R.S. 28-922).
No statewide work-zone headlight mandate; obey posted 'Headlights On' signs in dust-storm corridors (I-10). DRLs aren't required and don't satisfy 28-922 — they leave the tail lamps dark. State 'Pull Aside, Stay Alive' guidance: once parked out of a dust storm, take your foot off the brake and turn lights OFF so you aren't followed. When moving in weather, run full low beams ON.

Arizona Headlight Law FAQ

Do you need headlights when using wipers in Arizona?

Arizona has no wiper-specific statute, but rain or snow heavy enough for wipers usually drops you under the low-visibility trigger, so run your lights. Arizona ties lights to the 500-foot visibility line plus sunset-to-sunrise.

When are headlights required in Arizona?

Sunset to sunrise, and any time there isn't sufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles 500 feet ahead — which covers heavy dust, rain, smoke, or fog (A.R.S. 28-922).

What is the headlight fine in Arizona?

Civil traffic violation; no separate wiper penalty. The dollar amount is set by each county/court fine schedule and generally runs into the low hundreds of dollars — check the local schedule (e.g., the Coconino County / Flagstaff Justice Court schedule) for the exact figure.

Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00922.htm. See our Terms & Disclaimer.

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Arizona Headlight & Wiper Law

When you light up in Arizona

Night, low visibility, and daytime

Arizona Headlight Law FAQ

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