Georgia Headlight & Wiper Law

When you light up in Georgia

Georgia is stricter than a wiper law: headlights are required any time it's raining, period (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-20). Add the usual, from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and any time you can't see 500 feet. If it's raining and your lights are off, that's a ticket, 3 points on your license and a fine that varies by county. Run low beams; brights glare back off the rain. DRLs leave your rear lamps dark, so flip to full headlamps.

Night, low visibility, and daytime

• Night: from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. Also any time it is raining, and any time you can't clearly see persons and vehicles 500 feet ahead (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-20).
• No separate work-zone daytime headlight mandate; obey posted 'Headlights On' signs. DRLs aren't required and don't meet the rule, daytime running lights leave your tail and marker lamps dark, so turn on full headlamps. Dual lens: Georgia's trigger is rain itself, not the wiper switch. Headlights are required the moment it starts raining 'in the driving zone,' even a light rain before you'd run constant wipers, which is broader than a wiper statute.

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