Tennessee Headlight & Wiper Law

When you light up in Tennessee

Rain, mist, or snow heavy enough for steady wipers means headlights on in Tennessee (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-406). Lights are also required from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, in fog or smoke, and any time you can't see 200 feet, a tighter trigger than most states' 500. Run low beams. The wiper ticket is a Class C misdemeanor, capped around $50 with no court costs.

Night, low visibility, and daytime

• Night: from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. Also during fog, smoke, or rain, and any time you can't clearly see a person 200 feet ahead. Tennessee's low-visibility trigger is 200 feet, not the common 500 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-406).
• No daytime work-zone headlight mandate; obey posted 'Headlights On' signs in tunnels and on mountain routes. DRLs aren't required and don't meet the rule, your tail lamps stay dark on daytime running lights, so turn the switch to ON. Dual lens: the statute keys the wiper duty to 'constant' wiper use, so an officer can wave off a brief mist, but steady wipers with lights off is the ticket.

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