Are Uber and Lyft Lights Street Legal?
With so many cars on the road, and so many ridesharing apps around, many drivers use colorful lights to both attract new users and alert clients to their arrival. The lights are also useful to users to avoid getting into the wrong car. But are they legal?
That might depend on where you're driving.
Sunflower State Statutes
According to Kansas State Troopers, glowing LED app logos in the front window of a car violate Kansas Traffic Statute 8-1729, which prohibits "any vehicle or equipment upon any highway [from having] any lamp or device displaying any color of light visible from directly in front of the center thereof except white or amber or any shade of color between white and amber." The statute also bans any flashing lights.
The Lyft Amp, for instance, glows pink and purple, and changes color as the driver approaches their passenger. And while the Uber Beacon glows white, it changes color as well when the driver nears arrival.
"I didn't know what I was getting pulled over for," Christopher Hockett told Wichita's KWCH. Hockett claims he was ticketed for a glowing green Uber light. Other local rideshare drivers said they plan to use the lights anyway, but perhaps turn them off while driving.
Ridesharing Regulations
Neither company requires drivers to use the front-facing LEDs, but does encourage drivers to use vehicle identification decals. And not every city, county, or state requires such decals for drivers. The lights might be great for both drivers and riders, but before you put one on your car, you might want to check local traffic laws or talk to a local attorney specializing in traffic or criminal law.
Related Resources:
- Find Traffic Ticket Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
- Uber Driver Shoots, Kills Passenger in Denver (FindLaw Blotter)
- What's the Criminal Punishment for Assaulting an Uber Driver? (FindLaw Blotter)
- No Disrupting Drunk Driving? New Study Says Uber Has Had No Effect. (FindLaw Blotter)