Is it Illegal to Put Christmas Lights on Your Vehicle in Kentucky?

You might want your vehicle to be as festive as your home, but is that actually legal?

We all know someone who goes all out for Christmas each year. You've seen the homes around Kentucky full of lights, inflatables, and epic Christmas displays. They are the Clark Griswolds of the neighborhood. Everything is adorned with Christmas lights. Some people get so into it that they decorate their vehicles for the holidays. I've seen some people with a red Rudolph nose or a wreath on the grill of their vehicle, reindeer antlers on top of their car, and even some folks who put Christmas lights on their vehicles. So, that got me wondering. Can you drive around Kentucky in what's basically a moving, lit-up Christmas tree?

Before you say, "I see it all the time, so it's gotta be okay!" Keep in mind that just because you see people doing something doesn't mean that they're following the law. Besides, it should come as no surprise that seeing a car all decked out in Christmas lights can be pretty distracting to other drivers. So, can you legally put Christmas lights on your car in Kentucky? Well, sometimes things like this aren't as easy as a yes or no answer.

Get our free mobile app

Is it Illegal to Put Christmas Lights on Your Vehicle in Kentucky?

I searched the internet for that very answer, but even Google didn't have a direct answer. So, I reached out to the police chief of Henderson, Kentucky, Billy Bolin, to find some answers. After some digging, the Henderson Police Department could not find any law that clearly bans a vehicle from being decorated with Christmas lights. However, they did find a couple of laws in Kentucky that could be tied into Christmas lights on your vehicle.

According to the Henderson Police Department, both KRS 189.950 and 189.040 generally prohibit flashing lights on vehicles. KRS 189.950 does say that no vehicle, except for a few exceptions, should have a red light on the front of the vehicle or a blue light illuminated while on the highway.

KRS 189.950 Prohibitions--Exceptions

Section (2) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS 189.910 to 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any red or blue flashing, revolving, or oscillating light or place a red light on the front thereof. This subsection shall not apply to the use of red flashing lights on school buses or to stop lights or turn signals at the rear of any motor vehicle.

Section (3) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, a person shall not illuminate a blue light that is affixed to a motor vehicle while operating the motor vehicle on a highway. This subsection shall not apply to: (a) Any light on a motorcycle that is not affixed to the front of the motorcycle; or (b) Nonhalogen headlamps that have a slight blue tint and meet United States Department of Transportation regulations.

 

KRS 189.040 Front Lights—Flashing Lights

Section (8) Flashing lights are prohibited on all motor vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn or for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.

The bottom line is that this is pretty much what could and probably will happen to you if you decide to give it a try this year. So, while you might be in the Christmas spirit, leave the Christmas lights on your home and not your vehicle.

So you can't have flashing lights on your vehicle or lights of a certain color. Does that mean that if you abide by those rules, you can have Christmas lights on your vehicle in Kentucky? Major Ryan Walenga with the Henderson Police Department said:

Given the strictest possible reading of the above statutes I think Christmas lights on vehicles that are not flashing and do not have red or blue lights would be legal.

While currently there aren't any Kentucky laws or statutes that specifically address Christmas lights on vehicles, you can still be pulled over if an officer deems what you have going on as a safety issue for you or other drivers on the road. It's all up to the officer's discretion. However, if you abide by the statutes listed above and use some common sense, you should be okay.