Rhode Island Neon Underglow Laws

Rhode Island neon underglow usage is governed by the state's Code. All relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to vehicle lighting including car underglow in Rhode Island have been provided below. Make sure to examine the regulations carefully and do not use any restricted lights.

Usage of neon underglow lighting is governed by Rhode Island General Laws, Title 31: Motor and Other Vehicles, Chapter 31-24: Lighting Equipment and Reflectors.

Is neon underglow legal in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island law does not restrict additional vehicle lighting which would include neon underglow. Therefore it’s our conclusion that in Rhode Island neon underglow is not illegal, but ensure you avoid the following restrictions:

  • License plate illumination must be white
  • Red lights in front of the car are expressly prohibited
  • Flashing lights are not permitted (except for authorized vehicles, or for signalling a traffic hazard or turn)

We strongly recommend avoiding colors blue and red on all aftermarket lights installed on your car as these are used by police vehicles.

There are no relevant RI laws which specifically restrict or prohibit installing car underglow, meaning we consider it legal to use it while driving.

Rhode Island vehicle lighting laws

Below are all relevant excerpts from Rhode Island Vehicle Code that limit, restrict or allow certain aftermarket lights to be installed on vehicles.

§ 31-24-9  Illumination of rear registration plate […]

Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate […]

§ 31-24-30  Red lights in front prohibited

No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device on it displaying a red light visible from directly in front of the center of it. […]

§ 31-24-31  Flashing lights – Forward viewing or rotary beam lights

(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the requirements of § 31-24-33 [Vehicles stopped on unlighted highways] shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′).

(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated: [emergency response vehicles, wrecker trucks, safety and maintenance vehicles, etc.] […] (3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted lights: Blue or red.

Penalties

Violation of the sections above is subject to penalties described in Chapter 31-41.1 – Adjudication of Traffic Offenses.

Our information about car neon underglow laws in Rhode Island was last updated in 2023 and checked in 2024. In case any info we provided is not up to date or correct be sure to contact us so we can revise it. Thank you!

Check our data with your local law enforcement or other relevant agencies! Rhode Island underglow laws in certain cities or counties may be different from state legislation. While we do our very best to provide the most accurate information about LED and neon street glow usage we will not be held liable for any potentially incorrect or misinterpreted info.

State of Rhode Island Info

Rhode Island is a state in the New England region of the United States. Rhode Island is the smallest in area, the eighth least populous, but the second most densely populated of the 50 US states behind New Jersey. Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north and east, and it shares a water boundary with New York's Long Island to the southwest. Rhode Island's official nickname is "The Ocean State", a reference to the State's geography, since the state has several large bays and inlets that amount to about 14% of its total area.

Capital: Providence

Population: 1,050,292

Area: 1,214 sq mi (3,140 km2)

Cities ▼

Cities in Rhode Island: Providence, Newport, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, North Kingstown, East Providence, Narragansett, Westerly, East Greenwich, Cumberland, Bristol, South Kingstown, North Providence, Smithfield, Coventry, Portsmouth, Middletown, Central Falls, West Warwick, Barrington, Tiverton, Johnston, Charlestown, Lincoln, Jamestown, Scituate, Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Little Compton, North Smithfield, Burrillville, Kingston, Warren, Wickford, Glocester, Exeter, Hopkinton, West Greenwich, Richmond, Rumford, Pawtuxet Village, Riverside, Chepachet, Foster, Saunderstown, Kingston Station, Lime Rock, New Shoreham, Bristol Ferry

Counties ▼

Counties in Rhode Island: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington

Wikipedia

State website



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