New Jersey Neon Underglow Laws

New Jersey neon underglow usage is governed by the state's Code. All relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to vehicle lighting including car underglow in New Jersey 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 New Jersey Revised Statutes, Title 39: Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation, Sections 39:3-46 to 39:3-66-3.

Is neon underglow legal in New Jersey?

New Jersey law does not restrict using aftermarket vehicle lighting which would include neon underglow, but it does restrict colors which may be visible while the car is in motion. Therefore it’s our conclusion that in New Jersey neon underglow is not illegal.

Since it’s not specifically forbidden, underbody lights could be considered legal assuming the following:

  • all lights visible from the front of the car must be white or amber
  • all lights visible from the front sides of the car must be amber
  • all lights visible from the back or near back of the car must be red
  • license plate illumination must be white
  • no flashing lights may be used

No other colors of lights are permitted on vehicles!

There are no relevant laws to restrict or prohibit installing neon car underglow, meaning it’s not illegal to use it while not on a public road. Ensure your neon lights are unable to change color to restricted colors.

New Jersey vehicle lighting laws

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

Section 39:3-50 – Color of lights

39:3-50. All lamps and reflectors, which display a light visible from directly in front of a vehicle as authorized by this subtitle, shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color.

(a)The color of light emitted or reflected by exterior lamps or reflectors on a vehicle shall be as follows, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section:

White when the lamp is a headlamp, or spot lamp, or illuminates a license plate or a destination sign; or is located on the outside limit of a side car or other attachment on a motor cycle;

Substantially white or amber when the lamp is a side-cowl or fender lamp, running-board or other courtesy lamp, front parking lamp, back-up lamp, auxiliary driving lamp; or a turn signal on or facing the front;

Substantially red or amber when the lamp is a turn signal or a stop lamp on or facing the rear;

Red when any other lamp or any reflector is on the rear or on either side at or near the rear, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f) of section 39:3-61 for a combination marker lamp;

Amber when any other lamp or reflector is on the front or on either side other than at or near the rear.

(b)Lamps and reflectors on projecting loads shall emit or reflect light with color as provided in section 10 of this act.

(c)No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any street or highway equipped with any device or lamp thereon capable of or displaying a light of any other color than permitted by this section, except: an authorized emergency vehicle, an authorized school bus, or a vehicle authorized by a permit issued by the chief administrator.

Section 39:3-52 – Additional lighting equipment

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit a white or yellow light without glare. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or yellow light without glare. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a back-up lamp either separately or in combination with another lamp; except that no such back-up lamp shall be continuously lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.

Section 39:3-54 – Warning lights on vehicles

[…] Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, motorcycles and motor-drawn vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn; provided, however, any vehicle may be equipped, and when required under this article shall be equipped, with lamps for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard […]

Penalties

As per New Jersey statutes section 39:3-47, the penalty for violating the laws about illumination devices on vehicles is a $50 fine.

Section 39:3-47 – Illuminating devices required; violations, fines.

a.No person shall drive, move, park or be in custody of any vehicle or combination of vehicles on any street or highway during the times when lighted lamps are required unless such vehicle or combination of vehicles displays lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter in this article required. Failure to use lighted lamps when lighted lamps are required may result in a fine not to exceed $50.00. In no case shall motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C:17:33B-14) be assessed against any person for a violation of this subsection. A person who is fined under this subsection for a violation of this subsection shall not be subject to a surcharge under the New Jersey Merit Rating Plan as provided in section 6 of P.L.1983, c.65 (C:17:29A-35).

Section 39:3-54.13 states that each person who operates emergency warnings lights without authorization may be fined with up to $200:

39:3-54.13 Violation of act; penalty.

7.Any person authorized to operate emergency warning lights pursuant to P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) who willfully operates such emergency warning lights in violation of the provisions of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $100 and the person’s privilege to operate such emergency warning lights may be suspended or revoked by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. A person who is not authorized to operate emergency warning lights who willfully operates such emergency warning lights shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $200.

Our information about car neon underglow laws in New Jersey 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! New Jersey 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 New Jersey Info

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the U.S. state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania, and on the southwest by Delaware. New Jersey is the fourth-least extensive, but the 11th-most populous and the most densely populated of the 50 United States. New Jersey lies mostly within the sprawling metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. It is also the second-wealthiest U.S. state by 2011 median household income.

Capital: Trenton

Population: 8,864,590

Area: 8,721 sq mi (22,608 km2)

Cities ▼

Cities in New Jersey: Jersey City, Atlantic City, Newark, Hoboken, Sandy Hook, Camden, Trenton, Toms River, Ocean City, Princeton, Cape May, Cherry Hill, Seaside Heights, Morristown, Montclair, Wildwood, New Brunswick, Elizabeth, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Paterson, Edison, Bayonne, Red Bank, Brick Township, Hackensack, Asbury Park, Union Township, Englishtown, Piscataway, West New York, Secaucus, Paramus, Ridgewood, Woodbridge, Hamilton Township, Fort Lee, Union City, Alpine, Teaneck, Clifton, Belmar, Wayne, North Bergen, Middletown, West Orange, Old Bridge, Vineland, Basking Ridge, Summit, East Brunswick Township

Counties ▼

Counties in New Jersey: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren

Wikipedia

State website



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