Usage of neon underglow lighting is governed by Georgia Vehicle Code, Title 40: Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 8: Equipment and Inspection of Motor Vehicles, Article 1: Equipment Generally, Part 2: Lighting Equipment.
Is neon underglow legal in Georgia?
Georgia law does not restrict additional aftermarket vehicle lighting which would include neon underglow. Therefore it’s our conclusion that in Georgia neon underglow is not illegal, as long as you follow these restrictions:
- Red, blue, violet and green colors are expressly forbidden
- License plate illumination must be white
- Flashing lights are prohibited
Blue, red, violet (purple) and green are restricted by law for use on emergency vehicles, so in no cases should you use these colors on any aftermarket lights including underbody glow. Avoid using any underbody glow which is flashing, rotating, or oscillating.
Legally speaking mounting any lights including underglow which is capable of emitting blue light could be considered illegal, even if you use other colors in public. Use at your own risk; in case you’re pulled over by a police officer we strongly suggest not telling them you can change colors (assuming you can, which is the case with most LED underglow systems).
There are no relevant GA laws which specifically restrict or prohibit installing car underglow, meaning we consider it legal to use it while driving. As per § 40-8-1, the law does not prohibit installing any additional aftermarket lights are long as they’re not inconsistent with other regulations.
Georgia vehicle lighting laws
Below are all relevant excerpts from Georgia Vehicle Code that limit, restrict or allow certain aftermarket lights to be installed on vehicles.
§ 40-8-1 – Application of article
[…] (b) Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle, which use is not inconsistent with the provisions of this article.
§ 40-8-23 – Taillights
[…] (d) Either a taillight or a separate light shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate […]
§ 40-8-29. Spotlights, foglights, and auxiliary lights permitted
(a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one spotlight, and no lighted spotlight shall be aimed and used upon any approaching vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any person except law enforcement officers and persons licensed under Chapter 38 of Title 43 to operate a spotlight from any moving vehicle on any highway or public roadway.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two foglights mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the light from which it comes.
(c) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one auxiliary passing light mounted on the front at a height not less than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, and every such auxiliary passing light shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.
(d) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one auxiliary driving light mounted on the front at a height not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, and every such auxiliary driving light shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.
§ 40-8-34. Color in lighting equipment
The color in all lighting equipment covered in this title shall be in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J578, April, 1965, as thereafter revised or amended.
You can find the latest standards here. In short, do not use colors red, blue, violet, or green.
§ 40-8-90 – Restrictions on use of blue lights on vehicles
(a) (1) Except as provided in this paragraph and subsection (b) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate any motor vehicle equipped with or containing a device capable of producing any blue lights, whether flashing, blinking, revolving, or stationary, except:
(A) Motor vehicles owned or leased by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency;
(B) Motor vehicles with a permit […]
Penalty for violating this provision is a misdemeanor. In case the blue lights were used in commission of a felony the punishment is a fine not less than $1,000 and imprisonment for no less than one year, or even both.
§ 40-8-92 – Designation of emergency vehicles […]
(a) All emergency vehicles shall be designated as such by the commissioner of public safety. The commissioner shall so designate each vehicle by issuing to such vehicle a permit to operate flashing or revolving emergency lights of the appropriate color. […]
(d) Except as provided in this subsection, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate any motor vehicle or to park any motor vehicle on public property with flashing or revolving green lights. […]
Penalties
§ 40-8-7 – Driving unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle; punishment for violations
(b) It is a misdemeanor for any person to drive or move, or for the owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any street or highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles:
(1) Which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person;
(2) Which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lights and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter; or
(3) Which is equipped in any manner in violation of this chapter. […]
(d) Any vehicle suspected of being operated in violation of this article may be the subject of an inspection conducted by any law enforcement officer who has reason to believe such violation is occurring, without the necessity of obtaining a warrant to permit such inspection.
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J578 (revised in 2016)
State of Georgia Info
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies, and named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia is the 24th most extensive and the 8th most populous of the 50 United States. From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas. Georgia is known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta is the state's capital and its most populous city.
Capital: Atlanta
Population: 9,919,945
Area: 59,425 sq mi (153,909 km2)
Cities ▼
Cities in Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Athens, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Macon, Johns Creek, Albany, Warner Robins, Alpharetta, Marietta, Valdosta, Smyrna, Dunwoody, Rome, East Point, Milton, Gainesville, Hinesville, Peachtree City, Newnan, Dalton, Douglasville, Kennesaw, LaGrange, Statesboro, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Stockbridge, Woodstock, Carrollton, Canton, Griffin, McDonough, Acworth, Pooler, Union City, Decatur, Cartersville, Sugar Hill, Milledgeville, Snellville, Forest Park, Thomasville, St. Marys, Tifton, Americus, Kingsland, uwanee, Dublin, Calhoun, Chamblee, Brunswick, Norcross, Riverdale, Conyers, Perry
Counties ▼
Counties in Georgia: Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Clayton, Chatham, Cherokee, Richmond, Muscogee, Bibb, Hall, Henry, Houston, Whitfield, Clarke, Forsyth, Dougherty, Douglas, Lowndes, Fayette, Floyd, Columbia, Coweta, Carroll, Paulding, Bartow, Rockdale, Glynn, Newton, Liberty, Walker, Walton, Troup, Spalding, Bulloch, Catoosa, Barrow, Laurens, Baldwin, Gordon, Camden, Thomas, Colquitt, Jackson, Tift, Effingham, Coffee, Murray, Habersham, Ware, Sumter, Oconee, Decatur, Upson, Wayne, Toombs, Madison, Haralson, Chattooga, Stephens, Lee, Mitchell, Harris, Peach, Grady, Jones, Gilmer, Bryan, Hart, Pickens, Meriwether, Tattnall, Burke, Crisp, Worth, Emanuel, Monroe, McDuffie, Washington, Lumpkin, Elbert, Franklin, White, Fannin, Butts, Dodge, Putnam, Ben Hill, Appling, Union, Jefferson, Brooks, Berrien, Dawson, Lamar, Cook, Pierce, Morgan, Screven, Dade, Rabun, Chattahoochee, Brantley, Banks, Greene, Macon, Pike, Jeff Davis, Oglethorpe, Crawford, Early, Telfair, Bleckley, Dooly, Jasper, Heard, Terrell, McIntosh, Wilkes, Twiggs, Evans, Long, Charlton, Wilkinson, Bacon, Hancock, Irwin, Pulaski, Candler, Turner, Seminole, Towns, Taylor, Wilcox, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, Montgomery, Randolph, Atkinson, Lanier, Marion, Clinch, Treutlen, Talbot, Miller, Warren, Calhoun, Wheeler, Stewart, Baker, Schley, Echols, Clay, Quitman, Glascock, Webster, Taliaferro
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