CVC 25950Eligible for written declarationCorrectable · Fix under CVC 40522

Unlawful Light Color on Vehicle

Having lamps or reflectors on a vehicle in colors the section does not allow, such as light visible from the front that is not white or yellow, or light visible from the rear that is not red, outside its exceptions.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $193, or $25 if correctedDMV Points: None✓ Correctable

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a Unlawful Light Color on Vehicle ticket?

CVC 25950 sets the colors of lamps and reflectors on a vehicle, unless provided otherwise. Under 25950(a), light from lamps and reflectors visible from in front of a vehicle shall be white or yellow, with listed exceptions, such as rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 that may show red to the front, and foglamps under Section 24403 that may be in the white-to-yellow spectrum. Under 25950(b), light visible from the rear shall be red, with listed exceptions, such as stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, and turn signal lamps that may show yellow, and backup lamps that shall show white.

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What the Law Says

This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows: (a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows: (1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front. (2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow. (3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device. (4) ADS marker lamps, as described in subdivision (i) of Section 38750, on an autonomous vehicle. (b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows: (1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear. (2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear. (3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear. (4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear. (5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired. (6) A reflector meeting the requirements of, and installed in accordance with, Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both. (7) ADS marker lamps, as described in subdivision (i) of Section 38750, on an autonomous vehicle. (c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.

What the Officer Must Prove

1A lamp or reflector on your vehicle showed a color that CVC 25950 does not allow from that direction

Arguments Commonly Raised for Unlawful Light Color on Vehicle

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

A listed exception

CVC 25950(a) and (b) list exceptions for specific lamps, such as side marker lamps, foglamps, turn signal lamps, and backup lamps. Describe which lamp was cited and its color.

Correction

If your notice is marked correctable and you present proof of correction, certified as Vehicle Code 40616 describes, by mail or in person on or before the date on your notice, the court shall dismiss the charge (Vehicle Code 40522). The clerk collects a $25 transaction fee unless the notice is processed only by the agency that issued it (Vehicle Code 40611).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not photographing the lamps after any change
✗Leaving out which lamp was cited

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 25950 — Unlawful Light Color on Vehicle. Having lamps or reflectors on a vehicle in colors the section does not allow, such as light visible from the front that is not white or yellow, or light visible from the rear that is not red, outside its exceptions.

This section is a correctable (fix-it) violation: if the officer marks your notice correctable, the court shall dismiss the charge when you present proof of correction on or before the date on your notice (Vehicle Code 40522). The officer does not mark it correctable on finding fraud or persistent neglect, an immediate safety hazard, or that you do not agree to, or cannot, promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)).

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 25950. It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

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