USE OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Alaska Headlight Use Requirements

This bill updates Alaska law to require drivers to use headlights during specific times, weather conditions, and on certain roads.

What This Bill Does

• Requires headlights between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise when other rules do not apply.
• Mandates headlight use at any time if light or weather makes it hard to see people or cars from 1,000 feet away.
• Makes headlights required on roads marked as traffic safety corridors under state law.
• Sets specific dates for mandatory headlight use based on latitude and the Sterling Highway location.
• Requires headlights during periods when emergency orders allow studded tires or chains.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers of motor vehicles in Alaska
• People operating cars north of 60 degrees North Latitude between September 16 and April 30
• People driving on the paved part of the Sterling Highway during winter months

Terms To Know

Traffic safety corridor

A road officially designated under state law for special traffic rules.

Studded tires or chains

Tires with metal studs or added chains used to improve grip on snow and ice, allowed during specific emergency orders.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not state the exact date it becomes effective.
• The law only applies to offenses committed on or after its effective date.

Official Summary Text

USE OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED
An Act relating to failure to use headlights.

Current Bill Text

HB0269b -1- SSHB 269
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1221\N

SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 269

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER BY REQUEST

Introduced: 2/13/26
Referred: State Affairs, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to failure to use headlights." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 28.35.191(a) is amended to read: 3
(a) A person commits the offense of failure to use headlights if the person 4
operates a motor vehicle without the use of motor vehicle headlights 5
(1) between one half-hour after sunset and one half-hour before sunrise 6
during the period when use is not required under (4) or (5) of this section; 7
(2) at any other time when, because of insufficient light or other 8
atmospheric conditions, persons or motor vehicles are not clearly discernible at a 9
distance of 1,000 feet; [OR] 10
(3) on a road that is a designated traffic safety corridor under 11
AS 19.10.075; 12
(4) from 13
(A) September 16 through April 30, inclusive, 14
(i) north of 60 degrees North Latitude; or 15
34-LS1221\N
SSHB 269 -2- HB0269b
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(ii) at any latitude on a paved portion of the Sterling 1
Highway; 2
(B) October 1 through April 14, inclusive, south of 60 3
degrees North Latitude; or 4
(5) during a lawful operating period allowing the operation of a 5
motor vehicle with studded tires or chains by an emergency order issued under 6
AS 28.35.155. 7
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 8
read: 9
APPLICABILITY. AS 28.35.191(a), as amended by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to 10
offenses committed on or after the effective date of this Act. 11