USE OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Using Headlights When Driving

This law requires drivers in Alaska to use their headlights during specific times and conditions.

What This Bill Does

• Requires drivers to turn on their headlights between one half-hour after sunset and one half-hour before sunrise, unless otherwise stated.
• Mandates the use of headlights when visibility is poor due to insufficient light or atmospheric conditions that make it hard to see other vehicles or people from a distance of 1,000 feet.
• Requires drivers to use their headlights on roads designated as traffic safety corridors.
• Specifies different times for using headlights based on location and season: north of 60 degrees North Latitude (September 16 through April 30) and south of 60 degrees North Latitude (October 1 through April 14).
• Requires the use of headlights during periods when studded tires or chains are allowed by emergency order.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers in Alaska who operate motor vehicles.
• Law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing traffic laws.

Terms To Know

Traffic safety corridor

A specific road where extra safety measures are required, as designated by the state.

Emergency order

A directive issued during an emergency situation to address immediate concerns.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact effective date of this law is not provided in the official source material.
• It does not specify penalties for failing to comply with these requirements.

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