This holiday season, Gulf Coast roads are twinkling with cars wrapped in Christmas lights, turning everyday vehicles into mobile holiday displays.
Local car enthusiast Paul Townsend says the festive displays are a hit with the community.
"Everybody loves it," Townsend said. "I get people coming up, kids jumping up, people roll down their windows and take pictures of it. The cops love it, like everybody. Everybody loves it."
The trend is captivating local drivers, but what does the law say about lighting up your car?
The Florida Highway Patrol branch in Southwest Florida says decorating your car with lights comes with responsibilities.
According to Florida Statutes, certain colors and flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles to avoid confusion with emergency vehicles or distractions for other drivers.
Under Florida Statute 316.2397 , drivers are prohibited from using red, red-and-white, or blue lights visible from the front of a vehicle unless they are operating specifically authorized vehicles such as police cars or ambulances.
Flashing lights are also generally restricted, except in specific situations, such as hazard warnings or emergency response vehicles.
While the law permits non-flashing lights in other colors, Florida Highway Patrol emphasizes the importance of good judgment when decorating your car.
Local driver Jose de la Parra understands the rules well. He decorated his baby-blue Corvette with a non-flashing yellow light.
“The reason I only went with this color is because I don't want to risk the ticket,” De La Parra said.
Townsend recalls being pulled over for driving too fast, and law enforcement asked about the lights, too.
“He asked me about the lights because he hadn't seen it before this year,” Townsend said. “And this year, there's a lot of people doing it.”
Despite the stop, Townsend said the officer appreciated his festive effort.
“The cop liked it. They just thought they were cool. And then I got off. He just let me go,” Townsend added.
Other statutes regulate if drivers can alter their lights, too.
- Statute 316.220 - Prohibits altering the color of headlamp light or obstructing its visibility.
- Statute 316.221 - Taillamps must emit red light visible from 1,000 feet and cannot be obstructed or altered.
- Statute 316.224 - Front clearance lamps must be amber, and rear clearance lamps must be red.
- Statute 316.233 - Limits the number and placement of auxiliary lamps (like fog or spot lamps).
Overall, decorative Christmas lights could be allowed if they do not obstruct legally required vehicle lights, change their color, or impair the visibility or safety of the vehicle.
As the trend grows, drivers are encouraged to bring holiday cheer to the roads responsibly.