California law
24600. During darkness every motor vehicle which is not in
combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a
combination of vehicles shall be equipped with lighted taillamps
mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more taillamps.
(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first
registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with not
less than two taillamps, except that trailers and semitrailers
manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide,
may be equipped with one taillamp which shall be mounted at or near
the vertical centerline of the vehicles. If a vehicle is equipped
with two taillamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision
(d).
(c) Every vehicle or vehicle at the end of a combination of
vehicles, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 22406 shall be
equipped with not less than two taillamps.
(d) When two taillamps are required, at least one shall be mounted
at the left and one at the right side respectively at the same
level.
(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible
from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps
on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly
visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.
(f) Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1,
1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72
inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with
the required taillamps, may also be equipped with two taillamps which
may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum
allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion
of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. The additional
taillamps on a tow truck shall be lighted whenever the headlamps are
lighted.
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