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Bill

B 26-0361

Shine Safely Act of 2025

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Janeese Lewis George

D.C. bill regulates aftermarket vehicle lighting to prevent safety hazards from overly bright or improperly installed custom lights on roads.

Public Hearing on B26-0361
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0361

Legislative bill overview

The Shine Safely Act of 2025 establishes requirements for aftermarket vehicle lighting modifications in Washington, D.C., likely addressing the installation and use of non-standard lights on vehicles. The bill aims to regulate brightness, color, and positioning of modified lights to maintain safety and visibility standards on roadways. This represents an attempt to formalize rules around increasingly popular custom vehicle lighting upgrades.

Why is this important

Unregulated vehicle lighting modifications can create hazards by blinding other drivers, obscuring required safety lights, or violating federal transportation standards. Establishing clear local standards protects public safety while providing certainty for vehicle owners about what modifications are legally permissible. This addresses a growing enforcement challenge as LED and aftermarket lighting technologies become more accessible and popular.

Potential points of contention

  • Enforcement burden: Police and traffic enforcement must distinguish illegal modifications from legal upgrades, requiring training and potentially subjective judgment calls
  • Balancing customization vs. safety: Car enthusiasts may view regulations as restricting personal vehicle expression, while safety advocates prioritize preventing dangerous modifications
  • Alignment with federal standards: The bill must clarify whether D.C. standards complement or diverge from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, potentially creating compliance confusion for residents crossing jurisdictional lines

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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