Correct as at 29th March 2024. It may be superseded at any time.

Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > In-service certification (WoF and CoF) > Motorcycles > Lighting > Stop lamps

4-10 Stop lamps

Reasons for rejection

Mandatory and permitted equipment

1. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 is not fitted with one stop lamp.

2. A motorcycle is fitted with more than two stop lamps.

3. A motorcycle (eg a vintage or veteran motorcycle) does not meet standard stop lamp requirements, and does not:

a) have a valid vehicle identity card with a lighting equipment endorsement, or

b) meet the conditions of the lighting equipment endorsement in its vehicle identity card.

4. A retrofitted stop lamp is fitted at a height from the ground exceeding 1.5m (or 2.1m where fitting below 1.5m is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the motorcycle).

5. A retrofitted pair of lamps is not:

a) symmetrically mounted, or

b) mounted as far towards each side of the motorcycle as is practicable.

Condition

6. A lamp is insecure or, if a mandatory lamp, contains moisture in the form of large droplets, runs or puddles.

7. A lens is missing, or has a hole, crack or other damage that allows moisture or dirt to enter.

8. A reflector is damaged or has deteriorated so that light output is reduced.

Performance

9. When the service brake is activated:

a) a mandatory lamp does not operate, or

b) a lamp does not remain steadily illuminated.

10. A lamp operates when the service brake is not activated.

11. A lamp emits a light that is:

a) not substantially red, or

b) not diffuse, or

c) not projected to the rear, or

d) not approximately equal in intensity from the other lamp in a pair, or

e) not bright enough to produce a light that is visible from 100m in normal daylight, eg due to modification, deterioration, dirt or an incorrect light source, or

f) is altered, eg due to damage or modification.

12. A non-OE mandatory lamp not mounted in the original position, emits a light that is not visible within
(Figure 4-10-1):

a) 15˚ above and below the horizontal, and

b) 45˚ either side of the vertical.

13. A modification to the motorcycle has reduced the mandatory lamp’s angles to less than (Figure 4-10-1):

a) 15˚ above and below the horizontal, or

b) 45˚ either side of the vertical.

14. Where a lamp comprises an array of light sources (eg LEDs), fewer than 75% of these operate.

15. On a motorcycle manufactured for the American market and fitted with an OE combined stop/indicator lamp, the stop lamp function is not overridden by the indicator function.

Note 1 Definitions

Modify means to change a vehicle from its original state by altering, substituting, adding or removing a structure, system, component, or equipment, but does not include repair.

Repair means to restore a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment to within safe tolerance of its condition when manufactured, including replacement with undamaged or new structures, systems, components or equipment.

An original equipment (OE) lamp is one that is fitted by the vehicle manufacturer in the original position, or is an equivalent replacement or aftermarket lamp suitable for the position provided by the vehicle manufacturer for that lamp. All other lamps are considered retrofitted (non-OE).

Stop lamp means a lamp that is designed to operate when the service brake is activated, that is when either the front service brake, the rear service brake, or both the front and rear service brakes are activated.

Note 2

A permitted stop lamp that does not comply with equipment, condition and performance requirements must be made to comply or be disabled so that it does not emit a light.

Note 3

A vehicle originally manufactured with a stop-lamp arrangement that differs from what is required or permitted in this section may retain the original stop lamps provided they remain fitted in their original position and perform as intended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Figure 4-10-1. Stop-lamp beam angles

Stop-lamp beam angles

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation
Mandatory and permitted equipment

1. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 1978 may be fitted with one or two stop lamps.

2. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 must be fitted with one or two stop lamps.

3. A motorcycle (eg a vintage or veteran motorcycle) manufactured without lamps, or with lamps that cannot meet specified requirements, may obtain a WoF if:

a) the motorcycle has a valid vehicle identity card with a lighting equipment endorsement, and

b) the motorcycle meets the conditions of that endorsement.

4. A retrofitted pair of stop lamps must be symmetrically mounted as far towards each side of the motorcycle as is practicable.

5. A retrofitted stop lamp must be fitted at a height from the ground not exceeding 1.5m, or if this is not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork of the motorcycle, not exceeding 2.1m.

Condition

6. A stop lamp must:

a) be in sound condition.

b) not be obscured (if a mandatory lamp).

Performance

7. A stop lamp must operate in a way that is appropriate for the lamp and the vehicle.

8. The light emitted from a stop lamp must be diffuse light that is substantially red.

9. A mandatory stop lamp must operate when a service brake is activated.

10. A mandatory stop lamp must provide sufficient light output to fulfill its intended purpose.

11. A stop lamp must emit a steady light.

12. A retrofitted mandatory stop lamp must emit a light that is visible within the angles of 15˚ above and below the horizontal, and 45˚ inboard and outboard.

13. If a motorcycle of American origin is fitted with combined stop and direction indicator lamps, the indicator lamps must override the stop lamps so that the stop lamps will operate as direction indicators.

14. Where a stop lamp comprises an array of light sources (eg LEDs), at least 75% of these must operate.

Modifications

15. A stop lamp that is affected by a modification must meet equipment, condition and performance requirements.

Page amended 2 December 2019 (see amendment details).

Page updated 18 July 2023 (see details).