Is Driving With Interior Lights On Illegal In Michigan?
You drop something!
Before you try to find whatever you dropped in the car, you may not want to turn on that interior light.
While it is extremely helpful when you are looking for something, it may not be in your best interest to have it on while you are driving.
Is Driving With Interior Lights On Illegal In Michigan?
To answer this question in the quickest and simplest way possible, it is not illegal to drive with your interior light on.
Turner and Turner Law says,
In short, Michigan has no law specifically prohibiting driving with interior cabin lights illuminated, according to Michigan State Police Traffic Services Section, Sgt. Jill Bennet.
Before you start spreading this news around, there is still a chance you could get pulled over for having it on.
In some jurisdictions, it is considered distracted or careless driving if you have your interior light on and an officer caught you.
If you are looking for something and not paying attention to the road ahead of you with the light on, that is probable cause to get pulled over by a cop.
So get ready, that ticket that may be coming your way.
Why is it not safe to have the interior lights on while driving?
It is simple.
It makes it hard to see the road since the light will reflect against your windshield.
Policygenius says,
No, states generally do not have laws that explicitly say it is illegal to drive with your interior dome lights on. That said, one of the reasons the 'driving with interior lights on' myth has held so much weight over the years is that it's not entirely untrue. And that's because the reason you need to turn your interior lights on may be considered distracted or carless driving, which is illegal.
Think twice before you turn that light on.