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Local Emergency Light Laws
I was just wondering what the laws of your state say for POV's to have emergency lights and sirens. I live in Maine where we have very strict laws in reference to POV's and emergnecy lights, you can have two red or white lights in the grill OR 1 in the window if it is not obstructing your view. You have no special laws for responding and people do NOT have to pull over for you if they dont want. Also your not aloud sirens. I've been giving thought to moving to another state and I am hoping to see about your local rules and regulations.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ted Downey on
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In Wahington State,,
Volunteer Firefighter If approved by the chief of their respective service, green lamps may be installed on the vehicle provided that the requirements outlined in subsection (4) of this section are met.
Public utilities vehicles, other construction and maintenance vehicles, pilot cars, tow trucks, animal control vehicles, hazardous materials response team vehicles, search and rescue team vehicles, and rural newspaper carrier vehicles, and vehicles towing a load that exceeds legal dimensions. One or more flashing amber lamps provided that the requirements of subsection (5) of this section are met.
(4) Green lights for volunteer firefighter vehicles must:
(a) Meet the requirements of SAE J595 except that the color of the lamp must be green as the color described in SAE J578.
(b) Be visible for a distance of two hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions.
(c) Not have a maximum light projected in any one direction exceeding three hundred candle power.
(d) Be mounted no less than twenty-four inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, or may be placed on the forward portion of the top above the windshield.
(e) Be mounted anywhere from the center of the vehicle to the left side thereof.
(f) Be used only for the purpose of identification and the operator of a vehicle so equipped must not be entitled to any of the privileges provided in RCW 46.61.035 for the operators of authorized emergency vehicles.
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Permalink Reply by Bud Schlessman on
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in missouri you can only run blue/white/amber any number of lights can run code if dept. allows if you have a siren like device that can be hurd from 300' also the law states that you are required to have 360 visablilty, personally i have 54" LED light bar, LED grill lights,(LED strobes, more LED grill lights, and interor LED lightbar on order) cant wait to install
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Permalink Reply by Aaron on
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I hope you've gotten all the info you needed. If no ones told you yet. In all 50 states no insurance company will cover u as an emergency vehicle. when u turn on your lights your considered an emergency apparatus. so if an accident occures its all on you for 1 then you have to pay out of pocket. Texas doesnt say anything on the amount of lights or having a siren, but small town law enforcement will try and bully you saying you cant have it. All in all TX penal code only says no flashing lights on vehicles of non-emergency personnel POVs. Good luck to you and i hope all is well
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Permalink Reply by robbie sledge on
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in responce to nikki yea in SC we have to have 360 lights and a siren but some station will not allow you to have either anymore due to abuse by the firefighters. also it depends on where you are in the state. some of our more country stations are allowed to run code all the way to the call but where im at in Lexington station 10 we can only have lights on our POVs and only run them once at the incident.
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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
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One green light on the dash of your vehicle to be used when responding only. It does not give you right of way, or allow you to run stop signs or red lights, it is simply a courtesy light. No sirens.
Province of Saskatchewan allows light bars.
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Permalink Reply by ADAM WILSON on
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In Oregon I operate flashing red lights on my pov. Here is what Oregon law says about fire light on pov's
ORS 818.250 - Permit for fire company warning lights
The governing body of a rural fire protection district or of a municipal fire department may issue written authorization for the use of fire company warning lights on vehicles that are used while driving to a fire station or fire location in response to a fire alarm. Written authorization issued under this section shall comply with all of the following:
(1) Written authorization may be issued only to authorize use of the warning lights on any vehicle, whether publicly or privately owned, if used by:
(a) A fire chief, assistant fire chief or volunteer firefighter selected by the board of directors of a rural fire protection district organized under ORS chapter 478; or
(b) Any person authorized to serve as fire chief, assistant fire chief or volunteer firefighter by the governing body of any municipal fire department.
(2) Any lights authorized under this section must be and remain the property of the rural fire protection district or municipality involved.
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Permalink Reply by Russ on
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i love this discussion and understand everybody's opinion. Personally i am for it for safety and efficiency reasons...(ok i'm a buff and like having lights)....in ohio they get lights and sirens (i need to move there) in others states its so restricted its funny...(funny story)--when i was a vollie on long island NY the law said we were allowed one blue light only and it had to be no more than 25 candle power. the cops used to go on jihad from time to time to ticket vollies they said were in violation. i had a Whelen responder with a mirror set and got tagged because it took a single light and the mirrors provided two extra flashes. the cops said that was a violation but could not show it to me in written law--LOL--how can a mirror be a violation? they also tried to tag me for an over wattage bulb and i asked how does a offcier measure wattage or candelpower in the field? he said the bulb is obviously a quartz halogen bulb and by its description is 55 watts....but officer i had a dimmer (yes i did but it did nothing) in the wire to keep the output at 25 watts...he wanted to see it and when they did...i walked...he-he my personal favorite were guys that had full one piece lightbars because the law said ONE BLUE LIGHT and thats what it was, one continious dome of blue light (the law said nothing about rotators inside the lens). Florida's law was interpreted that we had to have one red light on each corner of the vehicle (swear to god it was interpreted that way) and one guy actually did it, 4 pipes with a single light on each corner of the car..LOL- I LOVE LIGHT LAWS FOR VOLLIES!!! i wonder what they do about LED's today? Bottom line WE'RE ONLY GOIN TO THE FIREHOUSE!!!!!!relax. again good topic thanks for making me remember
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dudan on
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Here we go again...
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Permalink Reply by Nick on
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Connecticut- firefighters- Blue lights only
officers- red and white with siren for captains
Chiefs- generally red and white with sirens but some have blue and red, with sirens.
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Permalink Reply by Franklin Rosier on
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Anyone know the Ohio Laws on Lights, I heard that the 360 Law for Vol. was resinded but I am not sure.
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Permalink Reply by Jon Marcaurele on
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See down here in texas all volunteer fire or EMS are allowed red, blue, white, amber in any combination. The law states that the vehicle must have two red alternating lights visible to front and back and at the uppermost and furthest point of the vehicle (overhead) visible 500ft in normal daylight, and to be considered legal must have siren audible 500 ft ahead.
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