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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 Tom on
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new jersey has had allowed blue lights for volunteer firefighters and emts. the old law would allow one 50 candlepower rotator on the roof. it was an outdated law. since you cant find a light with that limited lighting. the new law has allowed for more lights, and the chief of the fire department is allowed a red light, but you must have a siren installed on the vehicle. the lights help sometimes, but there is no law requiring the public to pull over. so if people see them and yeild you are lucky.
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Permalink Reply by PAFirePolice on
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In Pa you are alouwed to run blue if it is authorized by the chief. Only Chief, Asst. Chief, Deputy Chief, Ambulance Commander, Fire Police Capt., Fire Police Liet. or a Dive Team/ river recue Capt. are aloud to run red lights with siren. Lights must be seen 360 degrees. No more then 2 lights. Blue lights must not excede the speed limit.
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Permalink Reply by Terry on
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On pov's
In mississippi legally you can only run red lights, and they can not be displpayed until you are actually responding to an emergency. However lately they have become more relaxed in the more rural areas. Most cops don't care if you run red or red / white, but not white only, they also let you leave them in your dash or on the roof. Siren's are optional. By the State legislature we are allowed to go up to 10mph over the speed limit, but must be showing due regard for others on the road. Also wig wags and grill lights are optional. Basically every type of light or siren is ok except for blue lights.
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Permalink Reply by PATRICK S. MASON JR. on
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Tom, And all others in NJ. The statement above is not correct. In 2005 NJ Law was changed. The public must now yield to Blue Lights, 39:4-92.
When we are displaying our Blue Lights responding to a call, we are now considered Emergency Vehicles under the law and the public MUST yield to us.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Kilmartin on
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I believe in Kansas all firefighters are allowed red lights & sirens. In my county, Shawnee County, a firefighter must complete an "application" form, that is signed by the Chief, the goes onto one of the law enforcement agencies for approval, then onto the county commission for approval. This makes the POV a licensed emergency vehicle. This gives you the same rights and responsibilities as any other emergency vehicle.
The guidelines as to exactly what type of lighting you must have has been in disbute for several years, but basically it seems you must have a least one (1) light that shines 360 degrees from the vehicle, plus a "sound emitting" device (go figure that one...). Most firefighters have some type of lightbar. Ther are some taht prefer the more "stealthy" mode as used by undercover law enforcement cars. The law in Kansas is that you must give way to all emergency vehicles (i.e. red lights & sirens). This of course is if they can hear you with either their stereos pounding or cell phones in their ears.
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Permalink Reply by RelicScoth on
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As far as I know, electric air horns were still exempt, but I've only ever seen one person install it anyway. As for candlepower, it is very difficult to find lights that "qualify" under the current regulations, but note that those limitations are set by the commissioner, not V&T. From what I've seen, one 360* or one front/one back doesn't get any hassle. I run a 14" all blue led in front and an amber in the back for parking in hazardous locations.
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Well i understand that it came about a few years ago, the yeilding to blue lights was considered, however the it only recently passed. It still remains to be seen, if anyone will pull over for a blue light.
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Tom,
It was signed into law by Gov. Codey in April of 2005. My town has actually given tickets for failure to yield to Fire and EMS responders. The big problem we find is that the Police are not up on the change, and still have the old mindset...
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Permalink Reply by Monte Fletcher on
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we are not able to have any
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Permalink Reply by Art Sutherland on
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Here in Nova Scotia we are not allowed to run Lights on our Pov's. I am trying to have the Highway Traffic Act changed to allow us the use. If your Cief can help me with some information Please let me know. There is a attached file you could ask him or her to answer the questions for me.
Please help.......
Art.....They can email it to me at miraroadvolfire@hotmail.com
If anyone has a training program that the firefighters have to go through before being allowed to use the lights please send it along.
Also The CBC Radio interveiw I did and the reply from our fire service link is here. When you get to the CBC Radio site scroll down to where it says May 23rd Green Lights.....If you press on my name Art Sutherland it will open for you...Brent Denny is the name below mine and is the reply...You will need Real Player to listen...Real Player is a free download form the Real Player site........
Questions for Chiefs
CBC Radio Interveiw - Attachments:
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QUESTIONS FIRE DEPT..doc, 28 KB
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Permalink Reply by Mason on
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per Pa state law too, only one vehicle under any singular owner may install blues
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