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.

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Permalink Reply by jeff beall on April 15, 2009 at 4:45pm

In my state {VA} the law allows only red or red & white, no more than two. I wont get in to the exact letter of the law. Bout 20 yrs ago I lived in a state where vol's were allowed to run as many lights of any color they chose and could operate a siren of atleast 100 watts, I'm sure others will be offended but I feel sirens have no place on vol's vehicles, and the color blue should be set aside for police use. Like I said it's my opinion and not meant to offend.

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Permalink Reply by Frank Covington on April 30, 2009 at 6:32pm

I sell Lights in North Carolina.
Chief Officers are aloud to have sirens. This gives them a lil more allowance in reguards to right of way and speed. Firefighters are allowed to have Red Lights.Firefighters are allowed to have amber lights or white lights in combination with the red lights. The Law says no white lights on the rear of your vehicle other than backup lights when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.

In my area not all emergency vehicles are subject to be "marked". So my personal truck may resemble an official government vehicle once the lights are activated. This occasionally works to my advantage moving traffic more easily. I also have an electronic horn which is legal and really helps at times.

I find myself turning off the lights when I feel that drivers may be confused. As I understand NC Law, I do this for safety of all motorists.

Also under state Law I am authorized to have blue lights on my vehicle for the purpose of demonstration. But I see no need for this. The temptation would prbably get me in trouble.

I read the state law and it does not seemed to be enforced or practiced in this area. Everyone seems to have a different opinion as to what laws we have to abide by. I think I will call the State Fire Marshall's office for some clarification.

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Permalink Reply by Frank Covington on April 30, 2009 at 7:00pm

I agree that a siren would get me in trouble. NC law allows vehicles with sirens to break the speed limit but goes on to say that the driver is not allowed to drive reckless.

I would like to see a nationwide standard for light color of red. I have customers who buy blue lights in a Northern State, then get transferred here and have to buy a red light .... and vice versa.

A customer recently pointed out that sirens would make other motorists more aware of our approach. He is from an area that allows vols to have sirens.

Anyway you slice it, a reckless driver is a dangerous person to have anywhere. We must be responsible for our own.

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Permalink Reply by Slow_Guy on June 23, 2009 at 3:05am

It's interesting to see the various legislation dictating what is and what is not allowed in POVs. I didn't think the laws and regulations would varys much between each state!

Just curious, but does anyone know the regulations for Utah and Nevada?

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Permalink Reply by Bull on June 23, 2009 at 9:10am

In Pa firemen are allowed to run Blue and one has to be seen 360 degrees. they give you no rights just tells civilians you are responding to a call and if they choose to yeild to you or give you right away then they can but don't have to. Chief and Ass't chiefs can run red, when running red you must have a siren. blue is not allowed a siren. cars must yeild or give right away to red lights and siren.

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Permalink Reply by Paul J. Storke, Jr. on June 28, 2009 at 5:27pm

In PA we cannot have clear lights only blue and you are limited to 2 lights

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Permalink Reply by Richard King Winters on August 22, 2009 at 4:35pm

Illinios law...Blue/White lights in dash-
grill lights-
strobes-
blue/white/amber in the rear-
only chief can run siren-
air horn is permited by chiefs discretion..

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Permalink Reply by orbie yancey on August 22, 2009 at 4:46pm

i live in georgia and we have a weird law. we must have 360 degree light coverage and must have a siren. cars dont have to yield for us in povs or in our trucks which really pisses me off because in other states that i have worked in you must yeild to all emergency lights and vehicles. but in georgia you must be able to see your lights all the way around your pov and thats has to be done by you out of pockect which is fine and your siren must be at least 120 db so i dont know what to tell you bud.

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on August 23, 2009 at 8:01pm

Oregon does not allow lights or sirens on POV's. Only on designated emergency vehicles.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Harrison on September 16, 2009 at 6:03pm

I live in Delta Co. Texas, here we are allowed to fun full code (lights and Siren) on our vehicles. Its more or less though what the by-laws at your dept. say. As for exeptions, as long as your lights are visable 360* around and have a siren.