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Your Department - Strict Interpretation of State POV Laws?
Yes, this is a POV thread. No, I am not asking about what lights to buy, how I should outfit my vehicle, or stating how cool those bright blinky things are.
My question: Is your department strict when it comes to POV lighting? Do the members of your department abide by the set state laws governing how many lights and what color lights may be affixed to a personal vehicle?
And, just to clarify, I am not asking whether they should or shouldn't be able to; I am merely asking if they do or do not abide to such set laws.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Gregory on
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The laws around here say that you are not allowed to run lights on your POV unless the county sheriff designates it as an emergency vehicle. The county sheriff here does NOT designate any POVs as an emergency vehicle.
You may have white or amber lights installed and they can be used when the vehicle is parked on scene but if the vehicle is in motion the lights are off.
The local Sheriffs deputies have been instructed if they see a POV running lights in motion to pull them over, ticket them and remove the lights from the vehicle immediately. Getting caught doing that will get you kicked out of the fire service from what i'm told.
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Permalink Reply by Bull on
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We only have about 2-3 that run lights on there POV. 2 are officers, 1 is a FF. We have not had any issues with anyone driving reckless. Our Dept and Sheriff let us, as long as it does not get abused.
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Permalink Reply by Michael A on
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I'm in Michigan. And yes we follow the law. Our chief allows us to run lights on POV. But it must comply to state law. Fire/EMS are only allowed red,white, amber on the rear. Absolutely no blue. Blue is reserved for law enforcement only. And the law states you must have at least 1 roof mounted light. But at least it gives you the option of magnet,suction or permanent.
Our chief has an application for members to apply to use POV lights and on it that application we have an agreement with our sheriff department to inspect your vehicle after everything is installed. And they check everything not just your emergency lights but they can brake, turn, back up, running, windshield for cracks, insurance, registration, your drivers license.
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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
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My department does not allow POV lights, nor do they allow for taking a POV to a scene. You must go to your respective station, you must arrive to the scene in a department vehicle, and you must adhere to the laws set by DOT for driving an aparatus/emergency vehicle.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Carlisle on
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In our dept the chief issues the blue light card, And dept provides the blue light, if the member wants to purchase a blue light it must be approved by the chief , Also the chief will pull the card for any mis-use , and we are all informed of the nys laws every year along with response and evoc all in one or two sessions
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Permalink Reply by Bob Callahan on
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No.
LA law states that the light must be visable for 360 degrees around the vehicle. Very few of our members run any type of roof light. Most run front and rear windshied or dash lights, and some just run front windshield lights.
We do, in theory, limit the speed to 10 mph over state law, but we all know how that goes.
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Permalink Reply by Steven Unruh on
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Nothing here in Okanogan County, Washington State. Only green lights are legal in state law and our chief doesn't let us run those!
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Permalink Reply by Shaun DeVore on
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In Missouri firefighters can opperate a blue or white light, Its under the blue light law. Here at my department our officers and engineers are the only ones allowed to have lights. However if you have lights you must have a siren. Any abuse of this will lead to the suspension and revocation of the blue light card or on more extreme circumstances termination of that firefighter. That being said. We have not had such an issue with any member. Its a maturity matter and knowledge on how to opperate your vehicle. If you drive like you own the road then you will end up in an accident you are simply asking for the right of way.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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I personally use suction cups on my POV.
While I do admit, they look tacky, they definitely hold (some work better than others).
I add some saliva (I know, icky!) to the cups prior to placing them and they get a better hold. Plus, it's an easier mount compared to the "L" brackets.
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In NY we can run blue, but no sirens. This is because it's merely a courtesy, not mandatory for other drivers to move. They usually do, but other times you get stuck behind that frustratingly slow driver.
What it does boil down to, as you stated, it HOW we operate these vehicles. In my department we can run lights (no sirens, as mandated by NY VTL). While MOST do run them respectfully - stopping at all stop signs, driving minimally over the speed limit, not weaving in and out of traffic, ect.), there are others that I have seen that drive so erratic that it honestly scares me.
It's all about responsibility. If it were up to me, I'd mandate that anyone that wants to run blue lights need front and rear projection, must take EVOC, have defense driving completed, and must be evaluated by the Chiefs and Membership Board. After that I'd state that they would have to sign legal documentation, or a contract of some sort, stating that these lights will not be abused in any manner, and that they will adhere to the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
There's a fine line between going 5-10mph over the speed limit and blowing through intersections.
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Permalink Reply by matthew haggard on
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absoultly we follow state law you have to be with our department for a minimum of two years before your even considered for any lights and you have to be completely visiable 360 degress and no hideaways allowed by state law
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Permalink Reply by Greenman on
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In Georgia, the DOT issues a Red Light Permit through your Fire Department. In my department you may be authorized to have a Red Light Permit if you are a) A Certified Firefighter and b) have been with the department at least one year. You are not automatically authorized a permit if the Chain of Command doesn't feel you are capable of obeying the law and rules governing the use lights. You must also have an Amber Light Permit for amber lights (i.e on a wrecker or escort vehicle).
In Georgia, if you have a Red Light Permit, your vehicle is legally an Emergency Vehicle and must be operated with due regard at all times. The light must be visible from 500 feet in front of the vehicle under normal conditions in daylight and you must have a siren if you have lights on, my department requires 360degree visibility of lights. You must operate a siren while you have your lights activated and you are authorized to exceed the posted speed limit by 10 MPH (except in school zones).
I carry an additional insurance rider on my personal vehicle because my regular insurance doesn't cover it as an emergency vehicle. I highly recommend you make sure your insurance covers you before operating your vehicle as an Emergency Vehicle, and always follow safe driving practices both when using lights and when not.
Greenman
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