Local Emergency Light Laws

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Permalink Reply by J.C. Cook on June 6, 2008 at 1:25pm

I am from Georgia and have worked on both sides. I volunteered for 7 years and am now a full time paid staff for another deaprtment that is combination. Georgia requires all persons running emergency lights to obtain a permit each year from the GA Dept of Motor Vehicle Safety. The permit must be displayed on the drivers side lower corner of the windshield. The state law permits you,per state code, to exceed the maximum posted speed limit (no state limit on maximum exceedance), disreguard directional devices, and stop in marked moving lanes of traffic AS LONG AS DUE REGAURD TO OTHERS IS USED. The state also requires 360 degree lighting and a siren to be used at all times. The local department required persons to be at least an engineer capable of driving an engine or an EMT or above medical. Engineer's were allowed to run lights to fire related, EMT's medical, crosstrained both..... My current combination department has the policy of not lights period on POV unless you are stationary on a scene at which your vehicle is impeeding the flow of traffic on a roadway. This is partially due to problems with paid on call persons not using due reguard. My insurance company told me when I was running lights that as long as my vehicle was used as a POV and not a firefighting apparatus I would be covered.

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Permalink Reply by Clayton Aldridge on June 6, 2008 at 8:52pm

Where can I go to find out my State's (AL) light laws?

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Permalink Reply by strtcopr on June 7, 2008 at 9:51am

on line or your states Vehicle and Traffic Laws or Codes...whatever they may call them. I was online and came across a site that actually had a 50 state chart showing what the light laws were. Interesting, to say the least.

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Permalink Reply by Clayton Aldridge on June 8, 2008 at 12:03am

do you think you could get me the name of that site?

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Permalink Reply by keith on June 8, 2008 at 1:40am

ohio your car/trcuk has to be insepection and then they give you a registration sticker to be able to run lights and sirens. some town still dont allow you to run them tho i know where i live i cant run them but where my father lives he can. and does with no worries, he has a full streethawk lightbar on the top of his cab wig wags and two 200 watt speakers under the hood all red in Oh also

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Permalink Reply by Tom on June 9, 2008 at 9:36am

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 PATRICK S. MASON JR. on June 10, 2008 at 9:53am

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 on June 10, 2008 at 6:57pm

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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Permalink Reply by PATRICK S. MASON JR. on June 10, 2008 at 9:07pm

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 Terry on June 10, 2008 at 1:01am

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 Tom Kilmartin on June 10, 2008 at 2:04pm

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 Jammi Bruno on June 10, 2008 at 8:47pm

Only chief officers, and Fire Police can use red lights in Maryland, other then them lights can not be used in the state of Maryland.

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