Vehicle emergency light policies state to state...

Indy · 01-08-06, 02:27 PM

Since the title sounded professional, here's the downslide. WTF is this?? Saw it on the way to northern Indiana. Michigan plates, light looked dang red to me (not amber).

He was driving like a dumbass - it was everything I could do to get the picture without doing so myself, but I just couldn't let the opportunity pass by (no pun intended).

I have never ever seen anything like this in Indiana and am pretty sure it's not permitted here. I know they use bubble lights up there, but isn't this a little different style than a cruiser uses? I thought their's were completely round. Not to mention, this doesn't look like a police car at all and I didn't see anything other markings on it to indicate what it was used for. My initial thought was some kind of mall security.

That brings me to my next question. If a light like that is permitted in one state, I would assume they have to remove it if it's not permitted in another state?

**danninator** · 01-08-06, 02:55 PM

Looks to be a volunteer firefighter/ems. In my state all volunteers can have clear/blue lights and chiefs and assistants can have reds. The blues are mere courtesy lights whereas reds officially denote that vehicle as an "emergency vehicle" even though it is the responding persons pov.

I am not a fan of roof lights, especially ugly ones like that. I have a strobe blue/clear on my dash. Get's the job done.

**chris2001** · 01-08-06, 03:25 PM

Yeah the driver of that vehicle is most likely a volunteer fire or ems. In the state of KS he is allowed to use it but that does not give him the ability to run as an emergency vehicle. All it allows him to do is move at a little quicker pace than normal.

Indy · 01-08-06, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by chris2001

All it allows him to do is move at a little quicker pace than normal.

How much quicker and does it only count if the light is activated? He was easily doing 80 - 85 in a 60 zone.

**Jay7376** · 01-08-06, 04:16 PM

In Michigan, volunteer firefighters are permitted to run code with siren and red lights in a POV. (with permission from the fire chief and only when en-route to the station or the incident scene)

The tool that you saw should have removed the light when traveling out of state.

**BEK** · 01-08-06, 04:21 PM

I know that in Minnesota the use of motorcycles or vehicles utilizing flashing red lights for the purpose of escorting funeral processions, oversize buildings, heavy equipment, parades or similar
processions or assemblages on the highways. This law has only been on the books here for about a year

Bearcat06 · 01-08-06, 04:54 PM

If that car came crusing down one of my streets, I would be pulling them over and having a converstation with whomever was operating it.
No one in MO can run reds but Police/Fire. Volly FFs and folks that work for on-call ambulanace services can only run blue lights.

**Terminator** · 01-08-06, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Bearcat06

If that car came crusing down one of my streets, I would be pulling them over and having a converstation with whomever was operating it.
No one in MO can run reds but Police/Fire. Volly FFs and folks that work for on-call ambulanace services can only run blue lights.

And if they were running blue lights in North Carolina, I'd be pulling them over and charging them for impersonating a police officer. Here, Volunteers and F/F's use red lights only.

Bearcat06 · 01-08-06, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

And if they were running blue lights in North Carolina, I'd be pulling them over and charging them for impersonating a police officer. Here, Volunteers and F/F's use red lights only.

Damn Southerns.....

We (Missouri) are straight red/blue for LEOs, Fire Service and Ambulance service.
Blues only are for Vollys and anyone that works for an Ambulance service that gets called out. All rest are supposed to be Amber....but every now and then you will get a tow truck that runs red....or a service truck (like Light and Power folks) running red.....and if they aren't being stupid most of us don't jack with them because we have called them to a scene......

One a side note, one of my favorite things to do is pull over some thug wannabe and write them up for front facing blue/red light if they have colored neon lights on any part of the car and they are facing outwards. Not only will the get cited, I will make them turn them off....or cut the wires to them to kill the power.....

**Garda** · 01-08-06, 06:09 PM

No one here is having any bloody lights except me. If I saw this I would have to call for backup to stop him cause I would be too busy laughing at the fool. why in gods name would you deface your own vehicle like this for work???

**Darin** · 01-08-06, 06:17 PM

In Virginia LEO have Blue/Red or all Blue. Firefighters/Rescue have Red or Red/White. Volunteers rescue/FF can have red lights on thier POVs but NO siren. The red light(on POV) is merely a courtesy light as no one is obligated to move over for them.

That being said, most people will yield for Vol. FF in a POV. Even in my patrol vehicle I've pulled over and let them go by. Why? They were'nt driving like idiots and they were going to the station to go to a fire. All of our FF/EMT are volunteer...so what if it was your house buring? Would you yield?

OK now with THAT being said, I'd bust one if they were driving like a fool or had a siren.

**Red, White & Liberal** · 01-08-06, 06:19 PM

I have a green light on my security vehicle. I am allowed to disobey the traffic laws on private property.

**Garda** · 01-08-06, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Red, White & Liberal

I have a green light on my security vehicle. I am allowed to disobey the traffic laws on private property.

thats brilliant, just brilliant, would you like a lollypop as a reward? THat strikes me as a very naive, stupid or plain retarded comment.

"I have a blue balloon"

**The Punisher** · 01-08-06, 06:31 PM

In Hawaii (Oahu) most of the cops use their POVs (Pers. Owned Veh.) and put a light bar on top. Not to say they don't have marked units, but it saves them money and puts a lot of cops mobile when they wouldn't have enough units for them.

**Red, White & Liberal** · 01-08-06, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Garda30055A

thats brilliant, just brilliant, would you like a lollypop as a reward? THat strikes me as a very naive, stupid or plain retarded comment.

"I have a blue balloon"

I am sorry you feel that way.

**Ken K** · 01-08-06, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Red, White & Liberal

I have a green light on my security vehicle. I am allowed to disobey the traffic laws on private property.

Let's see...except for state reports on accidents meeting the damage requirements, reckless driving, DUI, and vehicular homicide, I can pretty much ignore traffic laws on private property too.

And I don't have any lights.

**Red, White & Liberal** · 01-08-06, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ken K

Let's see...except for state reports on accidents meeting the damage requirements, reckless driving, DUI, and vehicular homicide, I can pretty much ignore traffic laws on private property too.

Not on my jurisdiction you won't.

**cajunguy** · 01-08-06, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Red, White & Liberal

I am allowed to disobey the traffic laws on private property.

You mean that you can ACTUALLY - - -

Oh, never mind. I forgot that you're a SECURITY GUARD.

Darn, sure wish I could disobey traffic laws on private property. Then I could tell my grandkids I'm a SECURITY GUARD.

.

**cajunguy** · 01-08-06, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Red, White & Liberal

Not on my jurisdiction you won't.

SECURITY GUARDS have jurisdictions?

Damn, I gotta change the direction of my lowly Law Enforcement career.

**Garda** · 01-08-06, 06:58 PM

Over here you can smash your uninsured car into another uninsured car if its on private property. Traffic laws are for Public places only.

This gets interesting when security tell us the car park is private property and we cannot enter or give tickets, etc (they are wrong BTW) but then call us for a theft, traffic accident, illegally parked car, etc etc etc. Sorry pal, its private property.

Thats partly why i found the comment so stupid. That and the fact it was a self pat on the back where non was deserved.