United_States_of_America Emergency_vehicle_lighting

1 united states of america

1.1 police
1.2 fire , ems
1.3 volunteer personnel
1.4 utility vehicles
1.5 optional colors

united states of america


a california highway patrol ford explorer emergency lights on.

in united states, colors regulated @ state , local levels, there commonalities.

red denotes emergency vehicle if lights facing forward.




a near universal exception rule school buses allowed use rear , forward-facing, alternatively phased flashing red lights before, during, , after passenger loading & unloading signal other traffic stop.
in iowa, red lights can used on funeral hearse, during funerals.
in washington state, , texas, red lights used on tow trucks, if vehicle not in motion. tow trucks mount rear-facing red lights used in sync vehicle s normal stop lights.
in wisconsin, tow trucks required equipped red lights such lights may operated when tow truck standing on or near traveled portion of highway preparatory towing or servicing disabled vehicle.
in california, emergency vehicles must display @ least 1 forward-facing steady-burn red light. exceptions made individual vehicles.
in new york, emergency vehicles must display red lighting front , sides of vehicle, white lighting being optional. blue lights permitted displayed rear.
in michigan, emergency road service vehicles such tow trucks allowed use red warning lights when stationary.




amber or yellow lights used utility vehicles such construction vehicles, tow trucks, snow plows, funeral escorts , hearses, security patrol vehicles or other vehicles may stopped or moving slower flow of traffic.




amber permissively regulated color.
in california, emergency vehicles must display @ least 1 rearward-facing flashing amber light.(par 36)




white used optional color on lightbars, in combination other colors increase visibility, though may restricted emergency vehicles in states.




white used color on lightbar, though states require flashing white beacons on rear of school buses rear-end collision prevention measure.
historically, white used in combination red bulb lenses in federal signal company beacon ray, introduced in late 1940s , later 1960s , 1970s model p lights equipped clear domes on through 1980s, when revolving bulb , reflector type emergency lighting including later 1970s twinsonic , aerodynamic light bars supplanted newer strobe types. clear dome extended hi base 4-bulb beacon ray colored lenses on bulbs used extensively in 1960s nypd 2 red bulbs alternated white bulb , amber bulb canted upwards @ 45-degree angle amber flash reflect off upper-floor building windows added traffic attention/visibility. clear dome/colored bulb lens combination found extensive use across fire apparatus , ambulance lighting.
certain railroad-related machines, fueling tankers, track maintenance , switching engines, may use flashing white light. government vehicles, such rural mail delivery vehicles, use flashing white beacon in states.




green emergency lighting since 9/11 used homeland security agencies , government/private security agencies protecting high risk government , critical infrastructure.




green emergency lighting used on vehicles protecting nuclear facilities, oil & gas depots, water storage facilities , dams, gas pipelines, airports, defense facilities, maritime facilities, , other areas @ high risk of terrorist attacks.
green emergency lighting used private security agencies securing government buildings , establishments terrorist organizations may target. however, in state of florida, green allowed use private security vehicles in combination amber lights. (florida state legislation pending allow flashing clear/white lights in combination amber/green security patrol lights added visibility.)
green , blue emergency lighting used counter-terrorism agencies whilst responding terrorist incidents, distinguish specialist agencies other emergency departments.
in commonwealth of puerto rico, green , blue used homeland & national security agencies municipal police forces in addition counter-terrorism security agencies.
in washington state, under provisions of rcw 46.37.185, firefighter may use green light on privately owned vehicle approval of fire chief of department employed by. green light used identification purposes , not convey special rights or status vehicle.
in oregon, , other states, ‘command’ vehicle @ fire scene may use green light identify location.
in tennessee, motorcycles in funeral processions use green lights.
in ohio, snowplows used ohio department of transportation use combination of green , amber lights.
in new york, connecticut , indiana, volunteer emts use green lights
in new york city, single flashing green light separated other red , blue flashing lights on nypd vehicle denotes thv (temporary headquarters vehicle) known mobile command post vehicle , used on 2-star assistant chiefs marked rmp (radio motor patrol) vehicle identify such.




blue reserved law enforcement, firefighters , emts.




in new mexico tow trucks may have blue lights in combination amber.
in texas, highway maintenance vehicles display blue in combination amber.
in california, blue lights may used on vehicles operated peace officers, defined under california penal code 830.1 830.38. (california vehicle code 25258(b))
alaska, arizona, colorado, minnesota, , nebraska use blue lights on snowplows.
in new york state, forward facing blue lights not permitted on emergency vehicles, anomaly in us. exception on personal vehicles of volunteer firefighters, allowed display forward facing flashing blue lights when responding emergency.
in massachusetts, police vehicles permitted display blue lights front of vehicle, white lights being optional. police vehicles required display rear @ least 1 red light , 1 amber light. law inverse fire trucks. fire trucks permitted display red lights front of vehicle, must display @ least 1 blue , amber light rear. ambulances follow same scheme fire trucks, ambulances can seen red , blue lights throughout.

furthermore, other new england states not have legislation regulating color of lights on emergency vehicles. generalize red , blue lights being restricted emergency vehicles. however, police, fire, , ambulance services in these other new england states voluntarily follow same scheme massachusetts.






purple permitted in states denote funeral vehicle , /or coroner’s or medical examiner s office.

police

police agencies may use red, blue, or both, depending on state, along white , amber optional colors; although amber restricted face behind vehicle. police cars have amber directional control bar, known ‘arrow stick’, behind lightbar direct traffic left or right around vehicle; these have 6 or 8 rear-facing lights flash in sequence.

some privately operated special police allowed display same colors regular police, generally, if receive special police authority @ state level. can include railroad, university, hospital, , spca , humane society police departments, animal control , regulatory officers, fish , wildlife conservation officers , federal , state park rangers, , beach safety lifeguards law enforcement certified.

fire , ems

1960s-70s era fire truck federal signal beacon ray emergency light , siren mounted on top

fire , emergency medical services use red lights amber , white optional colors. vehicles operated fire departments, such fire engines , heavy rescue vehicles, prominently use red, color strong cultural associations fire service, along amber , white. more modern fire trucks , airport crash units use yellow-green color, however.

many fire chiefs’ cars have, in addition red lights, single green beacon indicate command post status. on other hand, in chicago , nearby communities, fire vehicles show green light on right, or starboard, side of vehicle, reflecting nautical tradition.

emergency medical vehicles, such ambulances , paramedic fly-cars, use white, amber, , red well. states have specific rule authorizing light colors ems vehicles, while ems vehicles ‘inherit’ light colors fire or police department operated or contracted to, , may show blue lights.

the national fire protection association publishes nfpa-1901 standards fire vehicles, specifies degree of lighting on various parts of vehicles, flexibility color. there gsa procurement specification ambulances known kkk-a-1822-f, many local authorities follow.

volunteer personnel

a new jersey emt’s vehicle @ night lights flashing.

many u.s. states allow volunteer fire, ems , search , rescue personnel place emergency warning lights in personal vehicles use when responding emergencies. degree of lighting mandated law , local custom in areas, , can vary single rotating light on dashboard or roof, setup modern police cruisers. states allow volunteer use of sirens , air horns request right of way.

virginia state law allows emergency personnel equip 1 private vehicle “with no more 2 flashing or steady-burning red or red , white combination warning lights”.

in states, volunteers allowed use normal red lights, while in other states volunteers must use other color, blue or green. in latter case, lights used courtesy ‘request’ right of way , not mandate pulling over. states, such pennsylvania, limit volunteer use of red lights chiefs , captains of squads.

separate colors may used fire versus ems volunteers. in connecticut, indiana, , new york, volunteer firefighters use blue while volunteer emts use green. in new jersey, volunteer fire , ambulance personnel use blue lights in personal vehicles while responding stations. in nj red lights allowed emergency vehicles, fire chiefs, chief officers of first aid or rescue squads, or other law enforcement vehicles. in iowa, volunteer firefighters can use flashing blue lights on personal vehicles, while volunteer emts can use flashing white (clear) lights.

new york certifies volunteer emts use red lights , sirens provided vehicles carry equipment; used hatzolah volunteers in nyc area. typically in new york state, volunteer firefighters use blue lights in personal vehicles , volunteer ems use green lights. may generate confusion, green lights used signify incident command vehicle. in state of texas, “a private vehicle of volunteer firefighter or certified emergency medical services employee or volunteer when responding fire alarm or medical emergency” considered “authorized emergency vehicle” , may use alternately flashing lighting equipment or may equipped siren, exhaust whistle, or bell.

the conflicting color assignments can create issues volunteers drive vehicles out of state. 1 color in state may mean firefighter or emt when in state may mean police. while authorities may satisfied covering lights ‘out of service’ tarpaulin, compliance may more difficult in other jurisdictions. example, arkansas bars civilian possession of blue lights on or in vehicle unless sealed in manufacturer’s original package.

utility vehicles

private security car amber/yellow lightbar on top.

amber lights used on vehicle involved in non-emergency work. utility companies, towing services, oversize load vehicles, slow vehicles, , types of construction equipment mount type of lightbar or lighting system higher degree of visibility.

in detroit, michigan, angels night volunteers patrol neighborhoods yellow lights deter vandalism during devil s night , halloween. typically these lights single beacon kind, although lightbars have been used vehicles of type, on wreckers/tow trucks.

in memphis, tennessee city maintenance vehicles (including mlg&w utility trucks) flashing lights use yellow lights; however, vehicles traffic engineering department use red flashing lights, vehicles equipped cherry pickers used repair traffic signals.

in states not enforce specific rules green, yellow or white lights, these colors used entities private security companies may ineligible use blue or red lights need emergency lights traffic , site visibility. security vehicles use lights on private property, in addition security vehicles off-road such atv , golf cart type vehicles. , in jurisdictions security vehicles not allowed ‘courtesy’ or ‘emergency’ status on public roads.

optional colors

while colors customarily used different services, other colors optionally used, such amber , white. sometimes, done satisfy particular regulations; example, california requires steady red light facing forward , flashing amber light rear on every emergency vehicle.

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