Re: Lights

[Guest guest]

Section 547.702 Texas transportation code states:

Except as provided by this section, an authorized emergency vehicle

shall be equipped with signal lamps that:

1. are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable;

2. display 4 alternately flashing RED lights, two located on the

front at the same level and two located on the

rear at the same level; and

3. emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight.

(d) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a

fire alarm or a medical emergency may, but is not required to, be equipped

with signal lamps that comply with the requirements of Subsection ©.

(e) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a

fire alarm, or a medical emergency may be equipped with a signal lamp that is

temporarily attached to the vehicle ROOF and flashes a RED light visible at a

distance of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight.

As far as my reading..... as long as you comply with the above you can add

any other combination of color of lights you desire..... Everyone always says

something different, but I have not been able to find it in the TTC or PC or

etc.....

A. Cleveland

Chief of Police

[Guest guest]

I asked a DPS Officer what the rules were for putting a lightbar or emergency

lights on a personal vehicle. He said that there were no set rules, but not

to use a red and blue combination of lights, that the red and blue color

combination was typically reserved for Police Officers. I hope this helps.

Lt. W. EMT-I

Harmony V.F.D.

[Guest guest]

Actually Chris......there is no requirement for a siren. The only

requirement is an audible warning device which can be the vehicle's horn.

The color combinations can be what ever he wishes, unless there is a local

ordinance against it. The only requirement is that there are at least two

red lights mounted at the highest and widest part of the vehicle as possible.

Any other lights are at his discretion. The DPS trooper cited earlier is

mistaken. Several peace officers are under the impression that blue is

restricted to LE only.....but it isn't. Another note to take in to

consideration is....if you are using your vehicle as an emergency vehicle,

your standard personal vehicle insurance is Null and VOID...you must obtain a

special rider policy or specific commercial policy which covers the vehicle's

use as an emergency vehicle.

Take care

[Guest guest]

He can run blue/red but he also must have a siren and permission from his

agency director to operate Code 3.

Chris

_____

Christian E. Callsen, Jr., LP

Senior District Commander, Strategic Planning

Terrorism Duty Officer

Austin- County EMS

Office

Pager

Fax

chris.callsen@...

Lights

I have a question that a volunteer EMS person has presented with. He has to

go through a couple of traffic light intersections (usually during the night

hours) and found a light bar that he is installing on his pickup to ease his

way through. The question is whether he can leave the blue lenses in place

for EMS or whether Texas State law requires red/white for EMS or not. Does

anyone know?

Thanks so much.

Janette , EMTP

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/30/01 6:11:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

CBlum26666@... writes:

<< Actually Chris......there is no requirement for a siren. The only

requirement is an audible warning device which can be the vehicle's horn.

The color combinations can be what ever he wishes, unless there is a local

ordinance against it. The only requirement is that there are at least two

red lights mounted at the highest and widest part of the vehicle as

possible.

Any other lights are at his discretion. The DPS trooper cited earlier is

mistaken. Several peace officers are under the impression that blue is

restricted to LE only.....but it isn't. Another note to take in to

consideration is....if you are using your vehicle as an emergency vehicle,

your standard personal vehicle insurance is Null and VOID...you must obtain

a

special rider policy or specific commercial policy which covers the

vehicle's

use as an emergency vehicle.

Take care

>

THIS IS LONG BUT ANSWERS THE ABOVE QUESTION

Transportation Code

541.201. Vehicles

In this subtitle:

(1) " Authorized emergency vehicle " means:

(D)a private vehicle of a volunteer firefighter or certified emergency

medical services employee or volunteer when responding to a fire alarm or

medical emergency;

546.001, Permissible Conduct

In operating an authorized vehicle the operator may:

(1)park or stand, irrespective of another provision of this subtitle;

(2)proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, after slowing as necessary

for safe operation;

(3)exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided by an ordinance adopted

under Section 545.365, as long as the operator does not endanger life or

property; and

(4)disregard a regulation governing the direction of movement or turning in

specified directions

546.004, Exceptions to Signal Requirement

(a)A volunteer fire fighter who operates a private vehicle as an authorized

emergency vehicle may engage in conduct permitted by Section 546.001 only

when the fire fighter is using visual signals meeting the pertinent

requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702..

547.305. Restrictions on Use of Lights

(d)A vehicle may be equipped with alternately flashing lighting equipment

described by Section 547.701 or 547.702 onl if the vehicle is:

(2)an authorized emergency vehicle

547.702. Additional Equipment Requirements for Authorized Emergency Vehicles

(a)An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, exhaust

whistle, or bell:

(1)of a type approved by the department; and

(2)that emits a sound audible under normal conditions at a distance of 500

feet

(b)The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle shall use the siren,

whistle, or bell when necessary to warn other vehicle operators or

pedestrians of the approach of an emergency vehicle.

©Except as provided by this section, an authorized emergency vehicle shall

be equipped with signal lamps that:

(1)are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable;

(2)display four alternately flashing red lights, two located on the front at

the same level and two located on the rear at the same level; and

(3)emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight

(d)A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire

alarm or a medical emergency may, but is not required to, be equipped with

signal lamps that comply with the requirements of Subsection ©

(e)A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire

alarm or a medical emergency may be equipped with a signal lamp that is

temporarily attached to the vehicle roof and flashes a red light visible at a

distance of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight.

[Guest guest]

Well, you read the law, and that's it. So you can make up your own mind

about whether or not your service followed the law. The trooper's full of

it. It's his personal opinion. There's nothing whatsoever in Texas law that

" reserves " red and blue for troopers. Makes one wonder what else in the law

he doesn't know about.

Gene

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

[Guest guest]

I know I'll get flamed for this.... but I have to say it anyways...... a DPS

trooper not knowing the law? I'm shocked. Shocked.

-Wes

[Guest guest]

If there are no set rules, then reserving red/blue combo for law enforcement

sounds more like personal opinion or perhaps a common practice in the area

that trooper is stationed. We have red/blue/clear combination on all our

ambulances... If there is one thing I am sure if, it is that the law was

followed when choosing our lighting package.

I think that your friend should first contact the agency he volunteers with

to get their policy on this... If he is not sure check with his county/city

to see if there are any specific local ordinances regarding lights/siren on

private vehicles.

Adam J.

I asked a DPS Officer what the rules were for putting a lightbar or

emergency

lights on a personal vehicle. He said that there were no set rules, but

not

to use a red and blue combination of lights, that the red and blue color

combination was typically reserved for Police Officers. I hope this

helps.

Lt. W. EMT-I

Harmony V.F.D.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/31/01 12:28:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

jhoskins@... writes:

<< that- a VFD member (or other volunteer emergency personnel in their

private vehicle) can not run code outside his community in the same county

(ie from Podunk to Gandyland) (sorry Gene- had to think of a ficticous town).

>>

Jay,

I guess you are too young to remember but Gandyland is right down the road

and across the bridge from Hooterville.

RAA

[Guest guest]

I also have been told by other officers that wig wags on anything but police

cars are illegal- along with the blue light deal for non police cars- and oh

yeah better than that- a VFD member (or other volunteer emergency personnel in

their private vehicle) can not run code outside his community in the same county

(ie from Podunk to Gandyland) (sorry Gene- had to think of a ficticous town).

All of these are what I call " Know it all but dont know what the hell I am

talking about " syndrome. None of the above is in the law when it talks about

authorized emergency vehicles, operation, and equipment.

Best advice- look it up in the Transportation Code. If it dont say it is

illegal- then it isnt!

Jay

Re: Lights

Well, you read the law, and that's it. So you can make up your own mind

about whether or not your service followed the law. The trooper's full of

it. It's his personal opinion. There's nothing whatsoever in Texas law that

" reserves " red and blue for troopers. Makes one wonder what else in the law

he doesn't know about.

Gene

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all who replied with their knowledge, expertise, opinion,

recollections, etc.. etc... etc...

The individual is an EMT-B, but occasionally his wife rides in his unit to

the scene if there is a medic needed.

He also runs sirens, which are allowed in the community, but only if there is

a lot of traffic.....(the idiots that run in both lanes in front of him).

I am checking with Chief of Police and City Manager.

One thing for sure, I got lots of answers from lots of sources and I thank

you all.

Janette

[Guest guest]

" Wig-Wags " are not illegal in Texas, as far as I can read. They are illegal

(except on law-enforcement vehicles) according to several other state Motor

Vehicle regs, (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, for example). Those states only allow

" flashing white light " from one position on the vehicle. You aren't even

allowed to run a white oscillating light.

Maybe those officers are Yankee spys? ;-)

Barry

Re: Lights

I also have been told by other officers that wig wags on anything but police

cars are illegal

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/31/01 8:54:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

barry.sharp@... writes:

<< " I personally am tired of people not pulling over until I'm 10-20 feet

behind

them with the current types of electronic sirens. How about we start

mounting 50 cal machine guns with blanks to get peoples attention? Think of

the stress relief benefits as well... "

Andy, I not sure if the 50 cal will fly, but a few years back when I

was in Alvin we mounted one of the original Piercers (6-inch

diameter fast flash white strobe) on the extended front bumper

along with a pair of air horns (10 & 12 inch) connected to an on

board air compressor. The air horns got their attention and with the

strobe in their rear view mirrors they couldn't get out of the way fast

enough.

Mechanical sirens (Q2) work pretty well too. Used one in Tyler on a

transfer from Crockett once and we were moving traffic for the cop

in front of us. (Used to be able to rattle the store windows

downtown with that siren.) Ah, the good old days...

Barry Sharp, MSHP, EMT, CHES

Education Specialist

Office of Tobacco Prevention & Control

Texas Department of Health

barry.sharp@...

>>

Well, when I was at DFW Airport we specified that all of our new ambulances

had a Federal Q2 siren on it, as well as the electronic siren. We also had 2

air horns on the unit. We made a lot of noise. The Q2 worked great but I

was most impressed with the air horns. They seemed to get the people's

attention well.

[Guest guest]

Interestingly enough, there is a trooper in San , which is where

Harmony VFD is, that has been writing security agencys that have amber/blue

light bars, and wreckers, and volunteer fire fighters tickets for displaying

restricted emergency vehicle lighting (i.e. blue lights), on their vehicles.

They weren't even on, they were merely driving down the road with the light

bar in the off positions, and were ticketed. The trooper on one occasion

made the person place duct tape over the blue lenses before proceeding down

the road. To my knowledge, all of the tickets have been dismissed, however,

it has to make you think. Hmmmmmmm??

Take care,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/31/01 11:16:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

CBlum26666@... writes:

<< Interestingly enough, there is a trooper in San , which is where

Harmony VFD is, that has been writing security agencys that have amber/blue

light bars, and wreckers, and volunteer fire fighters tickets for displaying

restricted emergency vehicle lighting (i.e. blue lights), on their vehicles.

They weren't even on, they were merely driving down the road with the light

bar in the off positions, and were ticketed. The trooper on one occasion

made the person place duct tape over the blue lenses before proceeding down

the road. To my knowledge, all of the tickets have been dismissed, however,

it has to make you think. Hmmmmmmm??

>>

It is a violation of the TExas Transportation Code for any vehicle, other

than an authorized emergency vehicle, to have a red light showing to the

front of the vehicle, on or off. A security agency vehicle is not an

authorized emergency vehicle. They are just like any other personally owned

vehicle.

RAA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/31/01 11:18:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

jhoskins@... writes:

<< No need to yell, . I think the lights and siren issue is a good

topic :-)

Jay

>>

I have to agree with you Jay. How many people on this list server are first

responders and may have the need to exhibit emergency lights/sirens/etc.

RAA

[Guest guest]

Yeah Jay........he would run out of tickets just citing the city

vehicles...........just imagine!!!

[Guest guest]

My mistake however on the Harmony VFD location.....I didn't realize that he

was from a different Harmony VFD. There is one in SA as well........my

mistake.

[Guest guest]

I agree Jay....and besides.........I don't claim to know it all, nor do any

of the other people that post regularly......we all have combined knowledge

from personal experiences to share....some useful, some not. For someone to

claim they do know it all merely makes that person dangerous. I for one hope

I don't ever get hurt in Pineland or Jasper County, where the paramedic that

claims he knows it all is...........cause he would be dangerous. Think

before you make statements like that.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

Please note.....I stated " there is a trooper in San , which is where

Harmony VFD is, that has been writing security agencys that have amber/blue

light bars, and wreckers, and volunteer fire fighters tickets for displaying

restricted emergency vehicle lighting (i.e. blue lights), on their vehicles.

" Not red....that's not disputed. Read before you critique. Thanks

[Guest guest]

I hope wig-wags aren't illegal on non-LE vehicles because I see them all the

time on road construction workers' vehicles.

I personally am tired of people not pulling over until I'm 10-20 feet behind

them with the current types of electronic sirens. How about we start

mounting 50 cal machine guns with blanks to get peoples attention? Think of

the stress relief benefits as well...

Andy Wheeler, EMT-I

my $0.02

PS- the machine gun was sarcasm but please flame me if needed.

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

" I personally am tired of people not pulling over until I'm 10-20 feet behind

them with the current types of electronic sirens. How about we start

mounting 50 cal machine guns with blanks to get peoples attention? Think of

the stress relief benefits as well... "

Andy, I not sure if the 50 cal will fly, but a few years back when I

was in Alvin we mounted one of the original Piercers (6-inch

diameter fast flash white strobe) on the extended front bumper

along with a pair of air horns (10 & 12 inch) connected to an on

board air compressor. The air horns got their attention and with the

strobe in their rear view mirrors they couldn't get out of the way fast

enough.

Mechanical sirens (Q2) work pretty well too. Used one in Tyler on a

transfer from Crockett once and we were moving traffic for the cop

in front of us. (Used to be able to rattle the store windows

downtown with that siren.) Ah, the good old days...

Barry Sharp, MSHP, EMT, CHES

Education Specialist

Office of Tobacco Prevention & Control

Texas Department of Health

barry.sharp@...

Check out the coolest tobacco sites on the web:

www.ducktexas.com

www.dontgetburned.com

[Guest guest]

OK! ENOUGH ALREADY ON THE LIGHTS AND SIREN ISSUE! ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT PEOPLE

WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL ARE DARNED IRRITATING TO THOSE OF US THAT DO.

Kirk

Re: Lights

Well, you read the law, and that's it. So you can make up your own mind

about whether or not your service followed the law. The trooper's full of

it. It's his personal opinion. There's nothing whatsoever in Texas law

that

" reserves " red and blue for troopers. Makes one wonder what else in the law

he doesn't know about.

Gene

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

[Guest guest]

Well, that's not too unusual. There are many, many laws on the books that LE

officers are seldom if ever called on to enforce. So they just don't have them

all on the top of their heads. Plus, like everyone on here is about EMS laws and

even treatment methods, there are a lot of " urban legends " thatfolks think they

know, but which are not exactly true.

If there is an error here, it's no quoting the law without looking it up.

Attorney's regularly reference the law, look it up to make sure we have it

right. Law Enforcement officers have most of the pertinent Penal Code, Code of

Criminal Procedures, and Traffic Laws in booklets they can reference.

We might all be better if we looked before making statements of fact. Law

Enforement Officers and EMS personnel, and everyone else too!

=Steve=

ExLngHrn@... wrote:

> I know I'll get flamed for this.... but I have to say it anyways...... a DPS

> trooper not knowing the law? I'm shocked. Shocked.

>

> -Wes

>

>

[Guest guest]

No need to yell, . I think the lights and siren issue is a good topic

:-)

Jay

Re: Lights

Well, you read the law, and that's it. So you can make up your own mind

about whether or not your service followed the law. The trooper's full of

it. It's his personal opinion. There's nothing whatsoever in Texas law

that

" reserves " red and blue for troopers. Makes one wonder what else in the

law

he doesn't know about.

Gene

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX