jdh
Member
Where in TX are you? I've mentioned in this and a couple of other threads about DPS giving some vollies a bad time about having blue in conjunction with their reds, claiming that blue is reserved for law enforcement, which it isn't. It was settled when my chief friend got a letter from DPS' public information office saying that there is no restriction on blue, other than blue alone not being allowed for running hot (although I've seen it done here and there).In Texas it is basically anything you want. Just don't look like a dang fool :suicide: . And also, in most places if you run blue and red you must have a siren. I hope these laws never change! Anyone pipe in :thumbsup:
Texas Transportation Code does not specify blue for LE only. Red, blue, and clear are restricted lights, for use only by emergency vehicles (police, fire, EMS, including FD Volly POV' and LEO POV with department approval), and blue for TX-Dot and their sub contractors. All emergency vehicles must have a forward facing red light and siren to run code 3. Any fire vehicle, paid or VFD POV can run red, blue, and clear, as well as sirens. As long as the vehicle has a forward facing red light, sire, and is operated by an authorized person, all colors are legal in Texas. All over Texas.Where in TX are you? I've mentioned in this and a couple of other threads about DPS giving some vollies a bad time about having blue in conjunction with their reds, claiming that blue is reserved for law enforcement, which it isn't. It was settled when my chief friend got a letter from DPS' public information office saying that there is no restriction on blue, other than blue alone not being allowed for running hot (although I've seen it done here and there).
Midland County for a while only allowed lights only until they found out that sirens are now required for Code 3 runs.
Texas Transportation Code does not specify blue for LE only. Red, blue, and clear are restricted lights, for use only by emergency vehicles (police, fire, EMS, including FD Volly POV' and LEO POV with department approval), and blue for TX-Dot and their sub contractors. All emergency vehicles must have a forward facing red light and siren to run code 3. Any fire vehicle, paid or VFD POV can run red, blue, and clear, as well as sirens. As long as the vehicle has a forward facing red light, sire, and is operated by an authorized person, all colors are legal in Texas. All over Texas.
Thanks, that's basically what I've been trying to say all along. Once my friend's problem was settled, I haven't heard that much about it.Texas Transportation Code does not specify blue for LE only. Red, blue, and clear are restricted lights, for use only by emergency vehicles (police, fire, EMS, including FD Volly POV' and LEO POV with department approval), and blue for TX-Dot and their sub contractors. All emergency vehicles must have a forward facing red light and siren to run code 3. Any fire vehicle, paid or VFD POV can run red, blue, and clear, as well as sirens. As long as the vehicle has a forward facing red light, sire, and is operated by an authorized person, all colors are legal in Texas. All over Texas.
Amber is NOT fair game. NO vehicles are allowed any type of flashing warning lamps of any color unless that vehicle is specified by state statute as being required to flash a warning lamp. S/S Ch.347.07(2)©Amber- Fair Game
Red- Required on all emergency vehicles, tow trucks and other non-emergency vehicles stationary on the road presenting a hazard to normal traffic
Green- Incident Command only, and only 1 per incident
Blue- Law Enforcement over passenger-side only. May also be used for Incident Command.
White- as secondary lighting on any emergency vehicle.
Siren- all authorized emergency vehicles
Pre-Emption- Opticom type systems are govt emergency vehicles only. Sonem type any emergency vehicle. GPS/Radio systems undefined
Authorized Emergency Vehicle- All govt owned emergency vehicles and volunteers. Volunteers require no permit or individual authorization, but departments need to get blanket ok from municipality
I'll try and dig the statutory references later
(k) A person engaged in the manufacture, sale, or repair of flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights governed by this subsection may possess the lights for the purpose of employment, but shall not activate the lights upon the highway unless authorized to do so under subsection (6).
The same considerations are not explicitly stated for red lights or sirens.NCGS 20-130.1 said:(c) It is unlawful for any person to possess a blue light or to install, activate, or operate a blue light in or on any vehicle in this State, except for a publicly owned vehicle used for law enforcement purposes or any other vehicle when used by law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "blue light" means any forward facing blue light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle; or an operable blue light which:
(1) Is not (i) being installed on, held in inventory for the purpose of being installed on, or held in inventory for the purpose of sale for installation on a vehicle on which it may be lawfully operated or (ii) installed on a vehicle which is used solely for the purpose of demonstrating the blue light for sale to law enforcement personnel;
(c1) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section do not apply to the possession and installation of an inoperable blue light on a vehicle that is inspected by and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a specially constructed vehicle and that is used primarily for participation in shows, exhibitions, parades, or holiday/weekend activities, and not for general daily transportation. For purposes of this subsection, "inoperable blue light" means a blue-colored lamp housing or cover that does not contain a lamp or other mechanism having the ability to produce or emit illumination.
Your an out of state vehicle. and legal in the state you registered i do not see how they can regulate things in that manner for out of state vehicles
I'm not sure. But that whole post made my head hurt.What precisely does "engage traffic" mean?