Federal Vehicle Light Colors

[LawrenceM1993]

I apologize if this is in the wrong area, and if it is please move it


What colors do federal and Military LEOs (FBI, DEA, NCIS, DoD Police, MPs, BATF, etc.) use on their vehicles? I have heard of red/blue, but I have also heard that they operate based on the state that they are in. Can someone clarify?


-Larry

 

[cory y]

They use whatever the state they are in uses

 

[Respondcode3]

They use red and blue. Ive been to NY city and state and worked on G rides. NY is a blue for Vol FD's. Red and blue was in use there, Also in the southern/NW states where blue is primary I saw Red and blue. They are the feds they seem to do as they please. The only exception has been in CA with a solid red.

 

[Fast LT1]

All feds (ATF, FBI, ICE) here run red and blue and some white

 

[JohnMarcson]

I have seen red and blue federal LE vehicles in every state I have been to.... doesn't seem to matter what colors mean what in the state, FEDs tend to use red/blue on al ltheir LE stuff

 

[NPS Ranger]

You mean like this?

 

[CD3]

The Fed's typically run red/blue, BUT it does depend if states have laws regulating color of lighting then they will usually run the states lawful allowed color. There are states such as CA that don't cut slack to federal LE. If they run vehicles on state/city roads they must adhere to title 13 which regulates our color and siren tones.

 

[Patrol 3-8]

MPs use blue...we only mount one on the Humvees so its a blue for LE instead of red FD...otherwise its a red and blue. of course we dont operate off instalation so we dont really need to worry about the local laws too much

 

[Respondcode3]

Almost every manufactuer already meets title 13 already . The only ones that are questionable are the cheap offshore crap.

 

[SlickTop Solutions]

I have done Federal installs for agencies in MD, DC, VA, PA and WV. In each case the lights installed have been in accordance with which ever state the vehicle is operating in.

 

[aberfitchguy2472]

I have done Federal installs for agencies in MD, DC, VA, PA and WV. In each case the lights installed have been in accordance with which ever state the vehicle is operating in.

What agencies were the installs for in WV and what kinds of installs were they (Vehicles and Equipemt)? Pics? I'm guessing they were all mostly in the eastern panhandle since your proximity to DC. I don't normally see a lot of federal vehicles in WV, but then again I'm not normally around anywhere where they would have vehicles for code response.

 

[nerdly_dood]

I've also seen US Park Ranger patrol cars in Virginia with a blue Whelen Edge, with a single clear strobe in front and an illegal amber one in back.


State law allows blue, red/blue, blue/white, or red/white/blue, but the majority of local police vehicles use only blue, or blue with a little white. State Police uses all blue. VA state law only allows amber on law enforcement vehicles as a TA, but a lot of cop cars have a few amber flashers to the rear anyway.

 

[LawrenceM1993]

I just came from the Federal Building in Albany, NY for MEPS (I'm going Navy), and I saw the FPS vehicles there had Red/Blue, and NY, as many of you know is a LE=Red Only state. I tried to get some cell phone photos, but my recriuter was in a hurry X__X

 

[MATT3045]

There are states such as CA that don't cut slack to federal LE. If they run vehicles on state/city roads they must adhere to title 13 which regulates our color and siren tones.

I think the feds just try to do the same colors to keep everyone happy. If the feds wanted they can do however they want, and there is nothing any state, county, or local can do about it. Do not quote me on that, but feds technically have bigger balls then state or lower LE do.


Here is an example, the presidents motorcade. When it is cali, do they have to switch all their lights to having 1 steady red and make sure their sirens are compliant. I doubt it.

 

[nerdly_dood]

I think the feds just try to do the same colors to keep everyone happy. If the feds wanted they can do however they want, and there is nothing any state, county, or local can do about it. Do not quote me on that, but feds technically have bigger balls then state or lower LE do.
Here is an example, the presidents motorcade. When it is cali, do they have to switch all their lights to having 1 steady red and make sure their sirens are compliant. I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure it's the same when going to other countries, which, more often than not, always use blue, but they still use red and blue.

 

[Ben E.]

MPs use blue...we only mount one on the Humvees so its a blue for LE instead of red FD...otherwise its a red and blue. of course we dont operate off instalation so we dont really need to worry about the local laws too much

My cousin was an USAF MP (SF) at FE Warren in Cheyenne, WY, he was on Convoy Response Forces, the F-350 they used to escort nuclear weapons down to Colorado had a R/B edge on it. He told me at one point they used to have a US Marshall that would go with them for off-base law enforcement authority on the convoys (apparently they had to fly it without one after awhile, funding problems with USMS), and the Marshall ran R/B too. At the time, they had a private security company doing gate security, they had R/B, and the on-base MP patrols had R/B on their impalas also. Not arguing, just pointing out the differences in location.


On an amusing side note, he told me that the siren speaker in the F350 was mounted backwards in the grille, so it was facing the engine. He said that the guys that did the "installs" on the base vehicles were usually soldiers that got in trouble for something and got put on that duty temporarily, so all the installs sucked.

 

[vonirkinshtine]

In and around Charlotte, NC all state/local law enforcement uses blue lights exclusively. Fire and Medic use red. Federal government vehicles use red/blue.

 

[SlickTop Solutions]

what agencies were the installs for in wv and what kinds of installs were they (vehicles and equipemt)? Pics? I'm guessing they were all mostly in the eastern panhandle since your proximity to dc. I don't normally see a lot of federal vehicles in wv, but then again i'm not normally around anywhere where they would have vehicles for code response.

dod, dea, batfe.....

 

[SlickTop Solutions]

I've also seen US Park Ranger patrol cars in Virginia with a blue Whelen Edge, with a single clear strobe in front and an illegal amber one in back.

State law allows blue, red/blue, blue/white, or red/white/blue, but the majority of local police vehicles use only blue, or blue with a little white. State Police uses all blue. VA state law only allows amber on law enforcement vehicles as a TA, but a lot of cop cars have a few amber flashers to the rear anyway.

I think at one time Amber to the rear was allowed for LEOs.


The DOD rebuilds I have been doing have had me remove the Amber rear deck light when moving equipment from the old cruiser to the new cruiser.

 

[cory y]

most of the Air Force SF (base police) cars ive seen match the area that they are in

 

[CD3]

I do not want to tell you that you are wrong, but you are. I sat on the committee with the CHP and was a traffic officer for over 17 years, I have investigated many emergency invloved accidents including Federal vehicles. The Federal agencies Must run the lawfull colors and comply with that states emergency lighting codes IF they run lights and sirens on those states roadways. Off road or on federal lands this does not apply they can run any color they want.


CASE & POINT, the U.S. Marshalls office were having their vehicles built in Texas, they put on whatever lights they had at the time, when they were delivered into CA, every one of those vehicles had to be reoutfitted with the proper lighting as well as LEGAL sirens.

 

[mcpd2025]

Food for thought, Maryland allows you to display any color you want, so long as it is legal in the state of vehicle registration and you are on official business. Federal vehicles aren't registered in a state. Regardless, the operator of the vehicle would have qualified immunity if the colors they ran were in violation of a state law.

 

[NPS Ranger]

Somehow I don't think they remove the noncompliant siren and add a steady red light to the Presidential limo when it comes to California.

 

[TNFF412N]

I have lived and in several states and think that they might not have any ryme or reason for what they do. I have seen military police with all red/all blue combo all blue in states that blue is for volley firemen. I think some try the best they can but to alot of those groups just dont know or really care....

 

[RJ*]

Somehow I don't think they remove the noncompliant siren and add a steady red light to the Presidential limo when it comes to California.

And how often does the limo actually run code...?

 

[cory y]

well anytime the POTUS is in it they have the lights flashing, but ive never heard a siren in it