MICHIGAN law changes - green and possibly slicktop modifications

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
Michigan law was amended earlier this month to add the use of "amber or green" lights for governmental snow removal vehicles, or vehicle engaged in hazmat/environmental response/cleanup.

Use of green lights was previously not mentioned (and therefore technically prohibited). The new law specifically states that it "does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service."

See below for the applicable section:

257.698.amended Side cowl or fender lamps; running board courtesy lamp; backing lights; lamp or reflector; flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights; private motor vehicle of security guard agency or alarm company; use of lights authorized or required under MCL 257.697, 257.697a, and 257.698a; violation as civil infraction.

Sec. 698.

(1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 side cowl or fender lamps that shall emit an amber or white light without glare.

(2) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 1 running board courtesy lamp on each side that shall emit a white or amber light without glare.

(3) Backing lights of red, amber, or white may be mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle if the switch controlling the light is so arranged that the light may be turned on only if the vehicle is in reverse gear. The backing lights when unlighted shall be covered or otherwise arranged so as not to reflect objectionable glare in the eyes of an operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear.

(4) Unless both covered and unlit, a vehicle operated on the highways of this state shall not be equipped with a lamp or a part designed to be a reflector unless expressly required or permitted by this chapter or that meets the standards prescribed in 49 CFR 571.108. A lamp or a part designed to be a reflector, if visible from the front, shall display or reflect a white or amber light; if visible from either side, shall display or reflect an amber or red light; and if visible from the rear, shall display or reflect a red light, except as otherwise provided by law.

(5) The use or possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any color is prohibited except as otherwise provided by law, or under the following circumstances:

(a) A police vehicle shall be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or blue lights, for use in the performance of police duties.

(b) A fire vehicle or ambulance available for public use or for use of the United States, the state, or any unit of the state, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights and used as required for safety.

(c) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights for use when responding to an emergency call if when in use the flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights are mounted on the roof section of the vehicle, either as a permanent installation or by means of suction cups or magnets and are clearly visible in a 360-degree arc from a distance of 500 feet when in use. A person operating lights under this subdivision at any time other than when responding to an emergency call is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) Flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights, placed in a position as to be visible throughout an arc of 360 degrees, shall be used by a state, county, or municipal vehicle engaged in the removal of ice, snow, or other material from the highway and in other operations designed to control ice and snow, or engaged in other non-winter operations. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.

(e) A vehicle used for the cleanup of spills or a necessary emergency response action taken pursuant to state or federal law or a vehicle operated by an employee of the department of natural resources or the department of environmental quality that responds to a spill, emergency response action, complaint, or compliance activity may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights. The lights described in this subdivision shall not be activated unless the vehicle is at the scene of a spill, emergency response action, complaint, or compliance activity. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.

(f) A vehicle to perform public utility service, a vehicle owned or leased by and licensed as a business for use in the collection and hauling of refuse, an automobile service car or wrecker, a vehicle engaged in authorized highway repair or maintenance, a vehicle of a peace officer, a vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier or a person under contract to deliver newspapers or other publications by motor route, a vehicle utilized for snow or ice removal under section 682c, a private security guard vehicle as authorized in subsection (7), a motor vehicle while engaged in escorting or transporting an oversize load that has been issued a permit by the state transportation department or a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, a vehicle owned by the national guard or a United States military vehicle while traveling under the appropriate recognized military authority, a motor vehicle while towing an implement of husbandry, or an implement of husbandry may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights. However, a wrecker may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights that shall be activated only when the wrecker is engaged in removing or assisting a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident or disablement. The flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights shall not be activated except when the warning produced by the lights is required for public safety.

(g) A vehicle engaged in leading or escorting a funeral procession or any vehicle that is part of a funeral procession may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating purple or amber lights that shall not be activated except during a funeral procession.

(h) An authorized emergency vehicle may display flashing, rotating, or oscillating white lights in conjunction with an authorized emergency light as prescribed in this section.

(i) A private motor vehicle of a physician responding to an emergency call may be equipped with and the physician may use flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights mounted on the roof section of the vehicle either as a permanent installation or by means of magnets or suction cups and clearly visible in a 360-degree arc from a distance of 500 feet when in use. The physician shall first obtain written authorization from the county sheriff.

(j) A public transit vehicle may be equipped with a flashing, oscillating, or rotating light mounted on the roof of the vehicle approximately 6 feet from the rear of the vehicle that displays a white light to the front, side, and rear of the vehicle, which light may be actuated by the driver for use only in inclement weather such as fog, rain, or snow, when boarding or discharging passengers, from 1/2 hour before sunset until 1/2 hour after sunrise, or when conditions hinder the visibility of the public transit vehicle. As used in this subdivision, "public transit vehicle" means a motor vehicle, other than a station wagon or passenger van, with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

(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).

(6) A person shall not sell, loan, or otherwise furnish a flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue or red light designed primarily for installation on an authorized emergency vehicle to a person except a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, authorized physician, volunteer or paid fire fighter, volunteer ambulance driver, licensed ambulance driver or attendant of the state, a county or municipality within the state, a person engaged in the business of operating an ambulance or wrecker service, or a federally recognized nonprofit charitable organization that owns and operates an emergency support vehicle used exclusively for emergencies. This subsection does not prohibit an authorized vehicle, equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue or red lights, from being operated by a person other than a person described in this section if the person receives authorization to operate the emergency vehicle from a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, authorized physician, volunteer or paid fire fighter, volunteer ambulance driver, licensed ambulance driver or attendant, a person operating an ambulance or wrecker service, or a federally recognized nonprofit charitable organization that owns and operates an emergency support vehicle used exclusively for emergencies, except that the authorization shall not permit the person to operate lights as described in subsection (5)(a), (b), (c), (i), or (j), or to exercise the privileges described in section 603. A person who operates an authorized emergency vehicle in violation of the terms of an authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $100.00, or both.

(7) A private motor vehicle of a security guard agency or alarm company licensed under the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1051 to 338.1092, may display flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights. The flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights shall not be activated on a public highway when a vehicle is in motion.

(8) This section does not prohibit, restrict, or limit the use of lights authorized or required under sections 697, 697a, and 698a.

(9) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), or (4) is responsible for a civil infraction.


History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1951, Act 270, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951 ;-- Am. 1953, Act 206, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1953 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 19, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957 ;-- Am. 1959, Act 151, Imd. Eff. July 16, 1959 ;-- Am. 1964, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Mar. 20, 1964 ;-- Am. 1975, Act 100, Eff. July 1, 1976 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 347, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 1976 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 510, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 37, Imd. Eff. Mar. 12, 1980 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 270, Imd. Eff. Oct. 1, 1980 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 100, Imd. Eff. May 8, 1984 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 326, Imd. Eff. Dec. 26, 1984 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 15, 1990 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 335, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 1990 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 101, Imd. Eff. Apr. 18, 1994 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 8, Imd. Eff. May 16, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 247, Imd. Eff. July 8, 1998 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 262, Imd. Eff. July 2, 2012 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 161, Eff. Sept. 7, 2016

When the rewrite was done, a previous section that required roof mounted lights for POVs for fire and EMS personnel was expanded to all authorized emergency vehicles except law enforcement if deemed necessary to do otherwise. Yesterday, SB 0184 of 2016 was introduced seeking to eliminate the rooftop requirement.

SB 1084 of 2016

Traffic control; traffic regulation; requirement that emergency lights be mounted on the roof of an authorized emergency vehicle; eliminate. Amends sec. 698 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.698).

Last Action: 9/20/2016 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
6 could be a problem for collectors unless you are still a FF, LEO or Medic. Green is not used in Georgia, but is specifically forbidden in the law for some reason.
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
SB 1084 is sponsored by Senator Dale Zorn and has been referred to the Committee on Transportation. I wrote him and my senator today supporting the legislation and offering to testify if needed. Other Michigan emergency vehicle operators may want to touch base with their legislators to try and nudge this along. The law would retain the requirements for 360 degree coverage, visible for 500 feet, audible signal but would delete only the reference to the lights being mounted on the roof portion of the vehicle. With today's technology, it is certainly possible to employ a highly effective, visible warning light system without rooftop mounting.

As this section used to refer only to POVs, there are many governmental fire and EMS supervisor/chief vehicles equipped with inner edges and such, and all are suddenly illegal absent this proposed legislation.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
Wouldn't section 6 also mean that volunteer firefighters could use red and/or blue lights?

CORRECTION:

Nope!!

257.603 Applicability of chapter to government vehicles; exemption of authorized emergency vehicles; conditions; exemption of police vehicles not sounding audible signal; exemption of persons, vehicles, and equipment working on surface of highway.

Sec. 603.

(1) The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highway apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state, or a county, city, township, village, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, subject to the specific exceptions set forth in this chapter with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.

(2) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call, but not while returning from an emergency call, or when pursuing or apprehending a person who has violated or is violating the law or is charged with or suspected of violating the law may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, subject to the conditions of this section.

(3) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may do any of the following:

(a) Park or stand, irrespective of this act.

(b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.

(c) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he or she does not endanger life or property.

(d) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in a specified direction.

(4) The exemptions granted in this section to an authorized emergency vehicle apply only when the driver of the vehicle while in motion sounds an audible signal by bell, siren, air horn, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, except as provided in subsection (5), and when the vehicle is equipped with at least 1 lighted lamp displaying a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc unless it is not advisable to equip a police vehicle operating as an authorized emergency vehicle with a flashing, oscillating or rotating light visible in a 360 degree arc. In those cases, a police vehicle shall display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle. Only police vehicles that are publicly owned shall be equipped with a flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue light that when activated is visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
Also...there is no need for "slick-top" modifications...."slick-tops" have always been authorized....the law does not say "roof mounted" or "exterior" lights. What IS sketchy is the light being truly visible for 500 feet, 360 degrees. Lawyers have tried to peel away at this part of the vehicle code for their clients purposes for years.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
The difference is between the wording "may" and "shall". In MVC those words are important. If the wording "shall" is present, that means every car would have an emergency roof mounted light. That would be your indicator that it is needed on ALL emergency vehicles.

In this case sub section "c" - the wording is "may" - which just gives a person permission to, but is not required on all vehicles. Futher, it is giving permission for an operator to use only a single light on the roof, when no other lights are present.
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
Hey - I'm not a lawyer, but as I read it, vehicles MAY be equipped with lights for use when responding...IF when in use they are on the roof portion of the vehicle. I hope the legislation passes so there is no longer any confusion. As the deputy explained to me, no ne is getting a ticket but if he were investigating an accident and the non-LE emergency vehicle did not have a roof light, they may be non-compliant and therefore not able to use emergency vehicle privileges. I'm going to use an additional roof light until this is clearer. Thanks for your input and help
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
UPDATE:

SB 1084 passed unanimously out of the Senate Transportation Committee this morning. It will go the Senate floor next, then to the House for concurrence. The bill is supported by the Michigan Assn of Fire Chiefs and Northern Michigan Fire Chiefs Assn. There is no opposition to date.
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
Update: SB 1084 passed the Senate today and now moves on to the House for consideration. There has been no opposition so far, so it is possible that it could be enacted into law yet this session. If so, the requirement for rooftop mounting will be rescinded, leaving only the requirements for clearly visible throughout a 360 degree arc from 500 feet. I'll keep everyone posted
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
The green light change should have also covered commercial snow plow operators. They plow in parking lots, subdivisions, and driveways that require them to back onto public roads.

I would also like to see STEADY BURN green for command posts. No need for it to flash. IMHO.
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
SB46 has passed the House and awaits the Governors signature within about 20 days. When signed, it will take immediate effect. Note that the 360 Degree and 500 feet rules still apply, but the requirement for rooftop placement will be discontinued.
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
PA 37 of 2017 has been signed into law with immediate effect. The law deletes the previous requirement that lights be mounted specifically on the roof portion of the vehicle. The 360 degree and 500 ft visibility requirements remain in effect.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
I cannot tell you how many private snow plow companies I am seeing using green lights lately. They obviously think that since government trucks use them while plowing, they can too.
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
I cannot tell you how many private snow plow companies I am seeing using green lights lately. They obviously think that since government trucks use them while plowing, they can too.
There is no reason that private plows shouldn't be able to use green. Just like private road contractors can.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
Well, there is a reason, law prohibits it. Private vehicles in Michigan are not covered by this. Already been front of the magistrate and judge on this.



MVC 257.698 section 5(d)

(d) Flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights, placed in a position as to be visible throughout an arc of 360 degrees, shall be used by a state, county, or municipal vehicle engaged in the removal of ice, snow, or other material from the highway and in other operations designed to control ice and snow, or engaged in other non-winter operations. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
MCL 257.698 5(f)

"...A vehicle engaged in authorized highway repair or maintenance may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights...."

May need some better glasses.

Time to free it up for private plows.
 

unityrv26

Member
Mar 4, 2012
391
Michigan
This whole green light addition was purposed for highway management. It's discovered that green LED shows up the best and stands out among amber and red of vehicles on the road. It was geared to highway safety.
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
This whole green light addition was purposed for highway management. It's discovered that green LED shows up the best and stands out among amber and red of vehicles on the road. It was geared to highway safety.
Parking lot, subdivision, HOA roadway safety is equally important.
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
Further, these studies were started in the 1970's by the USDOT and the color of choice was blue. However, the is a major ego problem with blue, so second best was green. The USDOT recommended standards for ambulances to be equipped with blue lights. It of course fell flat.
 

Da-Sarge

Member
Feb 27, 2020
393
Canada
It seems green lights are really controversial i can understand to an extent since at a distance it may be mistaken for blue (yes thats a thing) amber with blue has been mistaken for red and so on maybe they need to discover a different safety color that would fit the bill better
 

badge22

Member
Aug 14, 2010
934
MI, United States
I would like to see green be amber's white. For example, red and blue users can also use white. I personally believe that anyone who can use amber, should be able to use green. The purpose should be visibility, not authority. I would like to see a change where amber users can use green as long as the green doesn't exceed 50% of amber front or rear. I would also like to see stricter enforcement of white used by amber users.
 

Da-Sarge

Member
Feb 27, 2020
393
Canada
I would like to see green be amber's white. For example, red and blue users can also use white. I personally believe that anyone who can use amber, should be able to use green. The purpose should be visibility, not authority. I would like to see a change where amber users can use green as long as the green doesn't exceed 50% of amber front or rear. I would also like to see stricter enforcement of white used by amber users.
I do agree amber users should be allowed dual colors for better visual effect white here in canada is only allowed on the front on any vehicle accept for fire, green if volunteer fire fighters (only allowed in one province though), blue only is for snow clearing, amber for tow trucks, construction/roadworks, roadside assistants, red if only for fire and ambulance, red and blue is for police only accept for quebec ware its on ambulances as well, purple for funerals thats it white is allowed on only the front of any vehicle including amber users

I think the color system should be a standard world wide to make sure its understood everywhere a good example is blue only states me being from Canada dont take them as emergency vehicles without red being present (got toled off by a cop down there lol told them to get red with their blue or Canadians would see them as snow clearing crews lol) standardized colors world wide should be a thing
 

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