Does this truck belong to District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C.? If so, what is it for? Can't tell if the lights are amber or red.
Washington D.C. DOT Responding ?
- Thread starter firedude
- Start date
badge22
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Lightbarnut
New Member
Amber/clear lightbar, red/clear/amber/blue above the bumper. Sorry, but I'm not pulling over for amber/clear in my rearview mirror. :no:
HFD eng1ine
Member
I am. If they have a siren and are running lights, whatever color it is i am pulling over. Obviously there is some sort of an emergency. If not, im 10 seconds late to my appointment and they guy will get caught illegally running his lights sometime.
The DDOT tow trucks and support vehicles have red, white, blue and amber lights. There is no real consistency with their light set-ups either. They also have sirens. Being from the area, and having worked highway safety in DC and around the Baltimore-DC area I have witnessed these guys responding when there is no emergency. I watched the tow truck pull around traffic with his warning equipment on only to pull into the 7-11 on South Capitol St. by the Nats stadium. It appeared that he bought a coffee and a pastry and then responded back to the north. This happens all the time. CHART, a division of Maryland State Highways also have tow trucks with red and white emergency lights and sirens. They rarely seem to use them tho even when going to actual emergencies. Their emergency lights are separate than their amber warning lights.
Lightbarnut
New Member
Umm...yeah, see above. Not pulling over so he can get to the 7-11 quicker. 
I should have clarified in my earlier post, no vehicle anywhere around my area has amber/clear lights with a siren. That just doesn't happen here. If it does, they are impersonating. I don't pull over for impersonators. Amber/clear here is only tow trucks, Comcast cable tv/telephone, that sort of thing.
I should have clarified in my earlier post, no vehicle anywhere around my area has amber/clear lights with a siren. That just doesn't happen here. If it does, they are impersonating. I don't pull over for impersonators. Amber/clear here is only tow trucks, Comcast cable tv/telephone, that sort of thing.
could it be undercover police? I know in NYC they have uc cabs i think uc DOT would a great idea lol
Well it is the DC government. It's not undercover anything. That's how DDOT rolls.They pretty much do what they want to do and we all have to live with it.
If the trend of DOT's using red and blue continues, then at some point people will completely ignore amber, clear, red, and blue lights (more so than they do now, if that's possible) . What will LEO and EMS do then? :weird:
arsenal10
Member
My universities public safety are POST certified peace officers (and armed), yet run amber and clear lighting along side sirens when responding code. Adding to the confusion they do not have forward facing steady burn red. Their patrol area goes 5 blocks off campus which the city PD already patrols, adding confusion. Would I pull over for them? Yes, because I know who they are and what they do.
HILO
Member
lafd55
Member
I love how lazy their logo is "d."...
This is not apart of DDOT but figured it is along the same lines as this. I'm watching parking wars right now and noticed a Detroit Parking Enforcement Minivan with an Amber Lightbar but a RED/RED Slimlighter in the windshield... Anyone ?
This is not apart of DDOT but figured it is along the same lines as this. I'm watching parking wars right now and noticed a Detroit Parking Enforcement Minivan with an Amber Lightbar but a RED/RED Slimlighter in the windshield... Anyone ?
DaCityPolice
Member
The trucks with red/blues are older vehicles converted from purely maintenance (amber-only) roles to be the DDOT ROP (DC Dept. of Transportation "Roadway Operations Patrol") or highway response vehicles. They are staffed by civilians who respond to assist with traffic control on scenes of accidents or power outages. They are only authorized to respond w/lights and sirens when requested by MPD or authorized by their dispatch center (Mayor's Command). According to DC law, an "emergency vehicle" just needs a red light/siren capable of being seen/heard from 500 feet. Those crappy Gen 1 led strips w/the red lights make the vehicle an "emergency vehicle". As far as I know, all of the DDOT ROP trucks have been replaced within the past few months with brand new trucks that have fully red/blue lightbars plus a ton of lights everywhere on the body and one of those large DOT arrowboards. More lights than MPDC cars. Very few (if any) of the lights are amber even thought the vehicles are supposed to be used primarily for blocking traffic on the scene of incidents.
I personally think these DDOT trucks shouldn't have reds/blues because it's a setup for someone to get hurt. Oh well, not gonna be my problem.
I personally think these DDOT trucks shouldn't have reds/blues because it's a setup for someone to get hurt. Oh well, not gonna be my problem.
Station 3
Member
I like it looks pretty cool also looks like they have a contract with SHO ME since EVERYTHING on that thing is 5mm sho me stuff.
EVI did this install and has the contract for a lot of federal installs. I heard he is a former federal agent which helps. The only thing I don't like about his installs is he uses a lot of Sho-Me by the inch products. They are first gen LEDs and are not bright. I'm sure the profit is great but they are useless. He does do a good job on the install though.
TheGatekeeper
Member
237 said:
Sometimes the emergency is about moving a disabled vehicle off the road.. It doesn't surprise me DC went to EL on utility trucks,it does make sense as having traffic back in motion asap is a priority after an accident.
Here highway crews were often confronted to still-standing traffic slowing them down when they were going on an RTA scene.
For the last few years, most hwy vehicles (bright orange or yellow, running amber) have been allowed blue grille LEDs and sometimes two-tone sirens, so they can lane-split or move up a traffic jam or standing traffic safely on the emergency lane.
More LED by the inch garbage. These lights are not visible at all by day. Someone is making a big profit here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBydxl4zS2U&feature=g-all&context=G25c362aFAAAAAAAAQAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBydxl4zS2U&feature=g-all&context=G25c362aFAAAAAAAAQAA
I know that for several years now the D.C. DOT has been using white tow trucks with all Blue lightbars for parking enforcement. Are they still using Blue lights on their tow trucks or are they switching over to Red & Blue flashers? Also does anyone know if those D.C. DOT tow trucks with the Blue lightbars have a siren as well?
lafd55
Member
DaCityPolice
Member
killCARB027 said:
The DPW tow trucks (parking enforcement) have all blue strobe bars and are equipped w/sirens. The sirens are used when the tow truck is pulling into traffic w/a towed car. (Don't ask me why, doesn't make sense to me either.) Also, the trucks sometimes respond in convoys escorted by a DPW vehicle w/red lights. (See: Washington DC Parking Enforcement - YouTube )
DDOT also has vehicles w/red and blue lightbars but those are not for parking enforcement. Different agency.
DaCityPolice
Member
lafd55 said:
The tow trucks w/all blue strobe lightbar w/amber LED center and (usually) four red grill lights are older DDOT ROP-Roadway Operations Patrol trucks. These were gifted to DDOT from DPW (as old parking enforcement vehicles). These vehicles are being phased out and replaced with brand new dedicated trucks.
Also, Metro=WMATA/Metro Transit Police and DC Police are "Metropolitan" but never just "Metro".
I just laughed for a good two minutes, like really that was needed??? lol and the tow trucks blocking the intersections?
I'mabeast
New Member
Luismariadarlene
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