Emergency Lights on POV for Volunteer Firefighters

I noticed there's a few firemen on here so I figured I'd ask a question. Is it legal to run blue strobes on a personally owned vehicle in the state of Colorado? I'm thinking about getting some for my truck, but I wasn't sure what the laws were. I do know you are required to get a permit from the Chief.

 

You're probably best off to ask the Chief at your station what your options are. There are so many local and state rules, that unless there's someone on here from your area it will be hard to tell.

 

Def contact local fd or local pd. Blue red green white are colors that are dedicated for emergency uses. Good luck

 

New york we only legally allowed one blue light in the dash but i've never heard of a cop busting balls. chiefs maybe, but never ticketed or anything.

 

If u r not in services I know my cops have ticketed for that in ct. Don't drive with them on and you will be good

 

Keep in mind that a flashing light still doesn't make you immune to the law. My buddy was a volunteer fire fighter, and he was allowed to run 1 blue light. And only use it when responding to a call and he needed to get to the fire station in a hurry. He still had to obey the posted speed limit as well as stop lights/signs. It's more of a courtesy that people let you by than an obligation.

 

Exactly. And if they don't pull over and u pass its your ass. There is nothing saying they have to pull over. Only an actual emergency vehicle can you get someone cited for failing to yield to emergency vehicles

 

Ask an officer. I'm in va and we are allowed to run red or red/white but on one bar and red only in the rear window

 

In NY i run blue for FD and green for ems.... legally were not allowed any red or white, but we do put strobes in headlights/taillights etc.... I also have red and white lights in my rear for when on the side of the road at MVA's. I've heard of people in my dept going to other states with like older strobe lights with the colored covers, and the police there would make them cover it with something because the police run different colors in every state. Just like others said, ask your chief or a police officer

 

im from nj and ive got a blue light on the dash and then stobes in the head lights and tail the strobes look great in the head lights

 

Thanks guys, sorry but I haven't had time to check up on this thread in a while.

I'm gonna talk with my chief this weekend when I see him at the station. From what I've heard from a few firemen (not in my dept) is that red and clear strobes, and wigwags are allowed for VF in Colorado. Nothing visible from the rear though. However I'm not entirely sure if this is correct.

Another question, anyone have lights on there Taco's? Pictures would be great. Still trying to decide if I wanna spend the cash on a setup for my truck or not

 

no need for it IMO. at least here, you still cant speed/drive like an asshole, though most do anyways. no point in killing yourself just to get to ride shotty in the engine.

 

I have a single green light on mine. All I get. Pretty ghey, but hey not like I get to haul ass anyway. Just tells people to get out of my way PLEASE.

 

It is one light viable 360 degrees. One light means one bulb. I fought this and lost. Chef helped me out.

 

As previously suggested, if you haven't already just ask your chief.

Here in PA you can have blue lights for non officer level FF's but they're really just "courtesy lights" and people aren't legally required to pull over for them. Personally I do because I know they need to get to the station. They seem to confuse people more than anything here though you'll see a FF running blues pull up to a red light knowing he can't actually proceed and motorists at the green will stop not knowing the FF can't actually procede. Most FF's I know just shut them down at traffic lights to avoid said confusion and I know at our local department the chief decided not to actually even let our volly's run them anymore. Definitely seems to hugely vary state to state I know some people in other states who are just normal non-line officer FF's and are allowed to run red lights and sirens.

And this is just from what I know from my buddy's who are FF's. Not actually one myself. So take what I say with a grain of salt haha.

 

So I've had my strobes installed for a while now. Turns out the rules depend on your department. But even if you chief ok's it you have to file for a permit with the Colorado Department of Revenue if you want to run lights. To my understanding you're vehicle must also be outfitted with an audible warning device (siren) if you want to use your lights. Also you lights have to be visible at 360D and only red/clear for Vol. FD in Colorado.