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§ 4572. Visual signals on authorized vehicles

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 75 Pa.C.S.A. VehiclesEffective: August 31, 2020

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 75 Pa.C.S.A. Vehicles (Refs & Annos)
Part IV. Vehicle Characteristics
Chapter 45. Other Required Equipment (Refs & Annos)
Subchapter D. Equipment of Authorized and Emergency Vehicles (Refs & Annos)
Effective: August 31, 2020
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4572
§ 4572. Visual signals on authorized vehicles
Currentness
(a) Flashing or revolving blue lights.--Ambulance personnel, volunteer firefighters, certified volunteer search and rescue organization members and owners and handlers of dogs used in tracking humans may each equip one motor vehicle with no more than two flashing or revolving blue lights. The following shall apply:
(1) In order to be eligible to display lights on their vehicles under this subsection, the names of the ambulance personnel, volunteer firefighters and certified volunteer search and rescue organization members shall be submitted to the nearest station of the Pennsylvania State Police on a list signed by the chief of the ambulance or fire department or company, the head of the search and rescue organization, and each dog owner and handler shall register at the nearest Pennsylvania State Police station.
(2) The manner in which the lights are displayed and their intensity shall be determined by regulation of the department.
(2.1) Nothing contained in the regulations under paragraph (2) shall be construed to require a limit, modification or change of the lighting in vehicles legally complying with regulations as of the date of enactment of this paragraph as long as the vehicle is used in a manner that otherwise complies with this section.
(3) The lights shall be operable by the driver from inside the vehicle.
(4) The lights may be used only while en route to or at the scene of a fire or emergency call.
(5) The lights shall be removed from the vehicle immediately upon receipt of notice from the chief of the ambulance or fire department or company or the head of the search and rescue organization to remove the lights upon termination of the person's status as an active volunteer firefighter or ambulance person or upon termination of the person's active status as a certified volunteer search and rescue organization member or dog owner or handler, or when the vehicle is no longer used in connection with the person's duties as a volunteer firefighter or ambulance person, certified volunteer search and rescue organization member or dog owner or handler.
(6) This subsection does not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons nor exempt the driver from complying with all provisions of this title.
(7) The department may not prohibit the use of flashing or revolving blue lights mounted internally in the passenger compartment of a privately owned vehicle used in answering an emergency call that otherwise comply with the department's regulations.
(b) Flashing or revolving yellow lights.--Vehicles authorized pursuant to the provisions of sections 6106 (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by Pennsylvania State Police) and 6107 (relating to designation of authorized vehicles by department), tow trucks and vehicles used for snow removal may be equipped with one or more flashing or revolving yellow lights. The manner in which the light or lights shall be displayed and the intensity shall be determined by regulation of the department.
(b.1) Yellow flashing or revolving lights on school vehicles.--School vehicles may be equipped with a permanently affixed or removable yellow flashing or revolving light, as determined by regulation of the department. The light shall only be activated when the vehicle is preparing to stop or is stopped to load and unload students. Nothing under this subsection shall be construed to permit an activity by a driver of a school vehicle prohibited under section 3351 (relating to stopping, standing and parking outside business and residence districts) or 3353 (relating to prohibitions in specified places).
(c) Vehicles prohibited from using lights.--No vehicle other than a duly authorized vehicle may be equipped with lights identical or similar to those specified in subsections (a) and (b). A person who equips or uses a vehicle with visual systems in violation of this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.

Credits

1976, June 17, P.L. 162, No. 81, § 1, effective July 1, 1977. Amended 2001, June 26, P.L. 734, No. 75, § 6, effective in 60 days; 2006, Nov. 29, P.L. 1449, No. 159, § 1, effective in 60 days [Jan. 29, 2007]; 2016, July 8, P.L. 477, No. 75, § 4, effective in 60 days [Sept. 6, 2016]; 2018, Oct. 19, P.L. 547, No. 83, § 3, effective in 60 days [Dec. 18, 2018]; 2020, July 1, P.L. 515, No. 38, § 2, effective in 60 days [Aug. 31, 2020].
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4572, PA ST 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4572
Current through Act 11 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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