Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§2, ¶F, as amended by PL 1995, c. 22, §1, is further amended to read:

F. Only vehicles listed in this paragraph, rural mail vehicles as provided in paragraph C, subparagraph (5) and school buses may be equipped with, display or use a red auxiliary or emergency light.

(1) Emergency lights used on an ambulance, an emergency medical service vehicle, a fire department vehicle, a fire vehicle or a hazardous material response vehicle must emit a red light or a combination of red and white light.

(2) The municipal officers or a municipal official designated by the municipal officers, with the approval of the fire chief, may authorize an active member of a municipal or volunteer fire department to use a flashing red signal light not more than 5 inches in diameter lights on a vehicle. The light lights may be displayed but may be used only while the member is en route to or at the scene of a fire or other emergency. The light must be mounted as near as practicable above the registration plate on the front of the vehicle or on the dashboard. A light mounted on the dashboard must be shielded so that the emitted light does not interfere with the operator's vision. Lights authorized under this section may not impair the vision of an operator of any vehicle.

(3) Members of an emergency medical service licensed by Maine Emergency Medical Services may display and use on a vehicle a flashing red signal light of the same proportion, in the same location and under the same conditions as those permitted municipal and volunteer firefighters, when authorized by the chief official of the emergency medical service.

SUMMARY

This bill permits an active member of a municipal or volunteer fire department, when authorized, to use any type of flashing signal light on a vehicle when en route to or at the scene of a fire or other emergency.