SP0102
LD 314
Session - 128th Maine Legislature
 
LR 1536
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act Concerning Emergency Lights on Police Vehicles

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§2, ¶D,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 183, §2, is further amended to read:

D. Except as provided in this paragraph, a vehicle may not be equipped with or display a blue light.

(1) Emergency lights used on the following vehicles must emit a blue light or a combination of blue and white light or a combination of blue and red light: a police vehicle; a Department of Corrections vehicle as described in subsection 1, paragraph B, subparagraph (6); a vehicle operated by a chief of police, a sheriff or a deputy sheriff; and a vehicle operated by a qualified deputy sheriff or other qualified individual performing court security-related functions and services.

(2) Emergency lights used on an ambulance, an emergency medical service vehicle, a fire department vehicle or a hazardous material response vehicle may include one blue light mounted facing toward the rear of the vehicle so that the light is primarily visible to approaching traffic from the rear only.

(3) The taillight of a vehicle, or replica of a vehicle, manufactured prior to 1952 and registered under section 457, may contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter.

(4) Blue interior auxiliary lighting or dash lighting may be used on any vehicle if no portion of the beam of light is visible at a height of 42 inches above a surface parallel with the level surface on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 20 feet from any part of the vehicle.

summary

This bill permits the use of a combination of blue and red emergency lights on police vehicles and on certain other vehicles used by law enforcement, corrections and court security personnel.


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