Lights on top of snow plows

[Golay]

I realize this isn't really radio related, and I did a bit of googling but couldn't ascertain the answer.
One of the cities near me is plowing with pickup trucks with no flasher on the roof. They have what is similar to a slick top police car going on.
Strobes in the front window, and additional strobes on each side of the brake light on the rear of the cab.

So I've been seeing this since we started getting snow, didn't give it much thought. But my buddy is saying the law says they have to have a flasher on the roof.
Well, this is a pretty laid back city. You got to kind of be driving pretty radical to get a citation from the local police.
And it's safe to say that even if it's true, the DPW isn't going to get reprimanded by local law enforcement.
But my buddy thinks it could get dicey if one of the DPW's trucks gets involved in a fender bender, even if it isn't their fault.

So in Michigan, does anyone know if a plow is supposed to have a flasher on the roof while it is pushing snow?

Thanks.

 

[paulmohr]

Are you sure it is a city/county vehicle doing it and not a private contractor? I know where I live outside of town some of the smaller roads don't always get plowed and citzens have to do it themselves with their own trucks if they want it done. Maybe it somethng like that. Or the city is just hiring someone on the side to do it. If it is actually an MDOT truck my guess would be they are in compliance with the law, it just isn't something you are used to seeing is all.

 

[ecps92]

In my experience, the Light rules are handled thru the DMV/RMV, best to contact them

I realize this isn't really radio related, and I did a bit of googling but couldn't ascertain the answer.
One of the cities near me is plowing with pickup trucks with no flasher on the roof. They have what is similar to a slick top police car going on.
Strobes in the front window, and additional strobes on each side of the brake light on the rear of the cab.

So I've been seeing this since we started getting snow, didn't give it much thought. But my buddy is saying the law says they have to have a flasher on the roof.
Well, this is a pretty laid back city. You got to kind of be driving pretty radical to get a citation from the local police.
And it's safe to say that even if it's true, the DPW isn't going to get reprimanded by local law enforcement.
But my buddy thinks it could get dicey if one of the DPW's trucks gets involved in a fender bender, even if it isn't their fault.

So in Michigan, does anyone know if a plow is supposed to have a flasher on the roof while it is pushing snow?

Thanks.

 

[iMONITOR]

New law: Private snow plows can leave flashing lights on between jobs
New law: Private snow plows can leave flashing lights on between jobs

Flashing green lights on snowplow trucks
Flashing green lights on snowplow trucks

Michigan Approves Green Strobe Lights on Road Maintenance Vehicles

 

[mtindor]

I was just watching a Steve Lehto video on Youtube the other day talking about emergency lights. Specifically they were talking about when cops are allowed to use emergency lights, but he also addresses lights/colors/flashing/rotating/oscillating for various -- police, fire, funeral car, plows, etc.

 

[KB4MSZ]

What's a snow plow?

 

[ecps92]

Hard to plow when it is less than 1"
Snow in Florida - Wikipedia

What's a snow plow?

 

[iMONITOR]

What's a snow plow?

It happens!

 

[Rred]

So if you are using a snow plow as the lead and hearse to get the deceased to the cemetery before the blizzard has passed, what color lights does it run?

 

[wtp]

What's a snow plow?

it might be how they deliver snow up north...

 

[iMONITOR]

So if you are using a snow plow as the lead and hearse to get the deceased to the cemetery before the blizzard has passed, what color lights does it run?

 

[Piston52Heavy]

Is it technically against the law for private snow plow services to have the flashers (amber lights) on while driving on a public road? I see this more and more. I'm sure the drivers forget about the lights being on.

 

[KK4JUG]

I was just watching a Steve Lehto video on Youtube the other day talking about emergency lights. Specifically they were talking about when cops are allowed to use emergency lights, but he also addresses lights/colors/flashing/rotating/oscillating for various -- police, fire, funeral car, plows, etc.

All states are different. A lot of that is crap in most states.

 

[12dbsinad]

In my state the law states that any plow vehicle must display an amber light(s) that is visible 360 degrees around the vehicle when on or entering public roadways. This applies to private vehicles as well. Usually the roof is the best place to do this on a pickup. It can be done with other lights not on the roof but it needs something on the sides of the truck as well as front and rear to be "legal"

 

[Piston52Heavy]

In my state the law states that any plow vehicle must display an amber light(s) that is visible 360 degrees around the vehicle when on or entering public roadways. This applies to private vehicles as well. Usually the roof is the best place to do this on a pickup. It can be done with other lights not on the roof but it needs something on the sides of the truck as well as front and rear to be "legal"

I just looked up the Michigan law regarding this. It was changed.

 

[paulmohr]

I will tell you what they don't like is when you put flashing lights on your scooter lol. I asked the police department if it was legal and they said yes as long as they are not colored, like no red or blue flashing lights. So I put white strobes on my little scooter so I would be more visible. Got pulled over by a sheriff that told me other wise. Mine were not just flashing I had them alternating from side to side as well. He said when I came up from a distance it looked just like a police bike and you just can't do that. Said he understood fully why I did it, but it wasn't legal. They were adjustable so I changed the timing and made them all blink at the same time and they were ok with it. He said technically it still wasn't legal but it wasn't as "alarming" so I would probably be ok.

I checked the actual laws when I got home and he was right. Technically your not allowed to have any lights on that didn't actually come stock on the vehicle when on the roadway. And the flashing lights on a motorcycle have to be a specific timing I guess.

I didn't get a ticket or anything, they were just like "Dude, you can't do that!" I said they were adjustable and changed them and he said that was much better and to be safe. Thankfully they didn't say anything about the fact that my little scooter did 45 mph when they are only supposed to do like 30 legally.

 

[ecps92]

Varies by State, YMMV

Is it technically against the law for private snow plow services to have the flashers (amber lights) on while driving on a public road? I see this more and more. I'm sure the drivers forget about the lights being on.

 

[Golay]

Is it technically against the law for private snow plow services to have the flashers (amber lights) on while driving on a public road? I see this more and more. I'm sure the drivers forget about the lights being on.

As iMonitor linked to, in Michigan it is not illegal for a private contractor to have the strobe in if going into the road is incidental while plowing a private parking lot, or moving from one lot to another.
Yes it is illegal for a private contractor to drive down the road with the strobe going if they are not pushing snow.

 

[Golay]

Are you sure it is a city/county vehicle doing it and not a private contractor?

City vehicle. City seal on the doors. City name and "DPW" in bold letters on the back tailgate.

 

[Golay]

I know where I live outside of town some of the smaller roads don't always get plowed and citizens have to do it themselves with their own trucks if they want it done.

I know someone that has a nice little cash hustle doing that in a neighborhood in Flint Township. The township rarely plows the side streets. He runs up and down the streets plowing the neighborhood. And has signs on the side of the bed that say something like "donations accepted" The people that pay him also get their driveway dragged out. He says he does pretty good.