Emergency Light/Siren Laws

[ronmicha]

I still haven't made it to the new Collierville mall but a friend tells me he saw one of their security vehicles sporting a blue emergency light. Can anyone confirm this? That's against the law isn't it? I don't particularly care but couldn't this open up a can of worms. I was in Nashville couple of years ago and pulled over for a siren vehicle with a green light bar. Turned out to be a private security service vehicle. Then, there's Federal Express with a combination of yellow & red light bar. Guess it's who you know.
Ron

 

[tspainiv]

The security truck is a chevy colorado with green led lightbar suuuuper bright, almost hurts to look at it.

EDIT: they could have also seen a C'ville Police car, they tend to hang around in the parking lot pulling over people who do u-turns to get back onto Collierville road.

 

[n4voxgill]

If the security vehicle stays on private property then it may not violate any law. Here in Texas blue means nothing. You see dump trucks, utility trucks pickups with blue liights. Blue only means warning like yellow. Only red llights count.

 

[dsbyrd]

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-414 (2005)

Blue flashing emergency lights on motor vehicles unlawful -- Exception -- Penalty


(a) (1) It is unlawful for anyone to install, maintain or exhibit blue flashing emergency lights or blue flashing emergency lights in combination with red flashing emergency lights, except full-time, salaried, uniformed law enforcement officers of the state, county, or city and municipal governments of the state, and commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when their official duties so require as defined by §§ 38-8-106 and 38-8-107.

(2) A violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor.

(b) (1) The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply to the motor vehicles of constables who are wearing law enforcement uniforms designated by the governing body of the county in which they serve in those counties in which such constables retain law enforcement powers and duties under the provisions of §§ 8-10-108, 39-17-505, 40-6-210, 55-8-152, 57-5-202 and 57-9-101.

(2) The provisions of this subsection (b) apply only to those counties having a population of:

not less than nor more than
------------ -------------
11,100 11,200
11,500 11,600
13,975 14,500
43,000 44,000
65,750 66,000
70,000 74,000
according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

(c) The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply to official motor vehicles of the sheriff's department being operated by reserve or auxiliary deputy sheriffs duly authorized by the sheriff and appointed pursuant to title 8, chapter 20. Such reserve or auxiliary officers operating departmental vehicles shall be in uniform and carry appropriate identification issued by the sheriff. The provisions of this subsection (c) apply only in counties having a population of not less than forty-three thousand seven hundred (43,700) nor more than forty-three thousand eight hundred (43,800) according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

(d) The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply to motor vehicles of specially commissioned police officers employed pursuant to § 49-7-118(f) when operating either within five (5) miles of any property owned or operated by the colleges or universities referenced therein, or as may be directed by the chief law enforcement officer of the applicable county.

 

[rg65]

Green is usually for funerals in Tennessee.

 

[tncpa]

I stopped for funeral procession yesterday and thought some local dignitary had passed. There were what appeared to be from a distance unmarked police vehicles with lights flashing and sirens screaming stopping traffic. As the cars got closer, I could see that their flashing dash lights were an intense green that from a distance appreard blue. I have never seen anything but motorcycle escorts in funerals in the Memphis area. Any comments from anyone?

 

[tspainiv]

I always thought that green was for funeral processions and the park rangers but this truck has a huge lightbar on the roof that has green stobe and led lights and it patrols the parking lot. It comes across the street to my dealership to get worked on. The lights are so intense that they hurt to look at them almost. Says "The Avenue" and "Security" on the side. No mobile radio inside though. They only use handhelds.

 

[stewart00311]

I always thought that green was for funeral processions and the park rangers but this truck has a huge lightbar on the roof that has green stobe and led lights and it patrols the parking lot. It comes across the street to my dealership to get worked on. The lights are so intense that they hurt to look at them almost. Says "The Avenue" and "Security" on the side. No mobile radio inside though. They only use handhelds.

As for security they can have white, yellow or green they are not allowed to have blue or red by state law no matter if they are on private property or not. This comes under the Private security law.

Some of the funeral escorts may even have a violet or purple look to them also....

 

[memphislawenforcer]

I think FedEx security is a private Police force. I know they are all Post certified. That may have something to do with the red lights.

 

[dsbyrd]

As some have mentioned, funeral processions sometimes use green lights. There is a separate statute which authorizes this, with the permission of the county sheriff.

 

[jalexand69]

I noticed that some funeral processions use purple lights (in Middle Tennessee), but I've only seen that on the hearses. The motor escorts, I've noticed, use green lights.

Having lived in Oklahoma and Missouri, it's the red lights that were heavily regulated. Supposedly, the "red" meant that the vehicle was licensed to transport people (e.g., ambulance, squad car, etc.). I had to get used to volunteer firefighters having BLUE lights.

Back here in Memphis, I've noticed quite a few security companies that patrol Wal-mart, Kroger, K-Mart, and the Raleigh Springs Mall using either white or combo white/yellow flashing lights.

Something a little ironic, though, is that traffic engineering has always used red lights (at least since the 1970s), and I've noticed that signal escorts now have red flashing lights. (I can remember when Central Parking escorted them in three-wheeled Cushmans, with blue lights.) j c

 

[k7isw]

Red lights/sirens

I used to live in Arizona and back in the 80's, maybe still today, wealthy people would register their limos as "armored cars", as such, they could legally have red lights and sirens, but could only be used if being ambushed.

The law didn't state that an armored car had to be a truck or carrying money.

 

[EZlistener]

Tenn Emergency lighting laws

In the recent summary of legislation enacted during the last General
Assembly, I noted Public Chapter 154, which amends TCA 55-9-402 by prohibiting corener strobes, wig-wags, etc., excepting "emrgency vehicles," "highway maintenance vehicles,""utlities," "school buses," and everyone else who had the clout to get an exemption. Very strong wording covering "emergency light systems, such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lightswithin the headlight or grille area..."

 

[iamhere300]

Blue Lights

How does TEMA continue to use blue lights then? They are NOT post certified anymore,
not for years.

 

[codyshell]

For some reason, around here (Washington County), firefighters can run Code 3 in a POV with Red lights out side city limits, but not inside.

 

[Gamble1203]

In Tennessee the lights are:

Red, Red/White, Red/Amber = Fire Emergency or Rescue Vehicles (includes Tow Trucks)
Blue, Blue/White, Red/Blue, Blue/Amber = Law Enforcement
Green, Green/Amber, or Green/White = Security Enforcement
Purple = Funeral

 

[m-gerty]

In Tennessee the lights are:

Red, Red/White, Red/Amber = Fire Emergency or Rescue Vehicles (includes Tow Trucks)
Blue, Blue/White, Red/Blue, Blue/Amber = Law Enforcement
Green, Green/Amber, or Green/White = Security Enforcement
Purple = Funeral

In Warren County:
Red/White = Fire, Rescue Squad
Yellow = Tow Truck
Blue/RedWhite = Law Enforcement, Tema

I have never seen Purple, Green lights on anything

Funeral escorts, inside city limits = Police, outside city limits = Sheriff Dept.



Side note: Anyone that drives an emergency vehicle and runs emergency traffic must attend a EVOC (emergency vehicle operation course) and a Vanessa K Free class, and pass the written/driving test. This state law was passed about 8-10 years ago, and the classes must be taken annually.

 

[dixie729]

In Kentucky we use green lights as command lights for the FD.

Kevin Absher - HTC Inspire 4G

 

[Gamble1203]

Yeah, most of the funerals ive seen are escorted by police, but by state law they can run them if they wanted.

 

[johnoconnor98]

I think FedEx security is a private Police force. I know they are all Post certified. That may have something to do with the red lights.

FEDEX has internal "security". They also have a few "Carrier Air Police" who are P.O.S.T. certified LEO's and have blue/red lights and sirens.