I know it's trivial but I'm curious because I tend to notice very trivial things. But I can't help but notice that over the last 2-3 years or so a lot of NJ police departments who used to have just red lights on their vehicles now have both red and blue. And they just seem to replace a bunch of them at random. Is there something to this, some mandate or guideline, or is it just a coincidence? And I also notice that a lot of the new ambulances and fire apparatus are going to both blue and red too. Strange.
Emergency vehicle lighting in NJ
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I think that's how there selling the state contract light bars, That's why many PD's have them, For my agency I request all red lights and I got rid of the blue lights long ago.
Emergency vehicle lighting is part of my job for my town. No mandate here. Just personal preference. Something different with more variations to get peoples' attention. More visability. Plus I think the blue LEDs are a lot brighter then what the older blue light incandescence bulbs use to be.
color of lights
thru out the US police departments use different lights per dept directives, i have been building police cars for about ten years in two states, many depts are going to red and blues for a uniformed look all over the us.
lets say you live in new york and you go to florida for a week and as you drive down i95 a car pulls behind you will all blue lights are u sure he is a cop or a want to be, since nypd uses red and white
i do belive this my be the reason you dept changed colors not cost or supplier
thru out the US police departments use different lights per dept directives, i have been building police cars for about ten years in two states, many depts are going to red and blues for a uniformed look all over the us.
lets say you live in new york and you go to florida for a week and as you drive down i95 a car pulls behind you will all blue lights are u sure he is a cop or a want to be, since nypd uses red and white
i do belive this my be the reason you dept changed colors not cost or supplier
radioman2001
Member
Blue Light Fever
The trend seems to be to going towards blue lights for all State Police agencies throughout the US. In the 70's thats what (LEAA) had planned, and a lot of agencies didn't want to go to it. During that time New Jersy was a stange exeption, I can remember being at the Bergen Co Sheriffs garage, and the State DMV Police (Yes Police) came in and told the shop manager that all the Blue lens had to removed in 24 hours or the cars would be impounded for unlawfull lights. Pretty absurd. Here in New Yrok I suspect in a few years the entire light bars for the State Police will be blue and the volunteers will lose them.
The trend seems to be to going towards blue lights for all State Police agencies throughout the US. In the 70's thats what (LEAA) had planned, and a lot of agencies didn't want to go to it. During that time New Jersy was a stange exeption, I can remember being at the Bergen Co Sheriffs garage, and the State DMV Police (Yes Police) came in and told the shop manager that all the Blue lens had to removed in 24 hours or the cars would be impounded for unlawfull lights. Pretty absurd. Here in New Yrok I suspect in a few years the entire light bars for the State Police will be blue and the volunteers will lose them.
lakekid313 said:
I concur. I believe that law enforcement was beginning to realize that blue is more visible at night. A lot of volunteers were buying blue/clear lens' when strobes came about for the visiblity. Now with the invent of LED's IMHO the clear lens is not necessary. When I turn on the Blue/Blue LED people now jump out of my way, sometimes too quickly.
Plus, LED's last much longer than rotators or strobes and use less power and for full lightbars, more aerodynamic and stealthy. Also, a lot of towns follow whatever NJSP does.
I believe when they first came out that blue LED's were cheaper then red LED's.
Or do I have that backwards.
LOL
Or do I have that backwards.
LOL
dot studies showed the mix of red and blue improved visablity and reduced the number of police related collisions. The nj state AG recommended all agencies to use the red/blue which they "agenices" are doing. The AG also recommended the revert back to black and white cars because the public does not have to recognize the town/boro or city ....just that its a police car. If the AG did not recommend the change agenices would still just be all "red" as NJ has always been....and blue is more expensive then red.
well i really dont agree with the color change even though i love black and white cruisers, that would be like saying all fire appuratus with a yellow or other paint scheme would have to turn back to red. i would think that most people are smart enough to figure out that a cruiser behind them with L/S means pullover. i wish it was the same with fire trucks lol
scanjunkie
Member
I couldn't agree more...lakekid313 said:
EMD91123
Member
Red Lights-----Strictly Police Vehicles not eqipped w/Oxygen for medical purposes
Blue Lights---Vehicle used for Emergency Medical Assistance
Combination---Vehicle used for Police and Medical use
Blue Lights---Vehicle used for Emergency Medical Assistance
Combination---Vehicle used for Police and Medical use
EMD91123 said:
Is this your suggestion? It certainly is an interesting one, but this is not a law.
The types and colors of lights are usually spelled out in the V&T Law. In NY Red and White are for Emergency Vehicles and Blue for Volunteer Fire Fighter (personal vehicle) responding to alarm and green for volunteer EMS (personal vehicle) responding to call for service.
In NJ its the same except FD and EMS both use blue. Some states mandate blue for Law Enforcement only with all other emergency vehicles using red/white.
Amber is frequently used rear facing on all emergecy vehicles because that it supposed to be the most visible.
Persoanlly, I think it is all hype by the lightbar sales people. If you have red you need blue because...
and if you have blue you need red because...
After all you can't sell the latest model if you don't create desire for it.
EMD91123
Member
When I worked as 911 Supervisor for Paterson we had a big to do about the police using blue on the light bar and was advbised to either get oxygen tanks in the police vehicles or take the blue off. I was advised that is the law in the State of NJ regarding the color of the lightbar on Police/EMS/Fire vehicles.
EMD91123 said:
Wrong. Red lights are for Police, Fire and EMS. It's their choice whether to use all red or a combination of red/blue.
Also, volunteer EMT's and Firefighters use blue lights in their personal vehicles. Not strictly for "Emergency Medical Assistance".
Whoever told you that doesn't know either.
firecentral
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Blue Lights On The Parkway...
Is It True That Ems/fire Personnel Cannot Use Blue Lights On The Garden State Parkway Or Is This Just A Rumor? If I Do Use The Blue Light Will I Be Pulled Over And What Are The "probable" Consequences If Im Caught...
Is It True That Ems/fire Personnel Cannot Use Blue Lights On The Garden State Parkway Or Is This Just A Rumor? If I Do Use The Blue Light Will I Be Pulled Over And What Are The "probable" Consequences If Im Caught...
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