Policy Analysis and Review of Proposed Legislation
52nd Legislature, First Regular Session, 2015
Submitted by:
Sheriffs
Emergency Vehicle Light Colors
Background
A.R.S. § 28-947 states that “a person shall not drive or move a vehicle or equipment on a
highway with a lamp or device that is capable of displaying a red or red and blue light or lens
visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle”. Further, statute clarifies that “lights
visible from the front of a vehicle shall be amber or white”. The chapter of statute clarifies that
authorized emergency vehicles (fire department or police vehicle, ambulance or emergency
vehicle of a municipal department) may use such lamps and colors.
Problem Statement
Due to existing statute, vehicles are allowed to use red and blue lights at the rear of a vehicle
when parked off the side of a road. As a result, private and non-authorized emergency vehicles
can display these colors to the rear. This causes confusion for motorists and law enforcement.
Proposed Solution
Clarify in statute that only authorized emergency vehicles may use red and blue lights anywhere
on the vehicle.
A.R.S. § 28-947 would be amended to read:
B. A person shall not drive or move a vehicle or equipment on a highway with a lamp or device
on the vehicle that is capable of displaying a red or red and blue light or lens visible from
directly in front OR REAR of the center of the vehicle. Lights visible from the front of a vehicle shall
be amber or white.
A.R.S. § 28-101.4 and § 28-623 clarify what constitutes as an emergency vehicle and the manner
in which such vehicles may be operated.
Affected Statute(s): A.R.S. § 28-947; 28-101.4; 28-623
Stakeholders:
Arizona Department of Transportation; Sheriffs; Department of Public Safety; Chiefs of Police
Proposals reflected in this document have NOT been approved by the AACo Board of Directors as legislative priorities.
Analysis
Because statute does not explicitly state that vehicles may not use red and/or blue lights at their
rear, local law enforcement has encountered Department of Transportation (ADOT) and tow truck
drivers using such colors. This causes confusion for law enforcement, drivers, and other residents. In
addition, it creates an opportunity for criminal activity in using such lights in furtherance of the
criminal activity of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
A.R.S. § 28-931 states that “rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors
mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red
color”. This statute runs contrary to what is being proposed in the solution to the described
problem. Because research has shown that drivers respond with more urgency to strobe/flashing
lights, clarifying how lights may be presented should be clarified.
A number of states have restrictions on the use of different lamp colors for vehicles. Primarily, the
use of blue lights is explicitly prohibited for nonemergency vehicles in states such as Florida,
Maine, Alaska, Colorado and Minnesota. In North Carolina, it is illegal to install or activate or
operate a red or blue light on any vehicle, except for on a handful of emergency vehicles. Here,
the state defined a red light as “an operable red light not sealed in the manufacturer’s original
package”. In Michigan, the only cars allowed to use “flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any
color” are emergency vehicles.
Opposition to this solution may come from ADOT and tow truck companies. Sheriffs and their staff
have cited these two as being observed in an infrequent basis of using red and/or blue lights in
the rear at night. It is unclear if the lights were stationary or blinking at that time. The same
research that shows flashing lights signal urgency also writes that drivers head more attention to
red and blue lights, especially compared to white or amber colors. Since tow trucks and ADOT
vehicles are often used to assist disabled vehicles, a safety argument can be made that other
drivers should be made aware of what is on the road.
It is unclear if restricting lamp colors will deter crime in relation to law enforcement impersonation.
Feedback
AACo is reaching out the Arizona Department of Transportation and other state agencies that
may be impacted by the proposal. Any opposition will likely stem from cost concerns, since
replacing lights on fleets of vehicles will be costly for a resource-strapped agency.
Proposals reflected in this document have NOT been approved by the AACo Board of Directors as legislative priorities.