Disclaimer

This article was written by a contributing author, and is not meant to be taken as legal advice, nor is it intended to replace the state statutes. Do your due diligence, cross-check the statutes linked, and communicate with your local municipalities, registrar, or commissioner to ensure that you remain compliant and avoid costly fees.

Kindly contact us if you have any suggestions to improve this article here.

Get Help and Avoid The Statute Confusion

As a courtesy, we are happy to connect you to an expert in your state who will guide you on being compliant with your emergency vehicle lighting and other warning equipment.

Call us at 888-439-1925.

State Overview

As with every state, Alabama comes with it’s own set of unique laws surrounding the use of LED lighting for each emergency vehicle. The state of Alabama has made the process incredibly simple to understand so that every motorist is able to understand and abide by the lighting and traffic laws of their state. The entirety of Alabama’s emergency vehicle laws surrounding the use of lighting can be found under Alabama Code section 32-5A-115.

Alabama Code also defines what qualifies as an emergency vehicle under code section 32-1-1.1 (3). In layman terms, an emergency vehicle is defined as a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, ambulance that publicly and private owned, and other publicly or privately owned vehicles that are designated as such by the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city. The designations for an authorized emergency vehicle are relatively vague but allow for designations to be at the discretion of the state and local level depending on the need.

Law Enforcement Statutes

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

Police vehicles have the most room when it comes to their LED light rules and regulations. A police vehicle must come equipped with at least one blue or red light attached to the vehicle. The lighted lamp or emergency light must be visible for 500 feet in front of and to the rear of the law enforcement vehicle under normal atmospheric conditions.

In addition to the blue or red light attached to the vehicle, police vehicles must come equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell capable of giving an audible signal. These lighting restrictions are covered under Alabama Code section 32-5A-115.

Each motor vehicle on the road is required to yield to emergency vehicles displaying a red or blue lamp by either moving over when they are stopped on the side of the road or pulling off the road when they see the flashing lights behind them. A police officer is permitted to disregard traffic laws as they see fit to arrive to the scene of an emergency in a timely manner. The emergency responder is still required to adhere to safe operation practices to avoid an accident along the way. Due regard to the safety of all people on the road or highway is required.

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

Each fire truck or authorized emergency vehicle utilized to respond to an emergency must have at least one red light that is visible to the front and back at a distance of 500 feet in normal atmospheric conditions per Alabama Code 32-5A-115. Vehicles in operation for the fire department are not permitted to use any blue lights. Blue lights are exclusively permitted to be used on a police vehicle.

The authorized emergency vehicle must also come equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell capable of giving an audible signal.

Traffic must yield to all fire trucks when their emergency vehicle lights are in use. In addition vehicles in use by the fire department while dispatched to an emergency have permission to disregard traffic laws. They must do so with due regard for the safety of all others on the road or highway.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Volunteer fire fighter vehicles that are publicly or privately owned must obtain an authorized emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city as required by Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

When used by emergency responders, the vehicle must have at least one red light that is visible for at least 500 feet in front and back under normal atmospheric conditions. The vehicle must also come equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell capable of giving an audible signal per Alabama Code 32-5A-115

Traffic is obligated by Alabama code to yield to emergency vehicles when their red flashing led lights are being used. They must either pull to the side of the road to permit a safe path for the emergency responder or change lanes to give them room on the side of the road.

Volunteer fire fighter vehicles are permitted to disregard traffic laws while on the way to an emergency. It is required for them to do so with due regard for the safety of all others on the road or highway to prevent an accident from happening.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

Emergency medical vehicles that are publicly or privately owned must have at least one red lighted lamp that is visible at a distance of 500 feet in front and back. The vehicle must also come equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell capable of giving an audible signal per Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Motorists must yield to emergency medical vehicles when they are employing their red flashing lights. Pulling over to give them full access forward or changing lanes to the left to provide room for the scene of an emergency is require by Alabama Code.

Ambulances are permitted to disregard traffic laws if done so safely. Due regard for the safety of all people on the road or highway is compulsory to prevent an accident from happening.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

Per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3), security vehicles can become an authorized emergency vehicle if designated by the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city. They are not permitted to display red or blue lights.

Each security vehicle that is an authorized emergency vehicle must display at least one amber or yellow lighted lamp that is visible for at least 500 feet to the front and back under normal atmospheric conditions as laid out in Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Security vehicles are not permitted to disregard traffic laws and motorists are not required to yield when they see their led lights flashing.

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Wreckers and tow trucks publicly or privately own can be designated an authorized emergency vehicle by the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama code 32-1-1.1 (3).

A tow truck is only permitted to display amber or yellow lights. The light must be visible to the front and back of the vehicle for a distance of at least 500 feet during normal atmospheric conditions. Per Alabama Code 32-5A-115. No siren is necessary.

While tow trucks are there to increase the safety of road and highway conditions, they are not permitted to disregard safety laws and traffic does not need to yield the right of way to them.

Tractors

Tractors can obtain an authorized emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city as required by Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

When used on a road or highway, an amber or yellow lighted lamp must be used and visible at a distance of at least 500 feet in front and back of the vehicle under normal atmospheric conditions. No siren is required. These regulations are laid out in Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Traffic is not obligated to yield to tractors displaying amber or yellow flashing lights. All traffic laws must also be obeyed by the operator of the tractor regardless of the emergency vehicle designation.

Utility Vehicles

Utility vehicles can receive their emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

When the utility vehicle is on the road or highway and being used as an emergency vehicle, an amber or yellow lighted lamp must be visible at a distance of at least 500 feet in the front and back per Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Utility vehicles are not permitted to disregard any traffic or safety laws. Other motor vehicles  on the road or highway are not obligated to yield when amber or yellow flashing lights are being used.

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

Pilot vehicles must obtain their emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

When in operation and providing safety for the load they are piloting, the pilot vehicle must display an amber or yellow lighted lamp that is visible for a distance of at least 500 feet in the front and back per Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Unlike other states, Alabama does not give pilot vehicles the authorization to control traffic. Motor vehicles on the road or highway are not required to yield to pilot vehicles as they don’t display a blue or red light.

Construction Vehicles

Construction vehicles can obtain their emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

Construction vehicle emergency amber or yellow lights for a distance of at least 500 feet in the front and back per Alabama Code 32-5A-115. No siren is required.

Motor vehicles on the road or highway are not obligated by Alabama code to yield to construction vehicles.

Funeral Procession

Vehicles used for a funeral process can get their emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

The pilot vehicles for the procession must display amber or yellow lights for a distance of at least 500 feet in the front and back per Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Although it is respectful to not interrupt a funeral procession, motor vehicles on the road or highway have no legal obligation to yield when encountering them.

Personal Use

Emergency Lights on Personal Vehicles

Personal vehicles can obtain emergency vehicle designations for hobbies and other authorized use from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3).

Just like other emergency vehicles, when a personal vehicle is in use as an authorized emergency vehicle, they must display amber or yellow lights for a distance of at least 500 feet in the front and back per Alabama Code 32-5A-115.

Traffic is not obligated to yield to amber or yellow lighted lamps and safety is the responsibility of those utilizing emergency lighting.

Summary

Special Permits

Aside from receiving your authorized emergency vehicle designation from the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the police chief of any incorporated city per Alabama Code 32-1-1.1 (3), no other special permits or permissions need to be obtained.

Takeaway

Alabama’s laws surrounding the use of led emergency lighting on vehicles is a straight-forward process and is uniform from every vehicle outside of official emergency responders. Most businesses and personal entities can acquire their emergency vehicle authorization for their company or personal needs simply.

This article is meant to be informative and is not a comprehensive breakdown of all laws surrounding the use of emergency lighting. Please contact your local police precinct or the Secretary of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to make sure you are in compliance with Alabama Code.