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.

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State Overview

As with every state, Alaska Code defines and lays out all the rules surrounding emergency vehicles and their permissions regarding the use of emergency lighting. Alaska’s laws are comprehensive and some of the strictest in the United States. 

Each vehicle has its own regulations regarding the colored lights they are permitted to use, how they obtain permission to use the light, the light placement, and how and when the emergency lights can be used.

Note: A chief of a department for fire, police, and medical has the authorization to give out blue light permits only if granted to do so in writing by the commissioner as indicated by Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.100 (i). The emergency personnel granted use of the blue light must:

• Submit a signed and notarized form 
• Ensure the motor vehicle complies with equipment standards
• Have an Alaska license that hasn’t been suspended, revoked, canceled, or limited within three years of turning in the application
• Have read and understood the regulations for emergency vehicle operation set out in 13 AAC 02.140, 13 AAC 02.517, and 13 AAC 04.100
• Provide a copy of driving record if requested by the commissioner or commissioner’s designee

Law Enforcement Statutes 

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

Police lights have a rigorous set of standards surrounding their use. Each police vehicle must have a red light attached at the highest point as indicated in Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.090. The light must be visible at a distance of 500 feet to the front and rear of the vehicle.

The Alaska code language may be a little outdated as it also indicates that the flashing red light must be placed in such a way where it will not be blacked out if the law enforcement vehicle has the headlights illuminated. LED lighting should create a brighter, more targeted light where this shouldn’t be a problem.

In addition to the flashing red light, a law enforcement vehicle is permitted to display an additional flashing white light that can be used with the red light. The white and red light must be spaced evenly apart at the highest point of the police vehicle.

Police vehicles may also utilize a blue light concurrent with their red light if given permission from the chief of their department as directed by Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.100. The law enforcement vehicle that the blue light is attached to must display a sign or plate indicating the membership with a department and the name of the municipality or organization that the driver is a member of.

The blue light must be placed as high as possible and be visible at a distance of 300 feet in the front and back of the police vehicle in normal sunlight. The blue light may only be flashing at the same time the red light is illuminated.

Private vehicles associated with the police department, fire, or EMS may also receive permission directly from the commissioner to display a blue light if the person driving is certified by a state agency to render emergency lifesaving or medical services. The person’s motor vehicle must display a star of life, and the light may only be used when on the way to an emergency.

Alaska Code obligates traffic to yield to emergency vehicles by either pulling to the side of the road or highway or changing lanes to provide room for a parked emergency vehicle. Emergency vehicles are permitted to exceed the speed limit, run stop signs and lights, and disregard other traffic laws to reach an emergency scene promptly. This is only allowed while on the way to an emergency location while a blue or red light is flashing. Per Alaska Code 13 AAC 02.140, due regard for the safety of all people on the road must take place to avoid an accident.

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

Laws surrounding the use of a fire vehicle are almost identical to that of police vehicles. Per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.090, a red light must be placed at the highest point of the fire vehicle and is required to be visible at a minimum distance of 500 feet to the front or rear during normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. A white rotating or flashing light may be used concurrently with the red light.

Unlike most other states, blue lights are not exclusive to law enforcement. They may be used by fire and medical vehicles per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.100 as long as the borough or municipality is marked on the fire vehicle. The fire chief must grant permission, and the light must be fixed to the highest point of the fire vehicle and visible for 300 feet to the front and back. The blue lights may only be used when the flashing red light is in use.

Personal vehicles owned by emergency personnel may obtain permission to display blue lights from the fire chief as long as they follow the steps listed in the state overview above and display a star of life symbol. The driver of the vehicle must be ready and certified to administer emergency aid.

Traffic must yield to a fire vehicle using their red or blue emergency lights by either pulling off to the side of the road or highway to let them pass or changing lanes to provide space for the fire crew to provide a safe operation when stationary. 

Fire personnel is permitted to disregard the speed limit and other traffic laws when on their way to the scene of an emergency. Due regard for the safety of all persons are the road, and the safe operation of their fire vehicle is a must to avoid causing an accident per Alaska Code 13 AAC 02.140.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Volunteer fire vehicles are regulated in much the same way as vehicles belonging to the department. When designated an authorized emergency vehicle, a volunteer fire vehicle may display a red light at the highest point possible. The light must be visible at a distance of 500 feet to the rear and front of the vehicle and indicated by Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.090.

Volunteer fire vehicles may also receive permission to use a blue light from the fire chief as long as the driver takes the steps indicated in the state overview above per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.100. The light must be attached at the highest point possible and is required to be visible at a distance of 300 feet to the front and rear of the vehicle in normal sunlight. The lights must only be used on the way to an emergency and only when the red light is being used.

Volunteer fire vehicles are permitted to disregard the speed limit and other traffic laws if done so with due regard for the safety of all others on the road Alaska Code 13 AAC 02.140. Traffic must yield to volunteer fire vehicles when the blue or red light is used by either pulling to the side to let them pass or giving them room when stationary.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

Per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.090, ambulances and all emergency medical vehicles are permitted to display a red light fixed as high as possible on the vehicle that is visible at a distance of 500 feet to the front and rear of the vehicle. They are permitted to have another light attached to the top that is spaced apart from the primary light to not black each other out.

Medical vehicles may utilize a blue light fixed to the highest point that is visible at a distance of 300 feet to the front and rear, as indicated in Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.100. This light may only be used when traveling to the scene of an emergency and must be used concurrently with the flashing red light.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

Security vehicles have no provisions requiring the use of any colored emergency lights. The only specified regulation for a security vehicle is to display the word “Security” on the vehicle as indicated by Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.100. 

Companies wishing to utilize flashing yellow emergency lights are permitted to do so as no regulations prohibit it. If, for whatever reason, a company wishes to obtain permission to utilized red or blue lighting for their security vehicle, they may contact their local municipalities to apply for a permit.

Security vehicles are not permitted to disregard the speed limit of traffic laws when responding to an emergency. Also, traffic is not obligated to yield the road or highway to a security vehicle.

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

A tow truck must display a flashing yellow light positioned at the highest point of the vehicle and must be visible at a distance of 500 feet to the front, rear, and both sides per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095.

The yellow flashing lights must be illuminated during the preparation and loading of a disabled vehicle. If, for whatever reason, the tow truck or wrecker must drive slower than the speed of traffic, the yellow light must remain illuminated. 

The yellow light must remain illuminated during dark hours if the turn signals, brake lights, or tow vehicle hazard lights are obstructed while towing a vehicle. 

Traffic is not required to yield to tow trucks or wreckers except for the safe operation of their vehicle. Tow trucks are not permitted to disregard any traffic laws.

Tractors

Tractors with an overall width of 80 inches or more must display yellow hazard lights at the same level and must be spread apart laterally as much as possible as indicated in Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095. Tractors with an overall width of 80 inches or less only need one yellow light. The light must be visible for 500 feet to the front or back of the vehicle during normal sunlight.

The lights displayed toward the vehicle’s front must be yellow but may rotate between yellow and white. The lights toward the rear of the vehicle must display yellow and red lights or lighting that is somewhere between the two colors. 

Utility Vehicles

Utilities vehicles must come equipped with yellow flashing lights as required by Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095. The lights must be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight to either the front, rear, side, every direction.

The lights must be utilized when actively engaged in construction, repair, removal, maintenance, or inspection of a public utility. It must also be illuminated when parked, moving slower than the normal speed of traffic or within 8 feet of the road or highway.

Traffic is not responsible for yielding to utility vehicles except when necessary for the safe operation of their vehicle.

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

Per Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095, pilot vehicles must display a flashing yellow light at the highest point of the vehicle that is visible at a distance of 500 feet in the front, rear, side, or all directions in normal sunlight.

The lights must only be used when actively piloting an oversized vehicle to indicate to traffic the potential hazard that they may be coming up on. 

Although pilot vehicles have some control over the road, traffic is not obligated to yield to them except when required to do so for the safe operation of their vehicle.

Construction Vehicles

Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095 provides the same regulations for construction vehicles as they do tractors and utility vehicles. 

Construction vehicles with an overall width of 80 inches or more must display yellow hazard lights at the same level and must be spread apart laterally as much as possible as indicated in Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095. Vehicles with an overall width of 80 inches or less only need one yellow light. The light must be visible for 500 feet to the front or back of the vehicle during normal sunlight.

The lights displayed toward the vehicle’s front must be yellow but may rotate between yellow and white. The lights toward the rear of the vehicle must display yellow and red lights or lighting that is somewhere between the two colors.

The lights must be used when doing work that is within 8 feet of the road or highway. Traffic is not obligated to yield to construction vehicles except when necessary for the safe operation of their vehicle.

Funeral Procession

While Alaska has no laws or regulations specifically geared toward a funeral procession and the lights they may need, the processions pilot vehicles must adhere to Alaska Code 13 AAC 04.095.

A flashing yellow light must be attached at the highest point and be visible for 500 feet to the front, rear, side, or all sides in normal sunlight. The lights may only be used when piloting the funeral procession or when going slower than the normal speed of traffic.

Traffic is under no legal obligation to yield to a funeral procession.

Personal Use 

Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles

Aside from using personal vehicles for medical, fire, and police, no laws are surrounding the use of emergency lights. Contact your local municipalities for special permits and permissions regarding your individual emergency light needs. 

Summary

Takeaway

Alaska’s Code is relatively exhaustive and more extensive than the average state’s laws and regulations surrounding the use of led emergency lights. Make sure that you follow the rules regarding your profession. Proper use and permissions are a must.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive overview of all laws surrounding the use of emergency lighting. Special provisions and permissions may not be indicated here. Please get in touch with your local borough or municipalities for more information to avoid violating Alaska Code.