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
The state of Arizona comes with a unique set of laws surrounding the use of LED lighting and lamps for emergency, commercial, and personal vehicles. While Arizona’s laws are not particularly strict as compared to some other states, there are some variations that you should watch out for before using colored lamps on your vehicles.
Note: Arizona Statute 28-101-4 defines an emergency vehicle as a police vehicle, fire department vehicle, and an ambulance or emergency vehicle of a municipal department or public service corporation that is designated or authorized by the department or local authority. Each department may authorize any other ambulance, fire truck, or rescue vehicle as long as they meet their minimum liability insurance requirements.
Law Enforcement Statutes
Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles
Arizona has some of the more strict laws regarding lighting on police vehicles. Generally speaking, law enforcement vehicles tend to have more lenience when it comes to the colors and direction that their emergency lights can face, but Arizona requires more when it comes to the lighting on a police vehicle.
A police vehicle may have blue or red light attached at the same level that is forward-facing and visible at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight per Arizona Statute 28-947. The red light is restricted to the vehicle’s top, while the blue light may be positioned at other levels and locations, including near the inside windshield and back window.
All traffic must yield the right of way to a parked or moving law enforcement vehicle or emergency vehicle per Arizona Statute 28-775. If the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver must change at least one lane to give them adequate room to keep the emergency scene safe. It is required for motorists to also pull over to the side of the road or highway completely if necessary.
Per Arizona Statute 28-624, a law enforcement vehicle or police car is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws to promptly arrive at the scene of an emergency. This can only be done when their siren is audible, and their emergency flashing lights are illuminated. This permission does not remove the need to operate safely to avoid an accident. Law enforcement must still travel with due regard to the safety of all those around them.
Fire and EMS Statues
Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs
Per Arizona Statute 28-624, a fire truck must have at least one forward-facing red light visible at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. They may also be permitted to have other fire truck lights, including more than one white strobe light on either side of the fire truck.
Traffic is required to yield to a fire vehicle as they would for a police officer, according to Arizona Statute 28-775. They must move over at least one lane or pull off to the side of the road or highway completely to allow them to pass.
As laid out in Arizona Statute 28-624, a fire truck or other emergency personnel in an authorized emergency vehicle is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws as long as their red light is illuminated and their siren or whistle is audible. They must still operate with due regard for the safety of motorists on the road to avoid an accident.
Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles
Under Arizona Statute 28-101-4, a volunteer firefighter vehicle is not an authorized emergency vehicle and cannot display a red or blue. However, they may display yellow or white warning lights to alert traffic of a potential road hazard.
Traffic is not required to yield to a volunteer firefighter vehicle. In addition, volunteer firefighter vehicles are not permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws even when acting as an emergency vehicle.
Ambulance and EMT Vehicles
Per Arizona Statute 28-947, an ambulance must have at least one red light positioned on the top of the emergency vehicle forward-facing and is visible at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. An ambulance may have other lights positioned on the vehicle, including a white strobe or other white rotating or flashing lights.
Traffic must yield to an ambulance when their red light is illuminated per Arizona Statute 28-775. They must either move over at least one lane when passing or move pull over to the side of the road or highway completely.
While their lights are illuminated, and the siren or whistle is audible, an ambulance is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws. They must do so with due regard to the safety of other motorists on the road or highway to prevent an accident. This is laid out in Arizona Statute 28-624.
Commercial and Amber Statutes
Security Vehicles
Now a security vehicle is not explicitly mentioned concerning emergency lighting regulations, but it appears to fall under Arizona Statute 28-947 sub-section D. A security vehicle may display amber, yellow or white light at the highest point possible and widely spaced apart. The lights must be visible to the front at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight.
Traffic and other motorists are not required to yield to a security vehicle, nor is a security vehicle permitted to disregard the posted speed limit or other traffic laws. They are not considered an authorized emergency vehicle, so they do not get the same privileges as police, fire, or medical.
Wreckers and Tow Trucks
A wrecker or a tow truck is not explicitly mentioned under Arizona law regarding regulations surround emergency lights. When looking at Arizona Statute 28-947, it appears that they may fall under sub-section D as they are used to clear hazards on the road or highway.
They must display a yellow or white warning light visible at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. The lights must be spread as far apart as possible toward the front of the vehicle.
Motorists on the road or highway are not required to yield when a tow truck is utilizing their emergency lights except for when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway. A tow truck is not permitted to disregard the posted speed limit or other traffic laws regardless of the vital job they have to clear the road of safety hazards.
Tractors
Tractors are not explicitly mentioned under Arizona Law, but it appears that they could fall under Arizona Statute 28-947 as long as they are operating on or near the highway. If that is the case, then they must illuminate an amber or white warning light to indicate that there is a vehicular traffic hazard. The light must be placed at the highest point possible and as widely spread as possible.
They may also have lights toward the rear that are flashing amber or red positioned at the same level. These lights must be visible at a distance of 1500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.
Traffic is not required to yield to tractors except when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway.
Utility Vehicles
Utility vehicles are covered under Arizona Statute 28-947 and may display yellow amber and white lights that are visible at a distance of 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. Utility vehicle emergency lights must be positioned as high as possible in addition to being as wide as possible. These lights are to be used to indicate a hazard on the road or highway that other motorists may have to yield to or pass safely.
Traffic is not required to yield to a utility vehicle except when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway.
Pilot and Escort Vehicles
A pilot or escort vehicle is not explicitly referenced in Arizona Law but appears to be covered under Arizona Statute 28-947 as they are used to indicate safety hazards on the road. They are permitted to display a white, yellow, or amber light visible at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. The flashing lights may be attached to the top of the vehicle as wide as possible.
Traffic is not required to yield to a pilot or escort vehicle except when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway.
Construction Vehicles
As with tractors, construction vehicles are not explicitly mentioned under Arizona Law, but it appears that they could fall under Arizona Statute 28-947 as long as they are operating on or near the highway. If that is the case, then they must illuminate an amber or white warning light to indicate that there is a vehicular traffic hazard. The light must be placed at the highest point possible and as widely spread as possible.
They may also have lights toward the rear that are flashing amber or red positioned at the same level. These lights must be visible at a distance of 1500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.
Traffic is not required to yield to construction vehicles except when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway.
Funeral Procession
A funeral procession is not explicitly mentioned under Arizona State Law, but they appear to be covered similar to a pilot or escort vehicle as laid out in Arizona Statute 28-947. They are permitted to display a white, yellow, or amber light visible at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. The flashing lights may be attached to the top of the vehicle as wide as possible.
Although it is polite, traffic is not required to yield to a funeral procession except when necessary for the safety of all others on the road or highway.
Personal Use
Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles
There are not many exceptions for using a strobe light or emergency light when it comes to personal vehicles. One noteworthy exception is when utilizing an old police vehicle as a hobby.
The decommissioned emergency vehicle can be used as a hobby or for display purposes only if they are issued a historic vehicle license plate. They may have red or blue lights visible, but they cannot be used and the highway except for when in operation for a parade or event. At all other times, they must be covered.
Summary
Special Permits
Some special permits may be needed for different purposes. It is always a good idea to contact your local municipalities or ADOT for more information regarding the legality of your light needs.
Takeaway
Arizona’s laws surround the use of LED lights are unique compared to some states as they require most lights to only be front-facing. The likely purpose of this is to avoid blinding motorists behind the authorized emergency vehicle.
Make sure to contact your local municipalities or ADOT for more information regarding laws and permits surrounding your individual light needs. This article is meant to be informative but is in no way an exhaustive list of all laws and exceptions. Do your due diligence and avoid costly mistakes when it comes to regulations regarding LED lights.
