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

Arkansas comes with some of the least complicated laws surrounding emergency lights for public and commercial vehicles in the nation. When other states give light positions, visibility requirements, and color restrictions, the state of Arkansas decided that color limitations for flashing warning lights were the most crucial element, and all other factors were secondary or non-essential.

Note: Arkansas does have a rigorous definition for which nonpublic vehicles are permitted to use emergency lights. Per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905:

• Any vehicle owned by the state county or municipal agency determined by the agency to be required for dangerous or hazardous services.  
• Any vehicle owned by a public service corporation or private individual and is determined by the office of motor vehicles to be required for hazardous services. They may not disregard traffic laws.

These definitions are vague and can be interpreted to cover an array of vehicles mentioned below.

Law Enforcement Statutes 

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

Police vehicles are the only vehicles in the state of Arkansas permitted to illuminate a blue light. Per Arkansas Stature 27-36-303, all state, county, or municipal police agencies must install, maintain and exhibit blue flashing emergency lights. They must first be equipped with a red light and must only be operated within the state of Arkansas. 

This is vastly different from other states as there are typically visible distance and position requirements for the police vehicle. There are departmental guidelines that are a little more strict than Arkansas law requires, but when it comes to a statewide mandate, nothing is mentioned about the positioning of emergency lights on an emergency vehicle.

Generally speaking, a law enforcement and police vehicle is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws to arrive promptly at the scene of an emergency. The statutes regarding lighting did not indicate such rules were in place in the state of Arkansas, but it is safe to assume the permissions exist. 

Motorists are required to yield to an emergency police vehicle or law enforcement when their emergency lights are illuminated. This means changing lanes to provide a safe space on the side of the road or highway or pulling over off the road or highway altogether to provide safe passage. 

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

Each state, county, or municipal fire truck must be equipped with a red oscillating or flashing light per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. There are no explicit directions regarding flashing light positioning and distance that the emergency lights must be visible. This gives the individual departments to exercise their own discretion when it comes to dashboard emergency lights or other convention light bar placements.

A fire department is also permitted to allow emergency medical vehicles owned by the fire department to use a red light when used for an official emergency need.

It is not explicitly stated in Arkansas law, but as with most states, it is safe to assume that a fire truck and other fire vehicles are permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws to safely arrive at the scene of an emergency. The firefighter must safely operate the fire truck with due regard for the safety of each motor vehicle on the road to prevent an accident from occurring.

Traffic is required to yield to a fire truck or other fire vehicles when they are in their personal vehicle. They must either change lanes to provide a safe space for emergency personnel to work or pull off the road or highway altogether to allow the emergency vehicle safe passage.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Since a large portion of the firefighter population in the state of Arkansas consists of volunteer firefighters, Arkansas law has permitted them to use emergency lights on their personal vehicle when actively participating in an emergency per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. 

No laws are mentioned regarding placement or the distance at which the flashing emergency lights be visible when operating a personal vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle.

Again, it is not explicitly stated in Arkansas law, but you can reasonably assume that a volunteer firefighter vehicle is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws to arrive at the scene of an emergency.  Safe operation and due regard for the safety of all others on the road or highway is paramount to avoid causing an accident.

Traffic and other motorists must yield to a volunteer firefighter when their red emergency lights are flashing by either changing lanes to provide a safe space at the emergency scene or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow safe passage.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

Under Arkansas Statute 27-51-905, an ambulance is permitted to utilize a red light that is flashing or rotating while being used for ambulance purposes, and they must be approved in accordance with state and federal highway safety standards. Arkansas law is not explicit about the placement or visibility distance of emergency lights used on medical vehicles.

The lights are only permitted to be used by medical emergency personnel when they are responding to an emergency. 

Although it is not explicitly stated in Arkansas law, you can reasonably assume that an ambulance is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and other traffic laws to arrive at the scene of an emergency.  Safe operation and due regard for the safety of all others on the road or highway is paramount to avoid causing an accident.

Traffic and other motorists are required to yield to an ambulance when their red emergency lights are flashing by either changing lanes to provide a safe space at the emergency scene or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow safe passage.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

Arkansas law does not give any provisions or restrictions when it comes to security vehicles. There may be a permit that private companies can obtain to display emergency lights, so it is recommended for businesses to contact their local municipalities for further guidance. 

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Tow trucks get special attention when it comes to Arkansas law. There is an entire set of statutes, Arkansas Statute 27-50-1203, regarding creating a Tow Truck board that oversees all the laws and regulations surrounding the use of a wrecker or tow truck. For a tow company to get the rights to operate a tow truck or wrecker, they must first obtain permission from this board.

A tow truck is not considered an emergency vehicle, but it may have amber rotating or flashing emergency lights to indicate that there is a hazardous situation on the road that another motor vehicle may need to avoid per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. Motorists are obligated to use caution when approaching a tow truck that has its emergency lights illuminated.

A tow truck is permitted to use a red light that is flashing or rotating if they are within ten feet of the road or highway and only when they are preparing and loading a vehicle for transport. They may not operate a forward-facing red light unless authorized by law.

Tractors

Only when required for a hazardous situation as defined above, can a tractor utilize colored amber or yellow lighting per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. They must be used while on the road or highway to indicate that there is a hazard that motorists may need to avoid or take caution as they are passing.

There aren’t any explicit provisions or regulations regarding light placement of visual distance requirements for the flashing emergency lights used on a tractor. 

Traffic is obligated to proceed with caution when the tractor hazard lights indicate a potential safety hazard on the road or highway.

Utility Vehicles

Only when required for a hazardous situation as defined above, can a utility vehicle utilize colored amber or yellow lighting per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. They must be used while on the road or highway to indicate that there is a hazard that motorists may need to avoid or take caution as they are passing.

There aren’t any explicit provisions or regulations regarding light placement of visual distance requirements for the flashing emergency lights used on a utility vehicle. 

Traffic is obligated to proceed with caution when the utility vehicle hazard lights indicate a potential safety hazard on the road or highway.

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

A pilot or escort vehicle must display amber or yellow emergency lights to indicate to other motorists the safety hazard that comes from the oversized load that they are piloting per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. 

There aren’t any explicit provisions or regulations regarding light placement of visual distance requirements for the flashing emergency lights used on a pilot or escort vehicle. 

Traffic is obligated to proceed with caution when the escort vehicle hazard lights indicate that there could be a potential safety hazard on the road or highway.

Construction Vehicles

Only when required for a hazardous situation as defined above, can a construction vehicle utilize colored amber or yellow lighting per Arkansas Statute 27-51-905. They must be used while on the road or highway to indicate that there is a hazard that motorists may need to avoid or take caution as they are passing.

There aren’t any explicit provisions or regulations regarding light placement of visual distance requirements for the flashing emergency lights used on a construction vehicle. 

Traffic is obligated to proceed with caution when the construction vehicle hazard lights indicate a potential safety hazard on the road or highway.

Funeral Procession

The Pilot vehicle used for a funeral procession is permitted to display a purple oscillating or flashing light per Arkansas Statute 27-36-301. Placement and visibility distance is not explicitly mentioned under Arkansas law.

Traffic is not obligated by law to yield to a funeral procession, and funeral processions are not permitted to violate or break any traffic laws aside from going under the posted speed limit for the purposes of their caravan.

Personal Use 

Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles

Arkansas law does not indicate any special provisions for the use of personal vehicles except when it comes to using them as a volunteer firefighter, which they may use a red light that is flashing or rotating when on their way to an emergency.

Summary

Takeaway

Arkansas laws surrounding the use of lighting are not very comprehensive, and they have more “what not to do” restrictions than anything else. 

Fun fact: an individual may not even have an emergency blue light on or in their personal vehicle unless sealed in its original packaging, or they can face a fine of $10-$100.

Remember, this article is meant as a guideline and is in no way intended to be legal advice for you or your company for your emergency light needs. Make sure to contact your local municipalities to avoid fines or other penalties due to improper use of emergency lights.