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

Like every other state, Idaho has its own set of unique laws regarding the use of LED lights and emergency lighting equipment for an authorized emergency vehicle, a commercial vehicle, and a personal vehicle. Unique to Idaho is that the entire legislation surrounding LED lights on vehicles is limited to one Statute that is just three paragraphs long. They have eliminated ambiguity and simplified the whole process.

Note: Idaho State Statute 49-910A provides a brief definition of the vehicles that qualify as an authorized emergency vehicle. The vehicles included are:

• Police Vehicles
• Fire Fighting Vehicles
• Private Volunteer Fire Vehicles
• EMS Vehicles
• Private EMS Vehicles While Performing Emergency Medical Services
• Ambulances
• Sheriff Search and Rescue Vehicles
• Wreckers When Blocking Part of Traffic

No other vehicle is explicitly stated as an authorized emergency vehicle in the state of Idaho.

Law Enforcement Statutes 

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

Little is mentioned regarding the use of an LED emergency light for a police vehicle. Idaho State Statute 49-910A states that police vehicles or law enforcement vehicles may use a blue light, lens, or globe. It does not indicate placement or distance at which it must be visible, but that is typically 500 feet in normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. 

Although it doesn’t explicitly state that a red light can be used on police vehicles, Idaho law does indicate that it can be used on other authorized emergency vehicles, so it is likely safe to assume the blue light can be accompanied by a red light.  In addition, an amber light may be used on a police vehicle.

Idaho law doesn’t go into detail about how the emergency personnel is permitted to drive a police car, but generally speaking, when the warning lights are illuminated, a police car may go beyond the posted speed limit and ignore any other traffic law. They must do so with due regard to the safety of all traffic on the road or highway to prevent a traffic accident.

Every other motor vehicle on the road or highway must yield to a police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle when their lights are illuminated. This is done by changing lanes to prove room for the emergency personnel, slowing down when another lane isn’t available, or pulling off the road completely to allow for the safe operation and passage of a police car.

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

Idaho State Statute 49-910A requires that each emergency vehicle operated by the fire department come equipped with a red light. The placement and visibility distance is not indicated in Idaho law, nor is the number of lights required. Generally, a beacon on a fire vehicle will be mounted as high as possible and rotate, flash, or oscillate and is visible at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions. A fire vehicle may also come equipped with an amber beacon in addition to the red light.

A fire vehicle is typically permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law when their LED emergency lights are illuminated and while an audible signal such as a horn, siren, or whistle is used. This is to ensure that emergency personnel can reach the emergency scene promptly. When disregarding the traffic laws, emergency personnel must operate the fire vehicle with due regard to the safety of each motor vehicle on the road or highway to avoid causing a car accident.

Idaho law says that traffic must yield to a fire truck or emergency personnel operating a fire vehicle that has its lights illuminated. This is done by either changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow for the safe operation and passage of the fire vehicle.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

A volunteer firefighter vehicle is classified the same as a fire vehicle owned and operated publicly by a fire department. This means that, per Idaho State Statute 49-910A, a volunteer fire vehicle may have a red light attached to the top of their personal vehicle. There are no indications regarding the light placement or visibility distance. Generally, the light must be placed as high as possible and must be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight. A volunteer fire vehicle may also use an amber beacon.

A volunteer fire vehicle operated by emergency personnel may disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law while using their emergency lights to arrive at an emergency scene quickly. They must do so with due regard to the safety of every other motor vehicle or pedestrian on the road or highway.

Traffic is mandated and required to yield to a volunteer fire vehicle when their emergency lights are illuminated. They must do so by either changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow the volunteer fire vehicle to pass safely.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

An ambulance is regulated the same way as a fire truck when it comes to the use of emergency lights. They may have a red light and an amber beacon attached to the top of the ambulance per Idaho State Statute 49-910A. Idaho law does not give a placement requirement, nor does it offer any information for the distance at which the light must be visible

When their warning lights are illuminated, emergency personnel operating an ambulance may disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law. They must do so with due regard to the safety of every other motor vehicle or pedestrian on the road or highway to prevent an accident from occurring.

Traffic is required by Idaho law to yield to an ambulance or EMS vehicle when their emergency lights are illuminated. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow for the safe operation of emergency personnel or to allow the ambulance to pass safely.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

A security vehicle is not explicitly mentioned under Idaho law, but Idaho State Statute 49-910A allows any vehicle to come equipped with an amber beacon to alert traffic of the potential safety hazard that may be present on the road or highway. Placement or visibility requirements are not listed in Idaho code.

Traffic must yield to a security vehicle when their amber emergency lights are illuminated. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow the security personnel to operate safely.

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Per Idaho law, a tow truck is actually classified as an authorized emergency vehicle when they are blocking lanes on the road or highway, and they may utilize a red flashing, rotating, or oscillating emergency light. This is covered under Idaho State Statute 49-910A. In addition to the red light, a tow truck or wrecker may come equipped with an amber beacon.

Safety laws require traffic to yield to a tow truck when their emergency lights are illuminated. This is done by either changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway altogether to allow for the safe operation or passage of the tow truck or wrecker. 

Tractors

Tractors are not explicitly mentioned in Idaho law, but Idaho State Statute 49-910A permits every vehicle to have an amber beacon or amber warning lights. This is permitted so that the vehicle can alert all other traffic of the safety hazard that is present on the road or highway. Light placement and visibility distance is not indicated within that statute.

Traffic is required to yield to a tractor when its warning lights are illuminated. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow the tractor to operate and or pass safely if necessary. 

Utility Vehicles

Idaho State Statute 49-910A allows a utility vehicle to be equipped with an amber lamp or amber warning light so that traffic is aware of the safety hazard that may be present on the road or highway. Idaho law does not indicate where the light must be placed, nor does it suggest the distance at which the light must be visible.

Idaho law does require traffic to yield to a utility vehicle when their amber beacon is lit up. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely if necessary for the safe operation and passage of a utility vehicle.

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

Nothing is mentioned about restrictions or regulations for a pilot vehicle, specifically when it comes to the use of LED emergency lights. Idaho State Statute 49-910A does permit every car on the road or highway to be allowed to use an amber beacon to alert traffic of a potential safety hazard that they need to watch out for.

It is mandated that every motor vehicle operated on the road or highway yield to a pilot vehicle when their amber beacon or warning lights are illuminated. They must either change lanes, slow down, or pull off the road or highway entirely so that the pilot and the piloted vehicle may pass safely.

Construction Vehicles

A construction vehicle may have an amber warning light or amber beacon attached to warn traffic of the safety hazard that their construction site may cause. This is stated in Idaho State Statute 49-910A. Idaho law does not make any mention as to where the lights must be placed, nor does it mention the distance at which it must be visible. Generally speaking, the light must be as high as possible and should be visible at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight.

Idaho law also requires every motor vehicle on the road or highway to yield to a construction vehicle when its warning lights are illuminated to prevent an accident. This is done by either changing lanes, slowing down while passing the construction site, or pulling off the road or highway altogether to allow the construction crew safe passage.

Funeral Procession

Idaho State Statute 49-910A allows a funeral procession vehicle to have an amber beacon attached as a warning light. This informs traffic of the potential safety hazard that might occur due to the slow-moving procession. There are no laws mentioned regarding the light placement or the distance at which it must be visible.

According to Idaho law, traffic must yield to a funeral procession when the amber beacon is illuminated. This involves changing lanes, slowing down while passing, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow the funeral procession to pass safely.

Personal Use 

Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles

Unique to Idaho is its rules surrounding the use of the amber beacon on personal vehicles. Idaho State Statute 49-910A states that all vehicles may use an amber beacon to indicate to traffic that there may be a safety hazard on the road. There are no exceptions or restrictions listed except that it must be used to point out a safety hazard. That is not common in most states, where the use of LED lighting and warning lights are exclusive to an authorized emergency vehicle or commercial construction and utility vehicles.

Summary

Takeaway

Since Idaho’s laws surrounding the use of LED lights for an authorized emergency vehicle, commercial vehicle, and personal vehicle is brief, and to the point, you can likely be sure that you will fall within the parameters of their state laws and regulations. 

To avoid costly fees or penalties, it is always a good idea to do your due diligence and read the statutes yourself. Please don’t hesitate to contact your local municipalities to inquire about the rules and regulations for your fleet. Even though the law suggests that an amber beacon is permitted on any vehicle, it is unclear about permits and other licensing requirements. Make sure that you remain compliant with Idaho law.