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 Maryland limited the majority of the laws surrounding the use of LED lighting on an authorized emergency vehicle, commercial vehicle, and personal vehicle to one statute with a select few other provisions sprinkled amongst other statutes. There is room for some ambiguity within specific industries as Maryland law doesn’t explicitly prohibit the use of LED lighting in unmentioned industries. Contact your local municipalities if you need additional clarification. 

Note: An authorized emergency vehicle is generally defined under a definitions section within the state Code of Statutes, but it appears to either be omitted or challenging to find. The official Maryland Government Website has an authorized emergency vehicle defined as:

• Federal, State, or Local Law Enforcement Vehicles
• Vehicles Owned By Fire Department
• Ambulances
• State Vehicles Used for HAZMAT
• State Vehicle for Emergency Use by Commissioner of Correction
• State Vehicles Used for Emergency Rescue Purposes
• Organ Donor Vehicles

No other vehicles are listed under Maryland law to be classified as an authorized emergency vehicle.

Law Enforcement Statutes 

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

Maryland Transportation Code 22-218 requires that a police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle be equipped with at least one red light as high as practicable that is flashing. This flashing red light must have “sufficient intensity” to be visible at 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and sunlight. A police vehicle may also be equipped with a white or blue lights or additional signal devices to indicate that they are a part of law enforcement. These lights shall have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.

Police cars or police vehicles may disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law when responding to an emergency call while utilizing its emergency vehicle lights per Maryland Transportation Code 21-106. Unless intentionally trying to not alert a criminal of their approach, the police cars or police vehicles need to have its audible signal such as a siren, whistle, or bell engaged while its lights are on and disregarding laws. It is required that police officers operate the police vehicles with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent an accident.

Maryland has a “Move Over” law that requires all traffic and motor vehicles on the road or highway to yield to a police vehicle when it is utilizing its emergency vehicle lights. This is done by slowing down, moving over, or pulling off the road or highway entirely to allow the safe passage of police officers responding to an emergency. 

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

A fire truck or fire department vehicle that is used to respond to emergency calls must be equipped with a red light and or a white light or signal device as required by Maryland Transportation Code 22-218. These emergency vehicle lights must be installed as high as practicable and must be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.

Maryland Transportation Code 21-106 allows a fire truck or fire department vehicle to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law when responding to an emergency call. They must do so while their emergency vehicle lights are illuminated and must have their audible siren, whistle, or bell engaged, and they may only do so while on the way to an emergency and not while returning. Firefighters must operate the fire truck or fire department vehicle with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.

As Maryland is a state with a “move over” law, all traffic and every motor vehicle operating on the road or highway must yield to a fire truck or fire department vehicle with its emergency vehicle lights illuminated. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel to operate or pass safely.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Maryland Transportation Code 21-106 allows up to five privately owned vehicles per fire department to utilize red lights while going to an emergency call. These vehicles must be owned by either the fire chief, assistant chiefs, deputy chiefs, or emergency medical commander. In addition to the maximum of five privately owned vehicles, the fire police may also have red lights attached to their privately owned vehicle. Emergency vehicle light placement and visibility distance are not indicated within the statute.

As authorized emergency vehicles, volunteer firefighter vehicles may disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while responding to an emergency call according to Maryland Transportation Code 21-106. They must do so while their emergency vehicle lights are illuminated and only when responding to an emergency call and not when returning. Emergency responders operating the volunteer firefighter vehicles must do so with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent a car accident. 

All traffic and every motor vehicle on the road or highway must yield to a volunteer firefighter vehicle when it has its emergency vehicle lights illuminated per Maryland’s “Move Over” law. This is done by either changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel to pass safely.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

An ambulance may be equipped with a red and or white light or signal device that is installed as high as practicable and has a visibility distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight per Maryland Transportation Code 22-218.

An ambulance is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while used to respond to an emergency call with its siren, whistle, or bell audible and emergency vehicle lights illuminated as laid out under Maryland Transportation Code 21-106. Emergency personnel operating an ambulance must do so with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent a traffic collision.

All traffic must yield to an ambulance per Maryland’s “move over” law. This is achieved by slowing down, moving over, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel to operate or pass slowly. This is only necessary when the ambulance has its emergency vehicle lights illuminated.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

A security vehicle is not explicitly mentioned under Maryland law regarding restrictions of provisions surrounding the use of LED lighting. That does not mean that it may not have an amber beacon, yellow light, or spotlight equipped for patrolling purposes. Contact your local municipalities for further guidance regarding your local laws and whether or not a permit is required to utilize LED warning lights or lighting.

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Maryland Transportation Code 22-218 requires that a tow truck be equipped with a yellow or amber beacon or signal device to warn traffic of the safety hazard that is present on the road or highway. These warning lights must either flash or oscillate. Placement or visibility distance is not indicated within Maryland law. A tow truck may not move while its warning lights are illuminated.

Tractors

As a slow-moving vehicle and or a vehicle that might create a road safety hazard, a tractor must be equipped with yellow light or amber light that flashes or oscillates per Maryland Transportation Code 22-218. This is to indicate to traffic that there is a safety hazard present on the road or highway that they need to be aware of so that they can yield if necessary. Placement and visibility distance is not explicitly stated.

Utility Vehicles

As a vehicle that often creates a safety hazard on the road or highway, Maryland Transportation Code 22-218 mandates that every utility vehicle is equipped with a yellow or amber beacon or a signal device to warn traffic of the safety hazard that is present. This light may either flash or oscillate. Visibility distance and LED light placement are not explicitly mentioned. 

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

Maryland Code Regulation 11.04.04.04 requires a pilot vehicle to have at least one oscillating or rotating yellow roof light that is three inches in diameter and is visible in the front or rear. This auxiliary light is in addition to the required lighting that comes standard on vehicles that must be illuminated while operating as a pilot car. Aside from being mounted on the roof, placement and visibility distance are not immediately known or addressed.

Construction Vehicles

As construction vehicles often create a safety hazard on the road or highway, they must be equipped with yellow or amber lights or a signal device to warn traffic per Maryland Transportation Code 22-218. Placement of the warning lights is not indicated under Maryland law, and neither is the visibility distance requirement. 

Funeral Procession

Interestingly enough, Maryland Transportation Code 21-106 allows a funeral procession pilot vehicle to disregard many traffic laws for the sake of the procession, but it doesn’t indicate which emergency vehicle lighting is permitted while operating. Generally, a funeral procession escort operates similarly to a pilot vehicle, but violating traffic laws typically requires the use of a red light. Contact your local municipalities before installing any LED lights on your funeral escort so that you remove any possible confusion and remain compliant.

Personal Use 

Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles

Some emergency lighting is permitted on personal vehicles. If you are operating as a volunteer for the fire department as indicated above, volunteer police, or utilizing your private vehicle as a pilot or escort vehicle, you may utilize the legal lighting colors for your industry. 

Summary

Special Permits

Some special permits may be required to utilize emergency lights or warning lights on your fleet or personal vehicles. Please refer to Maryland’s Government Website for more information on how to apply for permits and licenses to use LED lighting.

Takeaway

Maryland was very brief on the laws and regulations surrounding the use of LED lighting for authorized emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles, and personal vehicles. There is room for ambiguity, so do your due diligence and research the rules and regulations surrounding your industry to avoid costly fines and penalties.

This article is not intended to replace the Maryland code, nor is it meant to be legal advice. If you need further clarification, please contact your local municipalities for more information so that you remain compliant.