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 legislature in Massachusetts provided the provisions and regulations surrounding the use of LED lighting on an authorized emergency vehicle, commercial vehicle, and a personal vehicle, among two statutes, clearly differentiating the difference between an emergency vehicle and a non-emergency vehicle. The wording and formatting of the laws are slightly convoluted and formatted in such a way that the average person might be easily confused. Please get in touch with your local municipalities to remove any confusion if necessary.
Note: Generally, the legislature would include definitions for what qualifies as an authorized emergency vehicle, but the Massachusetts statutes give no discernable definition outside which vehicles may use emergency lighting. It is safe to assume, per Massachusetts State Statute 90-7E, that police vehicles, fire department vehicles, and ambulances qualify as authorized emergency vehicles as the section surrounding emergency vehicle lighting for these departments explicitly mentions them.
Law Enforcement Statutes
Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles
Police vehicles, or law enforcement vehicles, are permitted to display a red light or a flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue light as allowed by Massachusetts State Statute 90-7E. A police vehicle may also display a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber light with the blue light according to Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06. Placement or visibility distance is not indicated.
A police officer may also attach an auxiliary light on their private vehicles if they are going to be using that vehicle for official police business. This portable LED light must be a flashing rotating, or oscillating blue light, and the police officer must obtain permission from the registrar to utilize the emergency vehicle lighting.
A police officer is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law when operating a police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle while its emergency vehicle lights are illuminated. An audible signal such as a siren, whistle, or bell isn’t always necessary as the officer may not want to alert a criminal that they are approaching. While disregarding traffic laws, a police officer or driver must operate the police vehicle with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent a car accident. This is all laid out under Massachusetts State Statute 89-7B.
Massachusetts State Statute 89-7A requires all traffic to yield to a police vehicle that has its emergency lights displayed. This is accomplished by either changing lanes, slowing down, or driving to the side of the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel room to safely operate on the side of the road or pass.
Fire and EMS Statues
Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs
A fire truck or vehicle owned by the fire department may display, per Massachusetts State Statute 90-7E, a flashing, rotating, or oscillating red light that is visible in any direction. In addition to this LED flashing light, a fire truck may also display a blue light pointed toward the truck’s rear or in the opposite direction that the fire vehicle is heading.
Massachusetts State Statute 89-7B allows emergency responders to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while operating a fire truck with its emergency vehicle lights illuminated. As a fire truck does not need to be discrete while proceeding to an emergency call, it must also utilize an audible signal, such as a whistle, bell, or siren. There is no need to utilize the emergency vehicle lights or siren when returning from an emergency call, so they may not be used at that time. While disregarding traffic laws, the fire truck driver must operate the fire truck or vehicle owned by the fire department with due regard to the safety of every motor vehicle or pedestrian on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.
Per Massachusetts State Statute 89-7A, the driver of every motor vehicle on the road or highway must yield to a fire truck or fire department vehicle while it has its emergency vehicle lights illuminated. This is done by changing lanes to provide more room for a stationary fire vehicle, slowing down when there isn’t room to change lanes, or driving to the side of the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel to pass safely.
Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles
Massachusetts State Statute 90-7E allows a volunteer firefight to equip a flashing, rotating, or oscillating red light to their private vehicle to be solely used when responding to an emergency call. The fire department that the volunteer will be operating under must obtain written permission from the registrar and have it issued and delivered to the private firefighter vehicle owner and operator.
A private firefighter vehicle may be used to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while responding to an emergency call with its emergency vehicle lights illuminated. It is unclear whether an audible signal is required on a private firefighter vehicle, and it is likely that information will be provided with the requirements surrounding the use of the LED emergency vehicle lights permit. While disregarding traffic laws, the volunteer firefighter must do so with due regard to the safety of all traffic to prevent a car accident. This is all laid out under Massachusetts State Statute 89-7B.
Traffic is required to yield to a volunteer firefighter vehicle while it is displaying its emergency vehicle lights Per Massachusetts State Statute 89-7A. This is achieved by slowing down, changing lanes, or pulling to the side of the road or highway completely to allow emergency personnel room for safe operation on the side of the road or to allow them to pass safely.
Ambulance and EMT Vehicles
An ambulance or vehicle operated by EMS shall have a mounted red light that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating per Massachusetts State Statute 90-7E. This red light must be visible in any direction. As for the visibility distance and placement on the ambulance, Massachusetts law was not very informative.
Emergency responders operating an ambulance are permitted to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law when responding to an emergency call while their emergency lights are illuminated. While disregarding traffic laws, emergency personnel must operate the ambulance with due regard to the safety of pedestrians and all traffic to prevent a car accident per Massachusetts State Statute 89-7B.
Massachusetts State Statute 89-7A requires all traffic to yield to an ambulance while it has its emergency vehicle lights displayed. This is achieved by slowing down, changing lanes, or completely pulling off the road or highway to allow emergency personnel room for safe passage.
Commercial and Amber Statutes
Security Vehicles
Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06 permits a vehicle that is used by a private security company to display an led amber light that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating. If the vehicle is owned by the security company employee, they may have to obtain written permission from the registrar to display the amber lighting.
Wreckers and Tow Trucks
A tow truck may display LED lighting according to Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06. The led lighting displayed on a tow truck or wrecker must be flashing, rotating, or oscillating, and it must only be amber in color. This must only b It was unclear if any other white lighting or LED spotlights are permitted on a tow truck or wrecker. Contact your local municipalities to inquire about additional auxiliary lighting for your fleet.
Tractors
It is not directly indicated whether or not a tractor may display an auxiliary light, such as an amber beacon. Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06 does indicate that a vehicle that is used for safety purposes or may need to indicate to traffic that there is a safety hazard present may obtain permission from the registrar to display an amber light that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating.
Utility Vehicles
Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06 allows utility vehicles to display a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber beacon. This beacon is used to indicate to traffic that a safety hazard may be present that they should avoid or that they need to yield to the utility vehicle by either slowing down or changing lanes. This allows utility employees to work safely.
Pilot and Escort Vehicles
A pilot vehicle must have two flashing amber lights as required by Massachusetts State Statute 700 CMR 7.07(4)(d)6. These amber beacons must be visible from the front and rear of the pilot or escort vehicle. It is not indicated in Massachusetts law, but it is likely that the two lights are probably replaceable with one LED light bar that emits an amber light in all directions. Check with your local municipalities for more information on possible substitutions.
Construction Vehicles
As road constructions are often the cause of a safety hazard on the road or highway, they are permitted to display LED warning lights according to Massachusetts State Statute 540 CMR 22.06. The warning lights must take place as an amber beacon that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating. Visibility distance and placement on the construction vehicle are not indicated.
Funeral Procession
A funeral procession is not explicitly mentioned within Massachusetts law when it comes to an LED auxiliary light. As a funeral procession needs a pilot vehicle, you may be able to utilize one and apply the same laws from Massachusetts State Statute 700 CMR 7.07(4)(d)6. If that is the case, then the funeral procession pilot car may display two amber beacons that are visible to the front and rear of the vehicle. While contacting your local municipalities to inquire about the right to utilize a pilot car for your funeral procession, also ask about the possibility of substituting two amber beacons for one LED light bar that emits an amber light to the front and rear using only one light.
Personal Use
Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles
Emergency vehicle lights may be used on a private or personal vehicle as long as written permission is obtained by the respective precinct or department and kept in the private police or volunteer firefighter vehicle. There are also some permissions granted by the registrar, with a permit, to utilize warning lights on a personal vehicle when used as a pilot vehicle or for other warning purposes.
Summary
Special Permits
Aside from the permits necessary for private police vehicles, volunteer firefighter vehicles, and personal vehicles operated for commercial companies, no other permits are indicated within Massachusetts law for LED lighting. That doesn’t mean that no additional permits are required. Please get in touch with your local municipalities for more requirements.
Takeaway
Massachusetts law is relatively similar to most states when it comes to the regulations surrounding the USE of LED lights for an authorized emergency vehicle, commercial vehicle, and personal vehicle. The statutes are not that easy to read for the layperson as the legalize may be slightly confusing.
Please, ensure that you remain compliant by cross-checking the information above with the state statutes cited. This article is not meant to replace your own due diligence and is not intended to be legal advice. If you require more clarification or are confused in any way, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local municipalities for clarity.
