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 Michigan has its own set of unique laws that they use to restrict and allow the usage of LED light bars for an authorized emergency vehicle and commercial vehicles such as a tow truck or utility vehicle. Unlike most states, Michigan has greatly simplified statutes covering emergency lights and reduced them to one statute with multiple subsections.
There does not appear to be any special definitions for what qualifies as an authorized emergency vehicle. Since Michigan law explicitly states which lights are required for each type of vehicle, that is largely unnecessary.
Law Enforcement Statutes
Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles
According to Michigan State Statute Section 257.698, a law enforcement vehicle or police vehicle must come equipped with flashing lights that are rotating or oscillating the colors red and blue. This is only to be used while performing their duties as a police officer.
In addition, the police vehicle, when operating as an authorized emergency vehicle, may be equipped with additional flashing lights that are rotating or oscillating red in color. This light must be visible 360 degrees around the police vehicle and visible at 500 feet. An authorized emergency vehicle may also display a white strobe light used concurrently with the red and blue emergency lights.
Michigan law does not explicitly state it, but generally, a law enforcement vehicle or police vehicle is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law when responding to an emergency call. This must be done with their emergency lights illuminated and due regard to the safety of every other motor vehicle on the road or highway to prevent a car accident. It is not necessary for a law enforcement vehicle to utilize its siren when illuminating its lights.
Every motor vehicle on the road or highway must yield to a police vehicle when their emergency lights are 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 emergency vehicle.
Fire and EMS Statues
Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs
A fire vehicle or fire truck must come equipped with flashing lights that are rotating or oscillating the color red per Michigan State Statute Section 257.698. These lights must be visible 360 degrees around the fire vehicle when flashing and must be visible at 500 feet. Emergency lights may only be utilized when responding to an emergency and not when returning. A fire truck may also have a white strobe light that is used simultaneously with the red light.
Not explicitly stated, but a fire truck or fire vehicle may generally disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law when responding to an emergency call. They must do so while their red light is illuminated and an audible signal such as a bell, siren, or whistle can be heard. It is required for them to do so with due regard to the safety of every other motor vehicle on the highway to prevent a traffic accident.
Traffic is required to yield to a fire truck or any other fire vehicle when their emergency lights are illuminated. Changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely allows for the safe operation and passage of the authorized emergency vehicle. This creates a safe environment for motorists and emergency responders.
Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles
A volunteer fire vehicle is not distinguished in Michigan Vehicle Code, and they are approached identically to publicly or privately owned fire vehicles. This means, per Michigan State Statute Section 257.698, they must come equipped with flashing lights that are rotating or oscillating and is red in color. This light must be visible for 360 degrees around the fire volunteer fire vehicle and at 500 feet. They may also have a white strobe light that is used concurrently with the red light.
A volunteer fire vehicle can disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while responding to an emergency call. It is required that they do so while utilizing their emergency lights and using an audible signal such as a bell, siren, or whistle. They must do so with due regard to other motorists on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.
Motorists on the road or highway must yield to a volunteer fire vehicle when their lights are illuminated. This is done by either changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway altogether. This allows for the safe operation and passage of emergency personnel to do their job efficiently and effectively.
Ambulance and EMT Vehicles
Michigan State Statute Section 257.698 requires an ambulance operating as an authorized emergency vehicle to utilize a red light that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating while responding to an emergency call. The light must be visible at 500 feet and must rotate at a 360-degree arc to be seen on all sides. They may also use a white strobe light while using their emergency red light.
An ambulance is permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law when responding to an emergency. They must do so with their emergency lights illuminated and audible signals such as a horn, siren, or whistle sounding. They are the only authorized emergency vehicle that may use their lights when leaving an emergency scene as they may have a patient that needs rapid emergency help at a hospital. When disregarding traffic laws, they must do so with due regard to other motorists to prevent a car accident.
Traffic must yield to an ambulance when their emergency lights are illuminated. This is done by changing lanes, slowing down, or pulling off the road or highway completely. This creates room for the safe operation and passage of emergency personnel responding to a medical emergency.
Commercial and Amber Statutes
Security Vehicles
A security vehicle is permitted to use LED hazard lights when patrolling or responding to an emergency. This light may only be a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber beacon and cannot be any other color per Michigan State Statute Section 257.698. There are no other rules and regulations surrounding the use of emergency lights for security vehicles.
Wreckers and Tow Trucks
A tow truck must have an amber beacon that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating to inform traffic of the potential safety hazard that may be present on the road or highway. They may also utilize a red light while actively engaged in servicing and or loading a disabled vehicle.
Traffic must yield to a tow truck when engaged in servicing a disabled vehicle to allow emergency personnel to safely operate on the road or highway. A tow truck is not permitted to disregard the posted speed limit and must obey any traffic law as they are not responding to a critical emergency. Disobeying laws may result in a traffic violation.
Tractors
When operating to clean up spills, snow, ice, and other road safety hazards, a tractor is permitted to use an amber beacon or green lights that are visible for 360 degrees around the vehicle and are visible at 500 feet per Michigan State Statute Section 257.698. The state, county, or municipalities are responsible for the operation of these vehicles.
Utility Vehicles
Michigan State Statute Section 257.698 allows a utility vehicle to utilize a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber beacon to inform traffic of a potential safety hazard on the road or highway. This is the only LED emergency light that is indicated in Michigan Vehicle Code for utility vehicles to use.
Pilot and Escort Vehicles
A pilot vehicle must use an amber beacon that is flashing, rotating, or oscillating, according to Michigan State Statute Section 257.698. This LED light is used to inform motorists of the oversized vehicle that may be a potential hazard on the road or highway. No other colors are indicated as permitted within Michigan law.
Construction Vehicles
Michigan Vehicle Code offers a few explicit types of construction vehicles that are permitted to use a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber beacon or green lights that are visible for 360 degrees around the vehicle and visible at 500 feet. These include vehicles that are necessary for the removal of snow, ice, spills, or vehicles performing other maintenance on the road or highway. This is all covered under Michigan State Statute Section 257.698. These vehicles are to be operated by the state, county, or other municipalities.
Funeral Procession
Michigan State Statute Section 257.698 allows a funeral procession to utilize amber beacons or purple lights to alert motorists of the potential hazard that their funeral procession may create. Traffic is not required to yield to a funeral procession, and a funeral procession must obey all traffic laws aside from driving slower than the posted speed limit.
Personal Use
Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles
Aside from using emergency lights for an authorized emergency vehicle owned privately by a volunteer firefighter, there do not appear to be any provisions or restrictions for LED emergency lights.
Summary
Takeaway
Michigan really simplified the statutes surrounding emergency lights and made it easy for the average person to follow. Everything can be found under Michigan State Statute Section 257.698.
As always, please make sure to contact your local municipalities to ensure that you are in full compliance with Michigan code so that you can prevent a costly ticket or fine. This article is intended to be used as a point of reference, and you must do your due diligence to remain compliant.
