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

Nevada has LED lighting laws for an authorized emergency vehicle, commercial vehicle, and private vehicle that are not very restrictive, but the legislative text on the government website is relatively difficult to read and understand. It is formatted in a legalese manner where the layperson may have some difficulty navigating and understanding. Here is a brief summary of the laws and regulations for LED lighting. Ensure that you are compliant by cross-checking the information with the statutes provided.

Note: Nevada law clearly defines what qualifies as an authorized emergency as:

• A Police Vehicle
• Fire Department Vehicle
• Vehicle Operated by Sheriff’s Office
• Department of Public Safety Vehicles (Some Additional Restrictions Apply)
• Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Public Ambulance
• Public Lifeguard or Lifesaving Agency
• Vehicles Owned by Public Emergency Agency Employees Used for Emergencies With a Permit

There are some additional regulations and exemptions for the departments listed above. Please call your local municipalities for more information if you believe they may apply to you.

Law Enforcement Statutes

Police, Marshall, and Sheriff Vehicles

The laws and regulations for each category of authorized emergency vehicles are uniform with minimal deviation. As an authorized emergency vehicle, a police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle must be equipped with at least one flashing red warning lamp visible to the front per Nevada Revised Statute 484A.480. A police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle may also display a steady, revolving, or flashing light that is red or blue to the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle. Visibility distance and lighting placement on the vehicle are not indicated within the statutes. In addition, an authorized emergency vehicle may also be equipped with alternately flashing headlights.

Nevada Revised Statute 484A.020 permits a police vehicle to be used by a police officer to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law while responding to an emergency call with its emergency lights illuminated. The police officer operating the police vehicle is required to do so with due regard to the safety of all motorists on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.

Although it was not immediately clear within Nevada law, most states have a “move over law” that requires motorists to yield to an authorized emergency vehicle when its emergency lights are illuminated. This means, when a motorist sees a police vehicle or law enforcement vehicle that has its emergency lights illuminated, they must either change lanes, slow down, or drive off the road or highway completely to allow emergency responders safe room to work or pass.

Fire and EMS Statues

Fire Trucks and Fire Chief SUVs

A fire truck or fire department vehicle must have at least one flashing light that is red visible to the front that is to be used with an audible siren, bell, or whistle according to Nevada Revised Statute 484A.480. A blue light may be used in conjunction with the red flashing light and may be visible to the front, sides, and rear of the fire truck or fire department vehicle. Alternately flashing headlights may also be equipped and used when responding to an emergency call.

Firefighters, when responding to an emergency call, may use a fire truck or fire department vehicle to disregard the posted speed limit or any other traffic law as long as the emergency vehicle lights are illuminated and the audible siren, bell, or whistle is used per Nevada Revised Statute 484A.020. Emergency personnel operating the fire truck or fire department vehicle must do so with due regard to the safety of all motorists on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.

Per “move over” laws, Motorists are required to yield to a fire truck or fire department vehicle when it has its LED emergency lights illuminated and audible siren, whistle, or bell sounding. This is done by slowing down, changing lanes, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow emergency responders to operate and pass safely.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Per Nevada Revised Statute 484A.480, a volunteer firefighter may have a red flashing light visible to the front equipped to the top of their personal vehicle as they are operating as an authorized emergency vehicle. They may also equip their vehicle with a flashing light that is red or blue and have it visible to the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Although it is not common to completely modify your personal vehicle as a volunteer, the volunteer firefighter vehicle may also be equipped with alternately flashing headlights.

Nevada Revised Statute 484A.020 allows the volunteer firefighter to use their personal vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle and disregard the posted speed limit and any other traffic law while responding to an emergency call. They must have their emergency lights illuminated and audible siren, bell, or whistle sounding while doing so. It is also required that emergency responders operate their vehicles with due regard to the safety of all motorists on the road or highway to prevent a car accident.

Although they are just volunteers, motorists are still required to yield to a volunteer firefighter vehicle when they are utilizing their emergency lights and have an audible siren, bell, or whistle sounding. This is done by changing lanes to provide firefighters room to work, slowing down to pass safely, or driving to the side of the road or highway completely to allow volunteers room to safely pass.

Ambulance and EMT Vehicles

An ambulance must have a red flashing light equipped that is visible to the front that must be used with an audible siren, bell, or whistle according to Nevada Revised Statute 484A.480. The ambulance may also be equipped with an additional red and blue light that is revolving, flashing, or steady, and it can be visible to the front, sides, and rear of the EMS vehicle. Visibility distance and position are not indicated within Nevada law. The ambulance may also be equipped with alternately flashing headlights.

The ambulance driver may use the ambulance to disregard the posted speed limit or other traffic laws while responding to an emergency call with its emergency lights illuminated and audible siren, bell, or whistle sounding. Emergency personnel operating the ambulance must do so with due regard to the safety of all motorists on the road to prevent an accident. This is all laid out in Nevada Revised Statute 484A.020.

Although not explicitly stated in Nevada law, all motorists must yield to an authorized emergency vehicle, including ambulances, while they have their emergency lights illuminated. This is done by slowing down, changing lanes, or pulling off the road or highway completely to allow emergency responders enough room to safely operate or pass.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

Nevada Revised Statute 484D.185  permits a security vehicle to be equipped with an amber light as part of a private patrol. A permit is still required to utilize warning lights on your fleet or private vehicle used for security purposes. Lighting placement and visibility distance are not indicated within Nevada law.

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Every wrecker or tow truck in Nevada must obtain a permit and be equipped with an amber beacon to warn traffic of the safety hazard present while the operator is servicing a disabled vehicle on the road or highway, according to Nevada Revised Statute 484D.185. Nevada law does not go into the placement of the warning lights, nor does it indicate visibility distance requirements.

Tractors

Depending on how the tractor is used, it may need to alert traffic that a safety hazard is present. If the need is there, a permit must be acquired to display amber lighting so that traffic is aware of the safety hazard per Nevada Revised Statute 484D.185. Visibility distance and warning light placement are not indicated within Nevada law.

Utility Vehicles

A utility vehicle must display an amber beacon that is flashing and visible to the front, sides, and rear when actively engaged in the construction, removal, maintenance, or inspection of utility facilities per Nevada Revised Statute 484D.195. It may also have the warning lights illuminated when parked on or near the side of a highway or when necessary to travel at a speed slower than the normal traffic flow.

Pilot and Escort Vehicles

Nevada Administrative Code 484D.670 mandates that a pilot vehicle that is escorting an oversized load has two flashing lights or rotating lights that are amber in color. The amber beacons must be on either side of the “OVERSIZE LOAD” or “OVERSIZE” signs, or it must be equipped as high as possible and be visible at 500 feet in all directions.

A permit must be obtained to equip the pilot vehicle with amber lighting. Directions for how to obtain your permit can be found here.

Construction Vehicles

Construction vehicles are typically the cause of a potential safety hazard on the road or highway, or they might be the hazard itself, therefore Nevada Revised Statute 484D.185 permits them to be equipped with amber lights. This will alert every motor vehicle on the road or highway of the safety hazard present. The location of the amber beacon and visibility distance is not indicated within Nevada law.

Funeral Procession

The pilot vehicle used to escort the funeral procession may utilize an amber beacon or amber light per Nevada Revised Statute 484D.185. Nevada law doesn’t go into detail regarding the placement of the LED light or lightbar or visibility distance, but typically the light would need to be as high as possible and visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.

Personal Use

Emergency Lights On Personal Vehicles

While an amber beacon and an emergency vehicle light, such as a red light or blue light, may be used on the personal vehicle of emergency personnel or volunteer emergency responders, there aren’t any statutes permitting the use of LED lighting for personal use. Contact your local municipalities to ensure that you are staying compliant if you choose to equip your personal vehicle with LED lighting or warning lights.

Summary

Special Permits

As indicated in their respective segments above, special permits are required to display warning lights and emergency lights on some authorized emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles, and private vehicles depending on the agency and their intended use. Before equipping your private vehicle or fleet with LED lighting, please contact your local commissioner or municipalities for more information to avoid costly fines and fees.

Takeaway

Nevada law permits emergency lighting and warning lighting for most industries, and the laws surrounding their use are fairly easy to understand and follow. With very little ambiguity, it should be easy to remain compliant and avoid penalties or fines assessed to your business due to improper use of LED lighting on your fleet.

This article 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.