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

In order to discuss the various statutes, it’s important to clarify and define a few key concepts, including what all is considered an authorized emergency vehicle, what are considered emergency lights, and what are considered warning lights. 

Emergency lights typically are red or blue, while warning lights are yellow, white, amber, and any other color. Emergency lights are typically only allowed to be used by an authorized emergency vehicle or emergency personnel like a firefighter or police officer, while warning lights can be used in any situation where a commercial driver may otherwise cause a hazard to oncoming traffic etc. 

What counts as an authorized emergency vehicle? In section 4511.01, an emergency vehicle is defined as a vehicle used in the case of an emergency in “municipal, township, or county departments or public utility corporations when identified as such as required by law, the director of public safety, or local authorities, and motor vehicles when commandeered by a police officer.”

This would include:

• Fire trucks
• Ambulances
• EMT vehicles
• Law Enforcement vehicles

Anything outside that scope would most likely fall under the category of being a non-emergency vehicle. Keep reading on for more information on what lights are allowed to be used with what vehicle. 

Law Enforcement Statutes

Police and Sheriff Vehicles

According to section 4513.17 of the Ohio emergency vehicle light statutes, law enforcement vehicles are permitted the use of flashing blue and white lights, flashing blue light, rotating blue light, and so on. The beams of these lights should not exceed 300 candle power, and should be visible from a minimum distance of 75 feet in normal weather conditions. 

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Fire and EMT

Fire Truck & Fire Chief SUVs

According to the Ohio emergency vehicle light statutes in section 4513.17, an emergency vehicle including fire trucks and fire chief SUVs are allowed the use of flashing lights, in particular red and/or white emergency lights. 

These lights are allowed to be used when driving to or from an emergency situation and when operated by emergency personnel. 

Volunteer Fire Fighter Vehicles

Since volunteer firefighter vehicles also are responding to emergency situations, they are also permitted the use of flashing red and/or white emergency lights. These also should only be used on the way to or from an emergency. This is in accordance with section 4513.17. These vehicles are, however, not considered emergency vehicles but public safety vehicles as stated in section 4511.01. 

Ambulance & EMT Vehicles

Ambulance and EMT vehicles also are allowed the use of red and/or white emergency lights due to section 4513.17. They are responsible for transporting people in an emergency and responding to an emergency. 

Contact Brooking so we may help you with the latest details for your state here.

Commercial and Amber Statutes

Security Vehicles

There are no specific emergency vehicle light statutes mentioned for security vehicles in Ohio law. Contact Ohio DOT to learn more here. 

Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Tow trucks are mentioned in section 4513.17 as “road service vehicles servicing or towing a disabled vehicle”. Tow trucks are allowed the use of flashing amber colored warning lights, as they are not considered an emergency vehicle and therefore are not allowed emergency light usage.

Tractors

Tractors are mentioned by the use of “farm machinery” in section 4513.17 in the Ohio emergency vehicle light statutes. Tractors and other farm machinery are allowed the use of an amber light. 

Utility Vehicles

Utility vehicles have similar regulations and requirements as emergency vehicles do in the sense that warning lights are only allowed to be turned on for the duration of a job and not outside of it. Utility vehicles are also mentioned in section 4513.17 and are allowed the use of an amber light. 

Construction Vehicles

Flashing amber lights are used in order to alert other drivers of the presence of the construction work going on. This is in accordance with section 4513.17. They are mentioned and described as “maintenance vehicles”. 

Funeral Procession

In a funeral procession, vehicles should exclusively be using an amber light. This is detailed in section 4513.17. This includes funeral escort vehicles and the lights should be flashing. 

Personal Use

Emergency Lights on Personal Vehicles

Emergency lights are not permitted on personal vehicles as they aren’t responding to emergencies nor are they being handled by emergency personnel. 

Summary

Special Permits

There is no mention in the Ohio emergency vehicle light statutes of special permits. Contact Ohio DOT to learn more here.