Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0243
Committee Amendment CA_A_H220 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §20

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4,, to H.P. 182, L.D. 243, Bill, "An 
Act To Allow Emergency Responders To Equip Their Vehicles with 2 
Emergency Flashing Lights" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §20S4, sub-§2,~, as amended by PL 2005, 
c. 14, §3, is further amended to read: 
F. 
Only vehicles listed in this paragraph, 
rural mail 
vehicles as provided in paragraph C, 
subparagraph (5) and 
school buses may be equipped with, display or use a red 
auxiliary or emergency light. 
(1) 
Emergency 
lights 
used 
on 
an 
ambulance, 
an 
emergency medical service vehicle, 
a fire department 
vehicle, 
a 
fire 
vehicle, 
a 
rescue 
vehicle 
or 
a 
hazardous material response vehicle must emit a 
red 
light or a combination of red and white light. 
(2) 
The 
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e~--~A&--~~-~~~--may--aQ~keFi-ae use of emergency 
lights by an active member of a municipal or volunteer 
fire department ~e-~~€-~-~ka&a~~-Fee-~~--~~-Re~ 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
" 
• 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. 4 .. to H.P. 182, L.D. 243 
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is-~-~e~~~-~-~--a~-~~-seeRe-~-~--~~~-~--9Ehe~ 
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governed by the following. 
(a) 
The 
lights 
must 
be 
authorized 
by 
the 
municipal 
officers 
or 
a 
municipal 
official 
designated by the municipal officers. with the 
approval of the fire chief. 
(b) 
The 
member 
may 
display 
one 
flashing 
red 
signal light not more than 5 inches in diameter on 
a vehicle. The light must be mounted as near as 
practicable above the registration plate on the 
front of the vehicle or on the dashboard. A light 
mounted on the dashboard must be shielded so that 
the emitted light does not interfere with the 
operator's vision. 
(c) 
In lieu of one flashing red signal light. the 
member may display anY combination of 2 flashing 
red or white lights of a size capable of being 
mounted above the front bumper and below the roof 
of the vehicle. The lights must be mounted on the 
front of the vehicle and in a manner so that the 
emitted 
light 
does 
not 
interfere 
with 
the 
operator's vision. 
(d) 
The lights mro' be displayed but may be used 
only while the member is en route to or at the 
scene of a fire or other emergency. 
(e) 
Prior to exercising the privilege of using 
emergency lights granted under this sub,paragraph. 
the 
member 
must 
complete 
a 
state-certified 
emergency vehicle operators or emergency ambulance 
operators course. 
(f) 
The privilege of using lights may be revoked 
at any time by the fire chief for misconduct. 
( 3) 
Members of an emergency medical service licensed 
by Maine Emergency Medical Services may display and use 
lights on a vehicle a-~~~~h4R~-~~~~~-~~-e~-Ehe 
same--i'"F-e-pe~Ei9B, in the same location and under the 
same 
conditions 
as 
those 
permitted 
municipal 
and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~. 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ./1 .. to H.P. 182, L.D. 243 
volunteer firefighters, when authorized by the chief 
official of the emergency medical service. 
Prior to 
exercising the privilege of 
using 
emergency 
lights 
granted 
under 
this 
subparagraph. 
the 
member 
must 
complete a state-certified emergency yehic1e operators 
or emergency ambulance operators course. The privilege 
of 
using 
emergency 
lights 
granted 
under 
this 
subparagraph may be revoked at any time by the chief 
official 
of 
the 
emergency 
medical 
service 
for 
misconduct. • 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
replaces 
the bill. 
The 
amendment 
allows 
municipal 
and 
volunteer 
firefighters 
and 
emergency 
medical 
services personnel to use either one flashing red light or any 
combination of 2 red or white lights on personal vehicles while 
en route to or at the scene of fires or other emergencies. It 
also requires that 
a 
person may 
use 
emergency lights on 
a 
personal 
vehicle 
only 
upon 
completion 
of 
a 
state-certified 
emergency vehicle operators 
or 
emergency 
ambulance 
operators 
course. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT