An Act To Allow an Attorney Responding to an Incident that Involved the Use of Deadly Force To Use Emergency Lights on a Vehicle
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0892
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: LANGLEY, COLLINS, CYRWAY, DAVIS, MAKER
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2054

Legislative Document
No. 892
S.P. 292
In Senate, March 7, 2017
An Act To Allow an Attorney Responding to an Incident that 
Involved the Use of Deadly Force To Use Emergency Lights on a 
Vehicle
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Senators: COLLINS of York, CYRWAY of Kennebec, DAVIS of Piscataquis, 
MAKER of Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§1, ¶C-1 is enacted to read: 
C-1.  "Critical incident response vehicle" means a vehicle operated by an attorney 
directly involved in and responding to an incident involving the use of deadly force 
by a law enforcement officer. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2005, c. 183, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
D.  Except as provided in this paragraph, a vehicle may not be equipped with or 
display a blue light. 
(1)  A critical incident response vehicle may use emergency lights that emit a 
blue light or a combination of blue and white light. Emergency lights used on the 
following vehicles must emit a blue light or a combination of blue and white 
light: a police vehicle; a Department of Corrections vehicle as described in 
subsection 1, paragraph B, subparagraph (6); a vehicle operated by a chief of 
police, a sheriff or a deputy sheriff; and a vehicle operated by a qualified deputy 
sheriff or other qualified individual performing court security-related functions 
and services. 
(2)  Emergency lights used on an ambulance, an emergency medical service 
vehicle, a fire department vehicle or a hazardous material response vehicle may 
include one blue light mounted facing toward the rear of the vehicle so that the 
light is primarily visible to approaching traffic from the rear only. 
(3)  The taillight of a vehicle, or replica of a vehicle, manufactured prior to 1952 
and registered under section 457, may contain a blue or purple insert of not more 
than one inch in diameter. 
(4) Blue interior auxiliary lighting or dash lighting may be used on any vehicle if 
no portion of the beam of light is visible at a height of 42 inches above a surface 
parallel with the level surface on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 20 feet 
from any part of the vehicle. 
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
3.  Sirens.  A bell or siren may not be installed or used on any vehicle, except an 
authorized emergency vehicle or a critical incident response vehicle. 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
6.  Emergency lights and audible signals.  The operator of an authorized emergency 
vehicle who is exercising the privileges granted under subsection 5 shall use an 
emergency light authorized by subsection 2.  The operator of an authorized emergency 
vehicle who is exercising the privileges granted under subsection 5, paragraphs B, C, D 
and E shall sound a bell or siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other 
operators of the emergency vehicle's approach.  The operator of a critical incident 
response vehicle may use emergency lights authorized by subsection 2, paragraph D and 
may sound a bell or siren to warn pedestrians and other operators of the critical incident 
response vehicle's approach. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a vehicle operated by an attorney directly involved in and responding 
to an incident involving the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer to use a blue 
light or a combination of blue and white lights and a siren.