By Noghost5
#4835041
I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to have a master list of which states allow red/blue lightbars on any vehicle (non-operating while driving of course) and which ones only allow amber/green on your ecto (seems to be mostly out west or South where this is the norm?)

For example, I know in Ohio it is legal to have a blue or red lightbar as long as its not on while driving.

I'm interested in knowing what the law is regarding colored lightbars in PA, IN, NY, MI, KY, IL.
User avatar
By gbchef
#4835042
I recieved an email from the KY DOT/state police a couple weeks ago answering this very question. They said for the state of KY NO light bars or sirens are allowed on non emergency vehicles functional or not..no exceptions. I was pretty bummed. They even sent me copies of the law.
By LandoSystem
#4835049
Here is the gist of Kentucky's laws about sirens and light bars.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/statutes/statute.aspx?id=39895
Basically, if you aren't a public safety responder, you can't have flashing or colored lights or any kind of siren or whistle.
There is also a section that states you can have yellow lights if you're a service vehicle (mail man, wrecker, etc.)
https://www.iafc.org/files/downloads/VE ... ntucky.pdf
Whether you can have them installed and turned off isn't clear to me here but I've heard many, many accounts of people being pulled over for having things that even resemble lights installed in or on their vehicles.

West Virginia is very clear about theirs. Also a big "no" there, and it's clearly stated you can't have the lights installed on your vehicle at all.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/Cha ... 17c&art=15

FYI this would extend to an ambulance or hearse if you aren't a license ambulance driver and / or it's not being used in a funeral precession. It also would cover a car built from 1959-now.

From what I've seen, best option is to get removable magnetic lights and keep them in your trunk until it's parked.
By Hammer
#4835081
Indiana is good to go. Legal to have as long as they are not operating on a roadway.
By Hammer
#4835083
Let me add more here.....

The snag in Indiana is your vehicle has to be not to be confused with any law enforcement vehicle. Our wording is "readily identifiable". Now if you dig through the statutes, there's a bit of confusion. Our statutes are written as if the lights are on and utilized. They cover everything from my police car to a volunteer fireman responding to a call to a funeral escort. I'd say all will be fine as long as you don't come up with some new age ecto design that looks just like a police car. And as mentioned above, don't turn your blinky shit on driving down the road. And remember....There's always that one guy on every department......
By Hijacker
#4835117
I can't remember the exact law in Virginia, so hopefully someone who has a running vehicle will respond, but it's been my understanding that so long as you a)keep them off and b) don't use a color already specified for emergency vehicles you're good to go. However, show cars are a different beast entirely. They're considered off road vehicles and are limited to a low mileage annually to get from event to event. Virginia usually makes a lot of exceptions for normal highway use vehicles and ones for non-highway/off-road use.
By DefenderDarko
#4835134
It's illegal if you ask.

If you build the vehicle and you're cool about it and don't run the lights on the road and you work with your community and do volunteer work, it will be okay.
By LandoSystem
#4835138
That's so wrong for so many reasons.
If it's illegal, not only could you get a big ticket, they could impound your lights and siren.
Check if it's legal. If it's illegal, don't do it. Ignorance of the law is no excuse and you aren't exempt from the law because you play dress up on the weekends.
By Rufus Q
#4835163
Rhode Island here.

All rotary and flashing lights are prohibited except on the vehicle categories specifically designated in the law.

Ectomobiles are not listed.

Sad face.
By DefenderDarko
#4835189
LandoSystem wrote:That's so wrong for so many reasons.
If it's illegal, not only could you get a big ticket, they could impound your lights and siren.
Check if it's legal. If it's illegal, don't do it. Ignorance of the law is no excuse and you aren't exempt from the law because you play dress up on the weekends.


I'm speaking from experience. I've been driving my jeep for two years without an incident and we do volunteer work with the local PD at events. It's all fun and there's never been an incident because I respect people and don't use the lights EVER unless the vehicle is stationary and someone requests to see the lights on. I actually pull the fuse out most of the time. Parades are the only time the car moves with the lights on.

Boomer will tell you. He's had his Ecto all over the country. As long as you aren't being an idiot about it, you will probably be fine. He's written guides and answered this question so many times. It really comes down to why you're doing it and how you go about doing it.

Some people use a loophole, like Chace Ambrose, who mounted his control box out of reach while piloting the vehicle. Some people bag the light-bars 'out of service' while not at events. Some people don't encounter problems with leaving them mounted as they are, like our groups here in Oklahoma and Texas.

Your mileage may vary. Mounting rotating lights is a DOT violation in a lot of states, but STOP treating it like it's a criminal issue. No one is trying to impersonate a police officer, here.
Last edited by Kingpin on June 14th, 2015, 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.Reason: Removed insulting remark
By LandoSystem
#4835192
Don't suggest to people on an open forum to ignore or disobey the law especially when it can have expensive or damaging consequences.

Again, just because you play make believe on the weekends does not mean you are exempt from the law.
And again, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Everyone should research the laws and ordinances in their area to make sure lights, sirens and decals are legal. If you fail to do so you can face financial penalties or have your equipment impounded.

Period.

To suggest otherwise is irresponsible, dangerous and ignorant.
User avatar
By Kingpin
#4835198
Tex, you might disagree with Lando on this issue but there's no justification for insulting him.

And whilst there will be those members of law enforcement who'll be lenient, there will also be those who will be a bit of a hard case, so it's worth stressing that using roof-mounted emergency lights is at the driver/car owner's risk.
User avatar
By Grimmy GB
#4835237
Just makes me wonder, and I apologize if this sounds stupid, but perhaps you could remove the lighting or strobing portions (bulbs, LEDs, or the entire assembly) of the lightbar. In my mind, it would no longer be considered a light bar, but you would still have the visual aesthetics. Maybe it's an option?
By LandoSystem
#4835273
I've heard of people purchasing decommissioned cop cars with nonworking strobes in the windows. I've also heard of those people being pulled over because of it.
So... you may not get a ticket but you might get harassed. I think my local laws say you can't have them installed at all.
By kurisu7885
#4835277
Welp, they got back to me.

"The Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC) prohibits the use or possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any color except as otherwise provided by law. While there are circumstances where certain colored lights might be allowable under the MVC for certain authorized emergency vehicles, only a police car may be lawfully equipped with blue lights in Michigan pursuant to MCL 257.698. "

Looks like in Michigan it's a no go, least for blue lights.
By GothicGeek
#4835301
From my understanding here in Illinois: no, no, no, HELL no.

The use of oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited... (except on emergency and such vehicles)

No Red (625 ILCS 5/12-212) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-212) Sec. 12-212.
No White (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (a)
No Amber (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (b)
No Blue (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (c)

I know there are rules about a funeral procession only for purple lights.
I can't find the specifics for green lights.

The only catch I see is: "No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway..." My understanding is a stationary vehicle or one on private property can have these. I agree with having the fuse pulled out when not going to be operating them for the immediate future. Also have the fuse holder put at a place either not easily accessible or something that would take a little while (like undoing several screws) to get to.

If anyone would like the full laws of IL as I have found them let me know and I will toss them up.

*disclaimer, I am not a lawyer and do not pretend to be giving completely sound legal advise*
By LandoSystem
#4835303
GothicGeek wrote:*disclaimer, I am not a lawyer and do not pretend to be giving completely sound legal advise*
This is a good point and I suggest people reading here don't just take our word for it.
Most of your local laws can be found by just googling something like "state laws flashing lights."
Also there are some local ordinances that may concern Ecto-like equipment and decals. There's a good chance your city will have a website with a link to ordinances. For example, my city has banned reflective decals without a special permit. So 'round here, Ecto-1A caution striping can get you a ticket.
By Hijacker
#4835313
Grimmy GB wrote:Just makes me wonder, and I apologize if this sounds stupid, but perhaps you could remove the lighting or strobing portions (bulbs, LEDs, or the entire assembly) of the lightbar. In my mind, it would no longer be considered a light bar, but you would still have the visual aesthetics. Maybe it's an option?
Take it from someone who has had to deal with technicalities like this. If the cop thinks it could be a violation, you're getting pulled over. My old exhaust on my 240SX was a fart can exhaust that came with the car. It wasn't louder than factory (which is how the law is worded in Virginia "must not exceed factory decibal levels"), but I was pulled over multiple times because of it looked like it was a loud exhaust. Meanwhile, open pipe cars that retained their factory mufflers just to look like they didn't cut the exhaust, skipped by local LEOs just fine. I swapped to a better magnaflow muffler once I could afford it and haven't had any trouble since. Moral of the story, if it looks illegal, the cop assumes it's illegal.
User avatar
By Parflagush
#4835427
Found this for Utah (link):
41-6a-1616. High intensity beams -- Red or blue lights -- Flashing lights -- Color of rear lights and reflectors.

(3) A person may not use flashing lights on a vehicle except for:

(a) taillights of bicycles described in Section 41-6a-1114;
(b) authorized emergency vehicles described in Section 41-6a-1601;
(c) turn signals described in Section 41-6a-1604;
(d) hazard warning lights described in Sections 41-6a-1608 and 41-6a-1611;
(e) school bus flashing lights described in Section 41-6a-1302;
(f) vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance described in Section 41-6a-1617;
(g) a media production vehicle used in accordance with Section 41-6a-1718; and
(h) a continuously flashing light system under Section 41-6a-1604.

(4) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle described in Section 41-6a-1601, or a media production vehicle used in accordance with Section 41-7a-1718, a person may not use a rotating light on any vehicle.
The only way around this might be the "media production vehicle", which is described as this:
41-6a-1718. Media production vehicle -- Definition -- Exemption -- Identification.

(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Media production" means the making of a motion picture, television show, video, commercial, Internet video, or other viewable programming provided to viewers via a movie theater or transmitted through broadcast radio wave, cable, satellite, wireless, or Internet.
(b) "Media production vehicle" means a vehicle used exclusively for media production.
(2) A media production vehicle is exempt from the restrictions of Section 41-6a-1616 while the vehicle is:
(a) being used to simulate an authorized emergency vehicle in a media production; or
(b) being driven in transit between the media production location and the media production vehicle storage location if during transit the vehicle displays a sign prominently on each front-side door of the media production vehicle stating "Media Production Vehicle."
We'd want to consult someone who understands the law better to see if we could leverage the "media production vehicle" clause. City ordinances could also affect this as well. Since I may never own an Ecto replica anyway, this isn't something I'd personally have to deal with. But an interesting topic nonetheless! :-D
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By Bloodvayne
#4835532
Meh.... I guess I like to live dangerously. I have driven in most states driving up and down the east coast and across the US, etc. I have obvious emergency lights in my front and rear windows and grill. Haven't been scolded about them yet. As I don't play with them on the streets. And keep the controls "sorta" out of reach from the drivers seat. As some states require.
By ieatmousetraps
#4836518
This thread just became surprisingly relevant to me. I live in Ohio, we can have lightbars just no blue and red. But I never thought about the road trips to other states. I will keep this in mind! Especially since I planned on driving it to C2E2 and surrounding cons next year.

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