N.H. Admin. Code § Saf-C 3215.02

Current through Register No. 36, September 5, 2024

Section Saf-C 3215.02 - Emergency Lights

(a) A vehicle shall be rejected if:

(1) The emergency lights are not the proper color for the type of vehicle, pursuant to (c) below;

(2) The emergency lights are not located in the proper position and location, pursuant to (d) below;

(3) The owner is not entitled to have the vehicle equipped with emergency lights; or

(4) The vehicle is not authorized to be equipped with emergency lights pursuant to (b) below;

(b) The following vehicles may be equipped with emergency lights of the appropriate color, pursuant to (c) below:

(1) Fire department vehicles;

(2) Police cruisers;

(3) Public or private ambulances;

(4) Vehicles of volunteer firefighters;

(5) Vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers;

(6) Non-transporting advanced life support paramedic-response units equipped with communications equipment and specialized medical equipment;

(7) Law enforcement vehicles;

(8) Private vehicles of law enforcement officers;

(9) Forestry department vehicles;

(10) Vehicles of the director of the office of emergency management;

(11) Vehicles of the oil spill emergency response unit, the hazardous waste emergency response unit and the air toxics emergency response unit of the department of environmental services;

(12) Vehicles of the emergency response unit of the department of health and human services, specifically approved to have red lights by the commissioner of health and human services;

(13) Vehicles of hospital emergency personnel; and

(14) Vehicles of the office of fire marshal.

(c) The approved color of emergency lights shall be as follows:

(1) Red lights and white or clear colored strobe lights for:

a. Fire departments;

b. Volunteer members of fire departments;

c. Forestry departments;

d. Director of the office of emergency management;

e. Public or private ambulances;

f. Volunteer ambulances and non-transporting advanced life support paramedic response units equipped with communications equipment and specialized medical equipment;

g. Vehicles of the oil spill emergency response unit, the hazardous waste emergency response unit and the air toxics emergency response unit of the department of environmental services;

h. Vehicles of the emergency response unit of the department of health and human services, specifically approved to have red lights by the commissioner of health and human services;

i. Vehicles of hospital emergency personnel; and

j. Vehicles of the office of fire marshal; and

(2) Blue lights, red lights, and white or clear colored strobe lights for:

a. Law enforcement vehicles;

b. Police cruisers; and

c. Private vehicles of law enforcement officers, in accordance with the requirements of RSA 266:78.

(d) The approved position and location for emergency lights shall be as follows:

(1) Emergency lights shall be mounted on the roofs of vehicles unless otherwise permitted below;

(2) Single-face emergency lights shall be mounted on the front, rear or sides of vehicles;

(3) When mounted on the front of vehicles, single face emergency lights shall be no less than 12 inches from the surface of the road;

(4) Dash mounted emergency lights shall be prohibited if they obstruct or in any way impair the driver's vision;

(5) Rear-facing emergency lights may be mounted on the rear window ledges of a vehicle if they do not obstruct the driver's view to the rear; and

(6) Emergency lights combined with sirens to form a single unit may be mounted on the front bumpers or on the vehicle's roof.

(e) A mechanic shall request written authorization issued by the appropriate department or entity in order to verify that a person is currently permitted to have his/her vehicle equipped with emergency lights pursuant to this section.

N.H. Admin. Code § Saf-C 3215.02

(See Revision Notes at chapter heading Saf-C 3200) #8915, eff 6-22-07; amd by #9184, eff 6-20-08

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 06, Filed February 11, 2016, Proposed by #11016, Effective 1/6/2016, Expires 1/6/2026.