Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q

Current with legislation from 2024 effective through June 5, 2024.

Section 14-96q - Permits for colored or flashing lights. Exceptions. Fee

(a) A permit is required for the use of colored or flashing lights on all motor vehicles or equipment specified in this section except:

(1) Motor vehicles not registered in this state used for transporting or escorting any vehicle or load, or combinations thereof, which is either oversize or overweight, or both, when operating under a permit issued by the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to section 14-270; or

(2) motor vehicles or equipment that are (A) equipped with lights in accordance with this section, (B) owned or leased by the federal government, the state of Connecticut, or any other state, commonwealth or local municipality, and (C) registered to such governmental entity. When used in this section, the term "flashing" shall be considered to include the term "revolving".

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or such other person specifically identified in this section, may issue permits for the use of colored or flashing lights on vehicles in accordance with this section, at the commissioner's or such person's discretion. Any person, firm or corporation other than the state or any metropolitan district, town, city or borough shall pay an annual permit fee of twenty dollars to the commissioner for each such vehicle. Such fee shall apply only to permits issued by the commissioner.

(c) A flashing blue light or lights may be used on a motor vehicle operated by an active member of a volunteer fire department or company or an active member of an organized civil preparedness auxiliary fire company who has been issued a permit by the chief executive officer of such department or company to use a flashing blue light or lights while on the way to or at the scene of a fire or other emergency requiring such member's services. Such permit shall be on a form provided by the commissioner and may be revoked by such chief executive officer or successor. The chief executive officer of each volunteer fire department or company or organized civil preparedness auxiliary fire company shall keep on file, on forms provided by the commissioner, the names and addresses of members who have been authorized to use a flashing blue light or lights as provided in this subsection. Such listing shall also designate the registration number of the motor vehicle on which authorized a flashing blue light or lights are to be used.

(d) A flashing green or blue light or lights may be used on a motor vehicle operated by an active member of a volunteer ambulance association or company who has been issued a permit by the chief executive officer of such association or company to use such a light or lights, while on the way to or at the scene of an emergency requiring such member's services. Such permit shall be on a form provided by the commissioner and may be revoked by such chief executive officer or successor. The chief executive officer of each volunteer ambulance association or company shall keep on file, on forms provided by the commissioner, the names and addresses of members who have been authorized to use a flashing green or blue light or lights as provided in this subsection. Such listing shall also designate the registration number of the motor vehicle on which the authorized flashing green or blue light or lights are to be used.

(e) The commissioner may issue a permit for a flashing red light or lights which may be used on a motor vehicle or equipment (1) used by paid fire chiefs and their deputies and assistants, up to a total of five individuals per department, (2) used by volunteer fire chiefs and their deputies and assistants, up to a total of five individuals per department, (3) used by members of the fire police on a stationary vehicle as a warning signal during traffic directing operations at the scene of a fire or emergency, (4) used by chief executive officers of emergency medical service organizations, as defined in section 19a-175, the first or second deputies, or if there are no deputies, the first or second assistants, of such an organization that is a municipal or volunteer or licensed organization, (5) used by local fire marshals, (6) used by directors of emergency management, or (7) used by a constable, appointed pursuant to an ordinance authorized by section 9-185 or elected pursuant to section 9-200, on a stationary vehicle as a warning signal during traffic directing operations.

(f) The commissioner may issue a permit for a yellow or amber light or lights, including a flashing yellow or amber light or lights, which may be used on motor vehicles or equipment that are (1) specified in subsection (e) of this section, (2) maintenance vehicles, or (3) vehicles transporting or escorting any vehicle or load or combinations thereof, which is or are either oversize or overweight, or both, and being operated or traveling under a permit issued by the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to section 14-270. A yellow or amber light or lights, including a flashing yellow or amber light or lights, may be used without obtaining a permit from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on wreckers registered pursuant to section 14-66, on vehicles of carriers in rural mail delivery service or on vehicles operated by construction inspectors employed by the state of Connecticut, authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation, used during the performance of inspections on behalf of the state. The Commissioner of Transportation shall maintain a list of such authorized construction inspectors, including the name and address of each inspector and the registration number for each vehicle on which the light or lights are to be used.

(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue a permit for a white light or lights, including a flashing white light or lights, which may be used on a motor vehicle or equipment as specified in subdivision (1), (2), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (e) of this section. A vehicle being operated by a member of a volunteer fire department or company or a volunteer emergency medical technician may use flashing white head lamps, provided such member or emergency medical technician is on the way to the scene of a fire or medical emergency and has received written authorization from the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality to use such head lamps. Such head lamps shall only be used within the municipality granting such authorization or from a personal residence or place of employment, if located in an adjoining municipality. Such authorization may be revoked for use of such head lamps in violation of this subdivision. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "flashing white lights" shall not include the simultaneous flashing of head lamps.

(h) The commissioner may issue a permit for emergency vehicles, as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-283, to use a blue, red, yellow, or white light or lights, including a flashing light or lights or any combination thereof, except as provided in subsection (k) of this section.

(i) The commissioner may issue a permit for ambulances, as defined in section 19a-175, which may, in addition to the flashing light or lights allowed in subsection (h) of this section, use flashing lights of other colors specified by federal requirements for the manufacture of an ambulance. If the commissioner issues a permit for any ambulance, such permit shall be issued at the time of registration and upon each renewal of such registration.

(j) A green, yellow or amber light or lights, including a flashing green, yellow or amber light or lights or any combination thereof, may be used on a maintenance vehicle owned and operated by the Department of Transportation.

(k) No person, other than a police officer or inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles operating a state or local police vehicle, shall operate a motor vehicle displaying a steady blue or steady red illuminated light or both steady blue and steady red illuminated lights that are visible externally from the front of the vehicle.

(l) Use of colored and flashing lights except as authorized by this section shall be an infraction.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q

(1967, P.A. 834, S. 19; 1969, P.A. 759, S. 12; 1971, P.A. 459, S. 1; P.A. 73-544, S. 24; P.A. 74-99, S. 2, 3; P.A. 75-577, S. 43, 126; P.A. 78-156, S. 3; P.A. 79-4; P.A. 84-254, S. 47, 62; 84-377, S. 3, 4; P.A. 85-217, S. 2; P.A. 87-41, S. 2; P.A. 93-307 , S. 5 , 34 ; P.A. 94-189 , S. 8 ; P.A. 96-167 , S. 30 ; P.A. 99-150 , S. 2 ; 99-268 , S. 23 ; P.A. 00-169 , S. 22 ; P.A. 04-182 , S. 11 ; P.A. 05-218 , S. 10 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 , S. 214 ; P.A. 16-55 , S. 22 ; P.A. 17-230 , S. 8 .)

Amended by P.A. 23-0135,S. 40 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 21-0040, S. 16 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2021.

Amended by P.A. 21-0040, S. 15 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2021.

Amended by P.A. 21-0106, S. 33 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 6/30/2021.

Amended by P.A. 19-0161, S. 10 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2019.

Amended by P.A. 17-0230, S. 8 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 16-0055, S. 22 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 5/31/2016.

Amended by P.A. 15-0005, S. 214 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Special Session, eff. 7/6/2015.

Cited. 40 CA 643 . Cited. 35 Conn.Supp. 659 .