S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6794
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 12, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BALL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
certain lights to be affixed to emergency vehicles
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph 4 of subdivision 41 of section 375 of the vehicle
and traffic law, as amended by chapter 45 of the laws of 2006, is
amended to read as follows:
4. Blue light. a. One blue light may be affixed to any motor vehicle
owned by a volunteer member of a fire department or on a motor vehicle
owned by a member of such person's family residing in the same household
or by a business enterprise in which such person has a proprietary
interest or by which he or she is employed, provided such volunteer
firefighter has been authorized in writing to so affix a blue light by
the chief of the fire department or company of which he or she is a
member, which authorization shall be subject to revocation at any time
by the chief who issued the same or his or her successor in office. Such
blue light may be displayed exclusively by such volunteer firefighter on
such a vehicle only when engaged in an emergency operation. The use of
blue and red light combinations shall be prohibited on all fire vehi-
cles. The use of blue lights on fire vehicles shall be prohibited and
the use of blue lights on vehicles shall be restricted for use only by a
volunteer firefighter except as otherwise provided for in subparagraph b
of this paragraph. THE AFFIXING OF A BLUE LIGHT TO THE FRONT OF A MOTOR
VEHICLE SHALL BE EXCLUSIVE TO A MOTOR VEHICLE OWNED BY A VOLUNTEER
MEMBER OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
b. In addition to the red and white lights authorized to be displayed
pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision, one or more blue lights
or combination blue and red lights or combination blue, red and white
lights may be affixed to [a police] AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY vehicle,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06042-01-9
A. 6794 2
provided that such blue light or lights shall be displayed on [a police]
SUCH EMERGENCY vehicle for rear projection only. In the event that the
trunk or rear gate of [a police vehicle] SUCH EMERGENCY VEHICLE
obstructs or diminishes the visibility of other emergency lighting on
such vehicle, a blue light may be affixed to and displayed from the
trunk, rear gate or interior of such vehicle. Such lights may be
displayed on [a police] SUCH EMERGENCY vehicle when such vehicle is
engaged in an emergency operation. Nothing contained in this subpara-
graph shall be deemed to authorize the use of blue lights on [police]
SUCH EMERGENCY vehicles unless such vehicles also display one or more
red or combination red and white lights as otherwise authorized in this
subdivision.
c. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations
relating to the use, placement, power and display of blue lights on [a
police vehicle] AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.