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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Michigan Emergency Vehicle Law

    well, by the language of the statute, what the police are using would be illegal for you to use.

    On means on.

    Plus, the lighting unit you show does not fit other parts of the statute either.

    d
    are clearly visible in a 360 degree arc from a distance of 500 feet when in use.
    you aren't getting 180º from the light unit you showed.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
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    3

    Default Re: Michigan Emergency Vehicle Law

    Woa! I had forgotten I posted this, thanks for replying! I understand what your saying but let me follow up a little bit...

    The law refers to "as defined in section 2" - here is section 2...

    257.2 “Authorized emergency vehicle” defined.
    Sec. 2.
    “Authorized emergency vehicle” means any 1 of the following:
    (a) Vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, ambulances, or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer or paid fire fighters if authorized by the chief of an organized fire department, or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer or paid members of a life support agency licensed by the department of consumer and industry services if authorized by the life support agency.
    (b) For purposes of section 698(5)(c) during an emergency, a vehicle owned and operated by a federally recognized nonprofit charitable organization that is used exclusively for assistance during that emergency.
    Pretty much all Ambulances in our area are equipped like this:

    http://www.indianafiretrucks.com/pic...ulance-162.jpg

    You cannot physically see that bar from behind the vehicle.

    Same goes for newer fire trucks with stand up cabs. http://www.westfortannfire.org/image...s/ETA462sm.jpg

    The idea is that one would still provide 360 degrees of lighting, just from the interior or yet the outside of the car, just not by attaching a light bar.

    This law is just so confusing to me, I know what it's trying to say, but it starts out...

    (5) The use or possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any color is prohibited except as otherwise provided by law, or under the following circumstances:
    "Hey you cannot have these things unless...."

    (a) A police vehicle shall be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or blue lights, for use in the performance of police duties.

    (b) A fire vehicle or ambulance available for public use or for use of the United States, the state, or any unit of the state, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights and used as required for safety.
    OK, fine an dandy, but then it goes on to say..

    (c) An authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section 2 may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights for use when responding to an emergency call if when in use the flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights are mounted on the roof section of the vehicle, either as a permanent installation or by means of suction cups or magnets and are clearly visible in a 360 degree arc from a distance of 500 feet when in use. A person operating lights under this subdivision at any time other than when responding to an emergency call is guilty of a misdemeanor.
    This is the first paragraph to mention "responding". Then it specifically calls section 2 and my understanding is, it says you cannot respond with a red as an emergency vehicle as defined in section 2, unless.........

    Yet no one seems to follow "on the roof, 360 degrees" specifically.

    So my thinking is, technically, if I mount lights to the "roof section", but inside the vehicle, I am compliant. It doesn't state the 360 degree output has to specifically be from one light.

    I know this isn't the usual kind of question but it really hurts my brain when I cannot grasp something...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Michigan Emergency Vehicle Law

    well, the fire trucks lights are on the roof but since the design of the truck does not allow a full 360º view, the have additional lights that allow for that. With the ambulance, I would have to say they are saying for all practical effects, the lights are as if they were on the roof. Again, due to the construction of the vehicle, the lights are not visible in a 360º view and as such, they have added lights to remedy that.

    You are wanting lights inside the vehicle.

    That is what I believe is the problem you are facing.

    the problem I see is unless the interior lights are sealed against the window, they will reflect off the window. If the windows are foggy or frosted (on the inside) the effect is even greater. As such, I would see the interior lights as causing an unsafe situation.

    It doesn't state the 360 degree output has to specifically be from one light.
    I'll agree with that but again, the lights you are looking at do not provide a 180º view even. Your lights would not be visible from the side, especially if a vehicle were directly to your side. They would not be able to see any direct light from your type of lights, only reflected, at best.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Michigan Emergency Vehicle Law

    Oh, no I would provide 360 degree coverage and do already. I have wigwags (headlight flasher), traffic backer (taillight /backup light flasher), I have a dash light, two rear deck lights and lights on the side of my car. If you walked around my car without the overhead on, I provide 360 degree of lighting.

    I don't run code in heavy fog or heavy snow since it's too distracting to me even with my interior lights turned off. It wouldn't be my intention to replace my lightbar with one single dash light or something like that.

    I understand what your saying about the construction of those vehicles though, that makes sense.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Michigan Emergency Vehicle Law

    Mj - Please read this: Police vehicles are exempt from certain laws such as the overhead light law. The way I read the following is that every has to have a roof mounted light. I'm also a MI firefighter.



    MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)
    Act 300 of 1949


    257.603 Applicability of chapter to government vehicles; exemption of authorized emergency vehicles; conditions; exemption of police vehicles not sounding audible signal; exemption of persons, vehicles, and equipment working on surface of highway.

    Sec. 603.

    (1) The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highway apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state, or a county, city, township, village, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, subject to the specific exceptions set forth in this chapter with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.

    (2) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call, but not while returning from an emergency call, or when pursuing or apprehending a person who has violated or is violating the law or is charged with or suspected of violating the law may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, subject to the conditions of this section.

    (3) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may do any of the following:

    (a) Park or stand, irrespective of this act.

    (b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.

    (c) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he or she does not endanger life or property.

    (d) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in a specified direction.

    (4) The exemptions granted in this section to an authorized emergency vehicle apply only when the driver of the vehicle while in motion sounds an audible signal by bell, siren, air horn, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, except as provided in subsection (5), and when the vehicle is equipped with at least 1 lighted lamp displaying a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc unless it is not advisable to equip a police vehicle operating as an authorized emergency vehicle with a flashing, oscillating or rotating light visible in a 360 degree arc. In those cases, a police vehicle shall display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle. Only police vehicles that are publicly owned shall be equipped with a flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue light that when activated is visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc.

    (5) A police vehicle shall retain the exemptions granted in this section to an authorized emergency vehicle without sounding an audible signal if the police vehicle is engaged in an emergency run in which silence is required.

    (6) The exemptions provided for by this section apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a highway but do not apply to those persons and vehicles when traveling to or from work. The provisions of this chapter governing the size and width of vehicles do not apply to vehicles owned by public highway authorities when the vehicles are proceeding to or from work on public highways.


    History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1951, Act 270, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951 ;-- Am. 1958, Act 133, Imd. Eff. Apr. 18, 1958 ;-- Am. 1962, Act 188, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963 ;-- Am. 1964, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Mar. 20, 1964 ;-- Am. 1975, Act 100, Eff. July 1, 1976 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 347, Imd. Eff. Dec. 21, 1976 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 587, Eff. June 1, 1997

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