N.J. Admin. Code § 13:24-2.8 - Emergency light mounting and use requirements

(a) There is no limit as to the number of red emergency lights, or combination of red and blue emergency lights, which may be mounted on an authorized emergency vehicle. Red emergency lights may be mounted on the interior front dashboard of such a vehicle provided they are shielded from the driver's vision to prevent glare. The shield shall extend from the light housing to within one-quarter inch of the windshield on all sides. Neither red nor blue emergency lights shall be used on such a vehicle in place of the vehicle's regular headlights.

(b) Any authorized emergency vehicle that displays red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, may be equipped with interior trunk-mounted flashing red emergency lights, or with a combination of interior trunk-mounted flashing red and blue emergency lights.

(c) Red emergency lights placed on a vehicle owned by and registered in the name of a current chief of a volunteer fire company or the first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company or a chief officer of a volunteer first aid or rescue squad pursuant to a permit issued by the Chief Administrator in accordance with this subchapter shall be mounted only on the exterior of the vehicle and shall consist of not more than two magnetic base-type removable lights.

1. If one red light is used on such a vehicle, it shall be mounted on:

i. The center of the roof of the vehicle; or

ii. The left windshield column.

2. If two red lights are used on such a vehicle, they shall be mounted on:

i. Either side of the roof at the front of the vehicle directly behind the top of the windshield; or

ii. Each windshield column.

(d) There is no limit as to the number of red emergency lights, or combination of red and blue emergency lights, which may be mounted on a vehicle owned or leased by an organization engaged in the manufacture and/or sale of emergency vehicles or equipment for which a permit has been issued by the Chief Administrator pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:24-2.4 permitting the display of such lights when the vehicle is being operated by an organization employee only for the purpose of demonstration or delivery, provided, that no red emergency lights may be mounted on the vehicle's interior front dashboard except as set forth in (a) above. Such demonstration shall not be on a public highway.

(e) Except for those vehicles specified in (d) above, vehicles equipped with red emergency lights pursuant to a permit issued in accordance with this subchapter shall not display alternately flashing or strobe headlights, and red emergency lights shall not be mounted on the interior front dashboard of such vehicles.

(f) Red emergency lights displayed on a vehicle pursuant to a permit issued in accordance with this subchapter shall not be used in place of the vehicle's regular headlights.

(g) Vehicles operated by those Emergency Management personnel set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:24-3.1 or 3.2 or by those search and rescue team personnel set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:24-3.3 shall comply with the red emergency light mounting and use requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:24-3.

(h) Emergency lights shall only be used when the vehicle is being operated in response to a fire or emergency call except as follows:

1. Red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, mounted on a vehicle owned or leased by an organization engaged in the manufacture and/or sale of emergency vehicles or equipment for which a permit has been issued by the Chief Administrator pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:24-2.4 may be used only when such vehicle is being operated by an organization employee for the purpose of demonstration or delivery.

2. Police vehicles may use red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.

3. Fire department vehicles may use red emergency lights while returning from an emergency call.

4. Ambulances, mobile intensive care units, and specialty care transport units that qualify as authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:24-1.1 and that are equipped with emergency warning lights in accordance with this chapter may use such lights when transporting a person to a hospital on an emergency basis.

5. Vehicles bearing governmental registration, when being operated by a county medical examiner or his or her deputy, assistant, or investigator to travel to the scene of a death in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-87, may use red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, during such time of operation. Vehicles for which a permit has been issued by the Chief Administrator pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:24-2.4(a)7, when being operated by a county medical examiner or his or her deputy, assistant, or investigator to travel to the scene of a death in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-87, may use red emergency lights during such time of operation.

6. Vehicles bearing governmental registration, when being operated by a fire official or fire inspector as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:71-1.4 to travel to the scene of a fire or explosion in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:71-3.3, may use red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, during such time of operation.

7. Vehicles bearing governmental registration, when being operated by a humane law enforcement officer or agent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or of a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals for purposes of enforcing any law or ordinance enacted for the protection of animals, may use red emergency lights, or a combination of red and blue emergency lights, during such time of operation.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:24-2.8

Amended by R.1991 d.205, effective 4/15/1991.
See: 22 N.J.R. 902(a), 23 N.J.R. 1197(a).
Added language to (h) to include vehicles bearing governmental registration, operated by a county medical examiner or his or her deputy or assistant to travel to the scene of a death in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-87.
Administrative correction.
See: 29 N.J.R. 5312(a).
Amended by R.1999 d.358, effective 10/18/1999.
See: 31 N.J.R. 1901(a), 31 N.J.R. 3093(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2001 d.102, effective 3/19/2001.
See: 32 N.J.R. 4050(a), 33 N.J.R. 1006(b).
Rewrote (a), (b), (d) and (h).
Amended by R.2005 d.114, effective 4/4/2005.
See: 36 N.J.R. 4675(a), 37 N.J.R. 1032(a).
In (h), deleted "and" following "Ambulances" and inserted "and specialty care transport units" following "intensive care units" in 4, and added 7; substituted "Chief Administrator" for "Director" throughout.
Amended by R.2007 d.237, effective 8/6/2007.
See: 39 N.J.R. 617(a), 39 N.J.R. 3393(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (c), inserted "emergency" and "or a chief officer of a volunteer first aid or rescue squad", and substituted "a current" for "an active".
Amended by R.2011 d.196, effective 8/1/2011.
See: 42 N.J.R. 2928(a), 43 N.J.R. 1897(a).
In (h)7, substituted "humane law enforcement officer" for "member, officer," and "any law or ordinance enacted for the protection of animals," for "N.J.S.A. 4:22-1 et seq.", and deleted "district or" preceding "county society".