67 Pa. Code § 173.3 - Display requirements
(a)
Color. Except as provided in subsection (a.1), white, clear, red, blue, amber or yellow are
the only colors permitted for use in flashing or revolving lights.
(1)
Chromaticity coordinates. A flashing, revolving or oscillating light must meet or exceed the
Chromaticity Coordinates, CIE 1931, Standard Colorimetric System as provided in SAE Standard J578d, Color
Specification for Electrical Signal Lighting Devices, September 1978 or subsequent SAE Standards. This
requirement does not apply to flashing headlamp systems.
(2)
Red lights. A vehicle may display red lights as provided by
75 Pa.C.S. §
4571 (relating to visual and audible signals on emergency
vehicles).
(3)
Blue lights. A vehicle may
display blue lights as provided for by
75 Pa.C.S. §
4572(a) (relating to visual signals on authorized
vehicles). Vehicles described in
75 Pa.C.S. §
4572(a) may be equipped with a light-bar assembly using
only blue lights. See Figure 3.1.
(4)
Combination
red-and-blue lights. Vehicles listed under
75 Pa.C.S. §
4571(b) may display combination red-and-blue lights. The
privately-owned vehicles defined as an emergency vehicle under
75 Pa.C.S. §
102 (relating to definitions) must be equipped under
75 Pa.C.S. §
4571(a).
(5)
Yellow or amber lights. A vehicle may display yellow or amber lights as follows:
(i) Under
75 Pa.C.S. §
4572(b), an authorized vehicle as defined in
75 Pa.C.S. §
102 and designated in Chapter 15 (relating to authorized vehicles and
special operating privileges) may be equipped with flashing or revolving yellow or amber lights or one or
more light-bar assemblies containing only yellow or amber lights. See Figure 3.1.
FIGURE 3.1
ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIGHT-BAR ASSEMBLIES *
Click to view image
(ii) An authorized vehicle which is used
in the construction, repair or maintenance of a bridge or highway maybe equipped with traffic control
emergency directional light assemblies.
(iii) Emergency vehicles
may be equipped with yellow or amber lights, in addition to traffic control emergency directional light
assemblies. The yellow or amber lights shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle or face rearward so that
they are visible from behind the vehicle.
(6)
White or clear lights. In addition to flashing or revolving red or combination red-and-blue
lights, an emergency vehicle may be equipped with a flashing headlamp system and no more than one flashing,
revolving or oscillating white or clear light, or with a light-bar assembly containing no more than three
flashing, revolving or oscillating white or clear lights. The vehicle may also be equipped with additional
preemptive traffic control devices.
(i) When the light-bar assembly
contains three flashing, revolving or oscillating white or clear lights, the center light must be mounted to
flash white or clear light only to the front.
(ii) When the
vehicle is stationary, the light-bar assembly may not display white or clear light to the rear.
(iii) Flashing, revolving or oscillating white or clear lights and flashing
headlamp systems may only be used in conjunction with the flashing or revolving red or combination
red-and-blue lights. Flashing, revolving or oscillating white or clear lights and flashing headlamp systems
that are not used in conjunction with flashing or revolving red or combination red-and-blue lights do not
constitute visual signals under 75 Pa.C.S. §§
3325 and
4571 (relating to duty of driver on approach of
emergency vehicle; and visual and audible signals on emergency vehicles).
(7)
Steady burning lights. Red, blue, amber or yellow
nonflashing or nonrevolving lights-steady burning lights-may be used in conjunction with flashing or
revolving lights.
(8)
Utility lights. Clear or
white forward or side facing steady burning utility lights (that is, take down, alley, spotlight) may not be
used as a visual signal for purposes of
75 Pa.C.S. §
3325. These lights may be used while the vehicle is in motion or stationary
for the purpose of an emergency, for the safety of the public, or in the enforcement of the law.
(9)
Other lights. A vehicle, other than those identified
in this chapter, may not be equipped with lights or systems identical or similar to those specified by this
subsection, except that school buses and urban mass transit buses which will be used for carrying school
children may be equipped with flashing lights as permitted by
75 Pa.C.S. §§
4552(b) and
4553(a) (relating to general requirements for school
buses; and general requirements for other vehicles transporting school children), and Chapters 15 and 171
(relating to school buses; and school buses and school vehicles).
(10)
Hazard warning systems and turn signals. Hazard
warning systems and turn signals are not considered flashing lights for the purposes of this
chapter.
(a.1)
Temporary regulation-Green
lights. Under 75 Pa.C.S. §
4572(b.2), a highway construction and maintenance vehicle, as
defined in 75 Pa.C.S. §
4572(d), may be equipped with one or more flashing or revolving green lights
when incorporated into one or more light-bar assemblies containing yellow or amber lights in accordance with
this section. This provision expires upon the promulgation of final regulations implementing the act of July
17, 2024 (P.L. 868, No. 78), but in no event later than August 16, 2027.
(b)
360° visibility. Except for unmarked police
vehicles, when flashing or revolving red, blue, yellow or amber lights are mounted on a vehicle, one or more
of these lights shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction (360°
visibility), regardless of the method of mounting.
(1) When only one light
is used to provide 360° visibility, this light must be in compliance with SAE Standard J845, 360°
Emergency Warning Lamps, May 1997, or subsequent SAE Standards.
(2) When more than one light is used to provide 360° visibility, the
number of lights used may not exceed those specified in
75 Pa.C.S. §§
4571 and
4572.
(c)
Visibility for unmarked police vehicles. When the
combination of lights are mounted on an unmarked police vehicle, these lights shall be mounted to provide
visibility to vehicles approaching from the front and rear, regardless of the method of mounting.
(d)
Flash rate. The flash rate, when observed from a fixed
position, must be between 60 and 260 flashes per minute. When the flash rate is produced by the interruption
of current, the period of illumination must be long enough to permit the bulb to come to full
brightness.
(e)
Mounting location. The following
applies to mounting locations for flashing or revolving lights:
(1)
Emergency vehicles, except police vehicles. Flashing or revolving lights, excluding flashing
headlamp systems, may be permanently mounted on the vehicle or attached to a mounting device, in a
workmanlike manner, in the following locations only:
(i) On a cab or roof
of the vehicle.
(ii) No more than 18 inches above the highest
fixed point of the vehicle.
(iii) Behind, in front of, or on the
grille of emergency vehicles. A flashing light may be mounted so as to flash through or in front of the
grille on emergency vehicles when the vehicle is also equipped with one or more flashing or revolving red
lights that meet the 360° visibility requirements of subsection (b).
(iv) With respect to fender intersection lights, close to the front upper
edge of each front fender of an emergency vehicle and not protruding more than 2 inches from the
fender.
(v) Inside of existing vehicular lighting
modules/assemblies, such as headlights, parking lights, taillights. This does not include reverse lights.
(A) This subsection does not apply to privately owned vehicles that
otherwise qualify as emergency vehicles as defined in
75 Pa.C.S. §
102.
(B) Vehicles mounting
lights as outlined in this subsection must also mount, in another location, flashing or revolving lights that
meet the 360° visibility requirements. This does not include reverse
lights.
(2)
Police vehicles.
Flashing or revolving lights may be permanently mounted on the vehicle or attached to a mounting device, in a
workmanlike manner, in the following locations only:
(i) On a cab or roof of
the vehicle.
(ii) No more than 18 inches above the highest fixed
point of the vehicle.
(iii) With respect to combination
red-and-blue lights only, behind, in front of, or on the grille. Police vehicles mounting lights as outlined
in this subsection must also mount flashing or revolving lights in another location visible from the front of
the vehicle.
(iv) Inside the passenger compartment, clearly
visible through the front windshield. (See original equipment manufacturer for mounting locations.)
(v) Inside the passenger compartment, clearly visible through the rear
window.
(vi) In or on the trunk lid.
(vii) Inside of existing vehicular lighting modules/assemblies, such as
headlights, parking lights, taillights (not including reverse lights). Police vehicles mounting lights as
outlined in this subsection must also mount, in another location, flashing or revolving lights visible from
the front and rear of the vehicle.
(viii) With respect to
flashing lights only, within the nondriver's compartment-side window.
(ix) With respect to combination red-and-blue lights, in a location visible
from the front and rear of the vehicle.
(x) With respect to
fender intersection lights, close to the front upper edge of each front fender of a police vehicle and not
protruding more than 2 inches from the fender.
(xi) With respect
to motorcycles, at a location in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
(3)
Authorized vehicles.
(i) Flashing or revolving lights may be permanently mounted on the vehicle
or attached to a mounting device, in the following locations only:
(A) On a
cab, cab protector or roof of the vehicle.
(B) No more than 18
inches above the highest fixed point of the vehicle.
(C) On the
front or rear of the bed or body of an authorized vehicle.
(D) On
the tailgate of an authorized vehicle.
(E) In a location other
than as set forth in clauses (A)-(D) as needed to comply with the 360° requirement in subsection
(b).
(ii) The installation or use of additional
flashing or strobe lights in existing vehicular lighting modules/assemblies, such as headlights, parking
lights, taillights, is expressly prohibited.
(4)
Traffic control emergency directional light assemblies. Traffic control emergency
directional light assemblies may not interfere with permanently installed lights. These assemblies may be
permanently mounted on the vehicle or attached to a mounting device, in a workmanlike manner, in a location
visible to approaching traffic.
(f)
Mounting
devices. Flashing or revolving lights, excluding flashing headlamp systems, grille-mounted flashing
lights and intersection lights, may be mounted on one of the following devices:
(1) A magnetic base.
(2) A roof
rack, light-bar or other device that is welded or bolted onto the vehicle, or is mounted on the vehicle by
using suction cups equipped with nylon or steel straps and clips which hook onto the drip rail or
molding.
(3) A self-leveling gimbal device.
(4) Grommet mounting is acceptable for flush mounted flashing
lights.
Notes
The provisions of this §173.3 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4571, 4572 and 6103.
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