is it legal to put those yellow flashing lites on top of your car if you are not a tow truck.i saw a guy driving with them in the snow in a hynudai, no emergnecy

NO.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2013 11:46PM by KeepOnTruckin.

I saw a tow truck the other day hauling ass down the shoulder in bumper to bumper traffic with its dipshit lights on. Funny thing that was for several miles thereafter I didn't see any accident or reason for a tow truck.

Mofo Wrote:
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> I saw a tow truck the other day hauling ass down
> the shoulder in bumper to bumper traffic with its
> dipshit lights on. Funny thing that was for
> several miles thereafter I didn't see any accident
> or reason for a tow truck.


He might have been going to an accident that wasn't on the same highway -- I'm sure you passed an exit at some point that he could have been heading towards.

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
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> yes. but i would only put them on like a pickup
> truck you use for work related purposes. Not just
> like i feel like turning on my strobe light today.


Only certain types of vehicles are authorized by the state code to be equipped with amber lights. This section spells it all out.


§ 46.2-1025. Flashing amber, purple, or green warning lights.

A. The following vehicles may be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating amber warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent:

1. Vehicles used for the principal purpose of towing or servicing disabled vehicles;

2. Vehicles used in constructing, maintaining, and repairing highways or utilities on or along public highways;

3. Vehicles used for the principal purpose of removing hazardous or polluting substances from state waters and drainage areas on or along public highways;

4. Vehicles used for servicing automatic teller machines, provided the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion;

5. Vehicles used in refuse collection, provided the amber lights are lit only when the vehicles are engaged in refuse collection operations;

6. Vehicles used by individuals for emergency snow-removal purposes;

7. Hi-rail vehicles, provided the amber lights are lit only when the vehicles are operated on railroad rails;

8. Fire apparatus, ambulances, and rescue and life-saving vehicles, provided the amber lights are used in addition to lights permitted under § 46.2-1023 and are so mounted or installed as to be visible from behind the vehicle;

9. Vehicles owned and used by businesses providing security services, provided the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is being operated on a public highway;

10. Vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States mail, provided the amber lights are lit only when the vehicle is actually engaged in such collection or delivery;

11. Vehicles used to transport petroleum products, provided the amber light is mounted on the rear of the vehicle and is lit only when the vehicle's back-up lights are lit and its device producing an audible signal when the vehicle is operated in reverse gear, as provided for in § 46.2-1175.1, is in operation;

12. Vehicles used by law-enforcement agency personnel in the enforcement of laws governing motor vehicle parking;

13. Government-owned law-enforcement vehicles, provided the lights are used for the purpose of giving directional warning to vehicular traffic to move one direction or another and are not lit while the vehicle is in motion;

14. Chase vehicles when used to unload a hot air balloon or used to load a hot air balloon after landing, provided the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion;

15. Vehicles used for farm, agricultural, or horticultural purposes, or any farm tractor;

16. Vehicles owned and used by construction companies operating under Virginia contractors licenses;

17. Vehicles used to lead or provide escorts for bicycle races authorized by the Department of Transportation or the locality in which the race is being conducted;

18. Vehicles used by radio or television stations for remote broadcasts, provided that the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion;

19. Vehicles used by municipal safety officers in the performance of their official duties. For the purpose of this subdivision, "municipal safety officers" means municipal employees responsible for managing municipal safety programs and ensuring municipal compliance with safety and environmental regulatory mandates;

20. Vehicles used as pace cars, security vehicles, or fire-fighting vehicles by any speedway or motor vehicle race track, provided that the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is being operated on a public highway; and

21. Vehicles used in patrol work by members of neighborhood watch groups approved by the chief law-enforcement officer of the locality in their assigned neighborhood watch program area, provided that the vehicles are clearly identified as neighborhood watch vehicles, and the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, such amber lights shall be lit only when performing the functions which qualify them to be equipped with such lights.

C. Vehicles used to lead or provide escorts for funeral processions may use either amber warning lights or purple warning lights, but amber warning lights and purple warning lights shall not simultaneously be used on the same vehicle. The Superintendent of State Police shall develop standards and specifications for purple lights authorized in this subsection.

D. Vehicles used by police, fire-fighting, or rescue personnel as command centers at the scene of incidents may be equipped with and use green warning lights of a type approved by the Superintendent. Such lights shall not be activated while the vehicle is operating upon the highway.

Yeah, but what if you have a rotating amber lightbar. Not flashing, constantly lit.

I think the best exceuse, if a cop stops you, is to say you work for/own a landscaping business

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
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> Yeah, but what if you have a rotating amber
> lightbar. Not flashing, constantly lit.
>
> I think the best exceuse, if a cop stops you, is
> to say you work for/own a landscaping business


You are over-cranializing this. It's still flashing. The rotating halogen lightbar, while constantly lit, produces flashes with the mirrors inside the light bar and the curved metallic spinners which surround the lightbulb. Feel free to go ahead and give it a try and see what happens if you'd like. Just make sure to bring your wallet with you to court. And lying about working for, or owning a landscape business will definitely earn you a ticket, since "landscaping" is not specifically mentioned in the code and, if it were, the vehicle would likely have to actually be engaged in that line of work - not just driving around.


And lest you say, "well what about a solid-burning amber light" next, pay particular attention to this code, and the highlighted text:


§ 46.2-1020. Other permissible lights.

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with fog lights, not more than two of which can be illuminated at any time, one or two auxiliary driving lights if so equipped by the manufacturer, two daytime running lights, two side lights of not more than six candlepower, an interior light or lights of not more than 15 candlepower each, and signal lights.

The provision of this section limiting interior lights to no more than 15 candlepower shall not apply to (i) alternating, blinking, or flashing colored emergency lights mounted inside law-enforcement motor vehicles which may otherwise legally be equipped with such colored emergency lights, or (ii) flashing shielded red or red and white lights, authorized under § 46.2-1024, mounted inside vehicles owned or used by (a) members of volunteer fire companies or volunteer rescue squads, (b) professional fire fighters, or (c) police chaplains. A vehicle equipped with lighting devices as authorized in this section shall be operated by a police chaplain only if he has successfully completed a course of training in the safe operation of a motor vehicle under emergency conditions and a certificate attesting to such successful completion, signed by the course instructor, is carried at all times in the vehicle when operated by the police chaplain to whom the certificate applies.

Unless such lighting device is both covered and unlit, no motor vehicle which is equipped with any lighting device other than lights required or permitted in this article, required or approved by the Superintendent, or required by the federal Department of Transportation shall be operated on any highway in the Commonwealth. Nothing in this section shall permit any vehicle, not otherwise authorized, to be equipped with colored emergency lights, whether blinking or steady-burning.


So to answer the OP's original question: No, amber lights are not legal for everyone.

nope Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yeah, but what if you have a rotating amber
> > lightbar. Not flashing, constantly lit.
> >
> > I think the best exceuse, if a cop stops you,
> is
> > to say you work for/own a landscaping business
>
>
> You are over-cranializing this. It's still
> flashing. The rotating halogen lightbar, while
> constantly lit, produces flashes with the mirrors
> inside the light bar and the curved metallic
> spinners which surround the lightbulb. Feel free
> to go ahead and give it a try and see what happens
> if you'd like. Just make sure to bring your
> wallet with you to court.

Overcranializing situations just like this, and finding loopholes such as the law code technically permits rotating or steady on amber lights, is what lawyers do best.

And lying about working
> for, or owning a landscape business will
> definitely earn you a ticket, since "landscaping"
> is not specifically mentioned in the code and,


Well, you could work for a legit landscaping business or farm 1 hour a month, and you would then "work for" a horticultural/agricultural business.


> and if it were, the vehicle would likely have to actually
> be engaged in that line of work - not just driving
> around.
>


All the other situations mentioned that the lights could be illuminated if the vehicle was not being operated on a public road. The agricultural one (# 15) does not mention that it actually has to be in use for the business. Nor does it say the vehicle must be stopped or off of public roadways. THe snow removal one (#6) is also like that. SO if you had a snow plow attachment place on your truck, and had plowed snow at one time, you would have a truck used for emergency snow removal.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 12:04AM by KeepOnTruckin.

Notice the code only reads amber, purple of green lights, which means if you want some FABULOUS pink ones, you should go for it girl!

Keep on Truckin,

NO, the law doesn't "technically" permit rotating or steady burning lights. What part of the following are you not understanding? No unauthorized vehicles can be equipped with ANY color lights, whether blinking or steady-burning, period.

"Unless such lighting device is both covered and unlit, no motor vehicle which is equipped with any lighting device other than lights required or permitted in this article, required or approved by the Superintendent, or required by the federal Department of Transportation shall be operated on any highway in the Commonwealth. Nothing in this section shall permit any vehicle, not otherwise authorized, to be equipped with colored emergency lights, whether blinking or steady-burning."

Here's a better question. Who in the hell really gives a shit and why would you want a yellow light(s) on your damn car anyway. Retard

It is legal to put any light source on your car truck bike and so on, You just cant use them unless your doing a job. If its blue lights led strobe rotate flash you better be a cop, if its red you better be a dr, fire , emt.
if its yellow any one can have on the car or truck or bike. however you can have red lights facing the rear of the truck car or bike. Now my job is simple i transport human organs i use a white ford escape with red led lights and yes at times i put them on only in a rush to reach the hospital to where im going. I dont recomand people to do that because it might land you in jail. Im trying to understand why would you put yellow lights on your car, I mean you can have them there just dont try to pull anyone over because you could get hurt or go to jail. But yes to just have a light bar on your car is 100% legal just dont turn them on while driving.

This is a wacky one:

14. Chase vehicles when used to unload a hot air balloon or used to load a hot air balloon after landing, provided the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion

Are yellow/amber flashing lights for anything other than making a vehicle more visible? If one is behind you are you supposed to get out of the way? I'm guessing not.

In Massachusetts, I've seen tow trucks use such distracting lighting it has nearly caused accidents. Why are tow trucks allowed to use strobes and other annoying/distracting lights that are much more unexpected by the eye than, say, ambulance or police lights? The eyes of commuters are not trained for such distraction on the road; it's dangerous. Why is it not good enough to just have a few hazards flashing - maybe a few more than in a normal vehicle?

Also, vehicles escorting "Oversize Loads". The lights can only be on when actually escorting.

What department would a white van with a blinking yellow light on top belong to? I have seem the same white van with a yellow light on top in my neighborhood twice at night driving very fast acompanied by a black suv not far behind. Would it be new broadcasting perhaps?

4. Vehicles used for servicing automatic teller machines, provided the amber lights are not lit while the vehicle is in motion;

I'm sitting here with thousands of dollars in ummarked bills in my vehicle, just head towards my flashing lights.

k.king728 Wrote:
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> What department would a white van with a blinking
> yellow light on top belong to?

You'll see them all the time that belong to utility companies but the lights are only supposed to be on when they are parked and working on stuff.

so get this: out west in some states, the tow trucks HAVE RED FLASHING LIGHTS!!!!!

exactly the SAME as ambulance and fire trucks - and no, you CANT tell the difference if they are coming up behind you.

113 is right about the lights only supposed to be on when they are parked on the side of the road, but lotsa tow guys get off on that whole "lights" thing - dont ask me why LoLz

one buddy of mine bought a used white county truck with yellow lights on top at an auction. One day he was headed home from happy hour after work and drove into a sobriety checkpoint. They waved him right on thru.

I believe it's legal if they are not hooked up. Just good for looks.

I have a yellow strobe, its for Plowing Snow, I have used it while towing in Bad Weather (Heavy Rain) if I get stopped I will pay that ticket. But don't be confused about the lights. Everyone is different. PA allows Blue on Fire Department stuff, Virginia is only PD. Some Allow White. But NONE give a vehicle Cart Blanche. They are requesting Right of way. Take it for what its worth.