New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Saf - Department of Safety
Subtitle Saf-C - Commissioner, Department of Safety
Chapter Saf-C 3200 - OFFICIAL MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
Part Saf-C 3215 - LIGHTS AND LIGHTING
Section Saf-C 3215.02 - Emergency Lights

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Saf-C 3215.02

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) A vehicle shall be rejected if:

(1) The emergency lights are not the proper color for the type of vehicle, pursuant to (c) below;

(2) The emergency lights are not located in the proper position and location, pursuant to (d) below;

(3) The owner is not entitled to have the vehicle equipped with emergency lights; or

(4) The vehicle is not authorized to be equipped with emergency lights pursuant to (b) below;

(b) The following vehicles may be equipped with emergency lights of the appropriate color, pursuant to (c) below:

(1) Fire department vehicles;

(2) Police cruisers;

(3) Public or private ambulances;

(4) Vehicles of volunteer firefighters;

(5) Vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers;

(6) Non-transporting advanced life support paramedic-response units equipped with communications equipment and specialized medical equipment;

(7) Law enforcement vehicles;

(8) Private vehicles of law enforcement officers;

(9) Forestry department vehicles;

(10) Vehicles of the director of the office of emergency management;

(11) Vehicles of the oil spill emergency response unit, the hazardous waste emergency response unit and the air toxics emergency response unit of the department of environmental services;

(12) Vehicles of the emergency response unit of the department of health and human services, specifically approved to have red lights by the commissioner of health and human services;

(13) Vehicles of hospital emergency personnel; and

(14) Vehicles of the office of fire marshal.

(c) The approved color of emergency lights shall be as follows:

(1) Red lights and white or clear colored strobe lights for:
a. Fire departments;

b. Volunteer members of fire departments;

c. Forestry departments;

d. Director of the office of emergency management;

e. Public or private ambulances;

f. Volunteer ambulances and non-transporting advanced life support paramedic response units equipped with communications equipment and specialized medical equipment;

g. Vehicles of the oil spill emergency response unit, the hazardous waste emergency response unit and the air toxics emergency response unit of the department of environmental services;

h. Vehicles of the emergency response unit of the department of health and human services, specifically approved to have red lights by the commissioner of health and human services;

i. Vehicles of hospital emergency personnel; and

j. Vehicles of the office of fire marshal; and

(2) Blue lights, red lights, and white or clear colored strobe lights for:
a. Law enforcement vehicles;

b. Police cruisers; and

c. Private vehicles of law enforcement officers, in accordance with the requirements of RSA 266:78.

(d) The approved position and location for emergency lights shall be as follows:

(1) Emergency lights shall be mounted on the roofs of vehicles unless otherwise permitted below;

(2) Single-face emergency lights shall be mounted on the front, rear or sides of vehicles;

(3) When mounted on the front of vehicles, single face emergency lights shall be no less than 12 inches from the surface of the road;

(4) Dash mounted emergency lights shall be prohibited if they obstruct or in any way impair the driver's vision;

(5) Rear-facing emergency lights may be mounted on the rear window ledges of a vehicle if they do not obstruct the driver's view to the rear; and

(6) Emergency lights combined with sirens to form a single unit may be mounted on the front bumpers or on the vehicle's roof.

(e) A mechanic shall request written authorization issued by the appropriate department or entity in order to verify that a person is currently permitted to have his/her vehicle equipped with emergency lights pursuant to this section.

(See Revision Notes at chapter heading Saf-C 3200) #8915, eff 6-22-07; amd by #9184, eff 6-20-08

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Hampshire may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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