Washington Administrative Code
Title 204 - State Patrol (Equipment) (See also Titles 212, 446 and 448)
Chapter 204-21 - Lighting requirements
Section 204-21-130 - Emergency lamps
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) All emergency lamps must meet the criteria established in RCW 46.37.320. In descending order of preference, these are:
(2) Headlamp flashing systems may be used for authorized emergency vehicles owned and operated by law enforcement agencies, licensed ambulance companies, and fire departments. Headlamp flashing systems must:
(3) The following table outlines the color of emergency lamps to be used for each type of vehicle.
Vehicle Type |
Lighting Required |
Other Lighting Allowed |
Authorized Emergency Vehicles (except Law Enforcement and Fire Department Vehicles) |
1 red lamp |
Flashing amber or white lamps |
Law Enforcement Vehicles |
1 blue lamp |
Flashing red, amber, or white lamps |
Fire Department Vehicles (RCW 46.37.184) |
1 red lamp |
Rear facing blue lamp Flashing amber or white lamps |
Volunteer Firefighter Vehicles and Firefighter Private Vehicles (RCW 46.37.185) |
If approved by the chief of their respective service, green lamps may be installed on the vehicle provided that the requirements outlined in subsection (4) of this section are met. |
|
Public utilities vehicles, other construction and maintenance vehicles, pilot cars, tow trucks, animal control vehicles, hazardous materials response team vehicles, search and rescue team vehicles, and rural newspaper carrier vehicles, and vehicles towing a load that exceeds legal dimensions. |
One or more flashing amber lamps provided that the requirements of subsection (5) of this section are met. |
(4) Green lamps for volunteer firefighter and firefighter private vehicles must:
(5) Amber lamps must:
Lamps on rural newspaper delivery vehicles must only be illuminated when the vehicle is traveling on the delivery route. Lamps on oversize units may be illuminated when traveling on public roadways. The operator of these vehicles are not entitled to any other privileges provided in RCW 46.61.035 for the operators of authorized emergency vehicles.
(6) Three hundred sixty degree warning lamps must meet SAE Standard J845.
(7) Nothing in this section relieves the operator of any vehicle from displaying any other light or warning device required by statute or regulation.
Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.320. 08-19-104, § 204-21-130, filed 9/17/08, effective 10/18/08.