FLASHING, OSCILLATING, OR ROTATING LIGHTS
| The use and possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of ANY color is prohibited* except as otherwise provided by law or under the following circumstances: |
| Vehicle Description |
Red Lights |
Blue Lights |
White Lights |
Amber Lights |
| Police Vehicles |
Shall be equipped with red or blue.MCL 257.698(5)(a) |
May display inconjunction with anauthorized emergencylight prescribed in thissection. MCL 257.698(5)(g) |
no |
| Fire Vehicles for public use |
Shall be equipped. MCL 257.698(5)(b) |
no |
| Ambulance public or private |
| Private motor vehicle owned by a volunteer or paid firefighter, a volunteer ambulance driver,or a licensed ambulance driver or attendant. Must be authorized by the Chief of thelocal fire department. |
May be equipped,must be mounted on the roof. MCL 257.698(5)(c) |
| School Bus Public Transit Vehicle |
Shall be equippedwith two alternatelyflashing red lights atboth the front and the rear. Public Act 187 of 1990 Section 17 |
no |
Must be mounted on roof, displayed onlyduring inclementweather, while boarding ordischargingpassengers, from ½hour before sunset until ½ hour after sunrise, or where conditions hinder visibility of the bus.PA 187 of 1990, Section 31 |
Buses manufactured on or after 10/01/90: Shall be equippedwith two alternatelyflashing amber lightsat both the front and the rear. Public Act 187 of 1990 Section 19 Public Transit Vehicle: MCL 257.698(5)(j) |
| Emergency support vehiclesVehicles must be used exclusively foremergencies and owned and operatedby a federally recognized nonprofitcharitable organization. MCL 257.698(5)(c) |
May be equipped,must be mounted on the roof. MCL 257.698(5)(c) |
no |
no |
no |
| Physicians vehicleMust obtain written authorization from the county sheriff. |
May be equipped,must be mounted on roof. MCL 257.698(5)(h) |
| State, county, and municipal vehicles |
no |
Shall be used while engaged in theremoval of ice, snow, or other material from the highways. MCL 257.698(5)(d) |
| Private security guard |
no |
no |
no |
Shall not be activated on a public highwaywhen the vehicle is in motion. MCL 257.698(7) |
| A person that is engaged in themanufacture, sale, or repair of theselights. |
May possess lights, however shall not activate the lights upon a highway unless authorizedto do so under the direction of the proper authority (for demonstration or repair purposes).MCL 257.698(5)(i) |
| A person who possess or uses a light contrary to any of the above is guilty of a misdemeanor. |
Page 1 of 2
F/Lt. Eric Johnson • Michigan Department of State Police • Traffic Services Section • June 1999
| FLASHING, OSCILLATING, OR ROTATING LIGHTS Use and Possession |
| Vehicle Description |
Red Lights |
Blue Lights |
White Lights |
Amber Lights |
| A vehicle used for the cleanup of spills or a necessary emergency response action taken pursuant to state or federal law. |
no |
no |
no |
Lights shall not be activated unless the vehicle is at the scene of a spill, emergencyresponse action,complaint, orcompliance activity.MCL 257.698(5)(e) |
| A vehicle operated by an employee of the DNR that responds to a spill, emergency response action, complaint, or compliance activity. |
no |
no |
no |
| Hearse or funeral vehicle* |
no |
no |
no |
Amber or PurpleMCL 257.698(5)(g) |
| A motor vehicle while escorting an oversize load that has been issued a permit. |
no |
no |
no |
May be equipped,however shall not be activated exceptin those circumstances that the warningproduced by thelights is required forpublic safety.MCL 257.698(5)(f) |
| A vehicle owned by the national guard or a United States military vehicle while traveling under a recognized military authority. |
no |
no |
no |
| A farm tractor, an implement of husbandry or a motor vehicle while towing an implement of husbandry. |
no |
no |
no |
| Public utility service vehicles |
no |
no |
no |
| Privately owned vehicle of a peace officer |
Allowed only if the vehicle is being used as a police vehicle.Attorney General Opinion No. 3142, 1957 |
no |
| Vehicle operated by a mail carrier |
no |
no |
no |
| Vehicle delivering newspapers or other publications |
no |
no |
no |
| Vehicle utilized for snow removal |
no |
no |
no |
| Vehicle engaged in authorized highway repair or maintenance |
no |
no |
no |
| Wrecker or automobile service car |
May be equipped,shall be activated only when engagedin the removal or assistance of a vehicle. MCL 257.698(5)(f) |
no |
no |
| Garbage truck or refuse vehicle |
no |
no |
no |
| Selling, Loaning, or Furnishing Lights |
| A person shall not sell, loan or otherwise furnish a flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue or red light designed primarily for installationon an authorized emergency vehicle to a person except a police officer, volunteer or paid firefighter, volunteer ambulance driver,licensed ambulance driver or attendant of the state, a county or municipality within the state, a person engaged in the business ofoperating an ambulance or wrecker service, or a federally recognized nonprofit charitable organization which owns and operates anemergency support vehicle used exclusively for emergencies. MCL 257.698(6) |
| A person who possess or uses a light contrary to any of the above is guilty of a misdemeanor. |
*Changes effective 7/8/98.
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F/Lt. Eric Johnson • Michigan Department of State Police • Traffic Services Section • June 1999 |
