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Main Page White or Clear Strobes
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Posted by: Nuclearaudio

i have two questions i can't seem to find the answer to.

White or Clear Strobes. are they illegal? i know ch90 S.7E says no red or blue.
what about dogs or animals in the back of a pickup truck.

Posted by: Gil

Your looking to outfit an animal control unit??

Posted by: Mongo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuclearaudio

i have two questions i can't seem to find the answer to.

White or Clear Strobes. are they illegal? i know ch90 S.7E says no red or blue.
what about dogs or animals in the back of a pickup truck.

Displaying a flashing,rotating or oscillating light in any direction (ANY COLOR)
C90 & 7 or 540 CMR 22.06 (2)

If it is some kid or idiot screwing around you shouldn't have a problem making it stick. If it is a construction dude or something like that you probably would have a problem making it stick.

As far as the puppy goes - Pick up truck transporting unsecured animal in bed of
C.90 & 22H

Posted by: USMCTrooper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongo

Actually I have a written decision from the Deputy General Counsel of the RMV dated January 2005 regarding white/clear lights displayed on a vehicle. I tried at one time to scan it in here as a PDF but it didn't work. Here is the ruling:

"I have reviewed the provisions of 540 CMR 22.06 govering the use of amber and other colored lights. While the Registrar has promulgated these regulations to determine who may operate with flashing, rotating or oscillating amber lights, she has not authroized the use of other colored lights. The Registrar is of the opinion that a white flashing, rotating or oscillating light is a colored light subject to the Regulations. The last paragraph of 22.06 (2) specifically states that no colored lights other than amber (or red or blue as authorized by C.90 7E) are authorized to be mounted or displayed."

Based on this written decision I recv'd, the courts have consistantly held up citations for 22.06 display of white/clear lights (some were purple and green too). The decision was born out of a white light case where the defendant claimed in his appeal the RMV told him white/clear lights aren't a color so they don't fall under the law. One call to the RMV during a short recess and the letter came direct by fax and he was found responsible.

As for contractor's having ANY type of lights (clear, red strobe and amber strobes) report their registration to the RMV. I have a number for agencies who want it. PM me. I can also fax out the letter to you. They are sending letters advising contractor's remove the lights or your reg. will be suspended. No contractors are getting the ok for white/clear/red strobes. Very very very few are getting the ok for amber lights only.

Hope that helps.

Posted by: tuffone

I don't understand the concern over amber lights.

No one thinks of them as anything more than a safety warning. Who would pull over for such a light?

Mass Law requires police vehicles to have blue forward facing lights and fire/ambulance vehicles red. I think all emergency vehicles should have a combination. In some lighting situations you can see blue better than red and vice versa. Many states have such a combination because of this.

Posted by: djgj200

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffone

Mass Law requires police vehicles to have blue forward facing lights and fire/ambulance vehicles red.

And apparently it falls on deaf ears, or in this case blind eyes. A lot of FD's combine red and blue forward facing. Some but not many PD's have put one forward facing red lighthead.

Posted by: FutureCop23

I must say that I agree if people are getting their reg. suspended or some other punishment for using red/clear strobes without a permit/authorization. However, I do not see what the big deal is with construction/plows/etc using amber lights. Unless they are obviously using them in a wrongful way, I don't see the need to go out of your way to get them in trouble. I can't speak for construction, but I've heard a lot of people (not in this post but others) state neither construction nor plows should have ANY color light ( even amber ) without a permit. I totally agree that you should go about doing things the right way, however I can tell you that that is not always easy. I plowed for a few years with my own truck, and had an amber bar on the roof. I sent in the light permit to the RMV ( I think is where it goes if I remember right ) so I would be perfectly legal. I still have not received a denial nor acceptance to this day... With that being said, I took my chances and used it anyway, as I believed it was in the best interest of other drivers and myself to have the lights on while in operation. I don't about any of you, but with the amount of stupidity on the roads today (most of you witness it first hand all day) it would truly not surprise me if someone claimed they did not see the 8' yellow steel plow blade that weighs over 800 lbs as an accuse. I'd rather get in trouble for trying to be as safe as possible, taking every precaution to avoid accidents than to be told after an accident it was my fault for not having any warning lights. That is just my opinion, although I might add that I have seen some plows and construction vehicles with more goddam lights than a cruiser, and I do not agree with that and believe that is where it becomes more of a hazard having them than it would be without them.

Posted by: SOT

Because people CRASH the AMBER! baaaaa doooom bang...chesssh

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffone

I don't understand the concern over amber lights.

No one thinks of them as anything more than a safety warning. Who would pull over for such a light?

Mass Law requires police vehicles to have blue forward facing lights and fire/ambulance vehicles red. I think all emergency vehicles should have a combination. In some lighting situations you can see blue better than red and vice versa. Many states have such a combination because of this.

Posted by: mpdcam

Why do people care about construction vehicles and plows having flashing clear or amber lights? I plow in the winter and would rather see a plow truck with a few strobes or a lightbar than a little bubble light. As far as construction vehicles, I say that the more warning while on a detail the better.

Posted by: FutureCop23

Completely Agree

Posted by: Edmizer1

I don't have it with me but I believe 540CMR22.07 or one of the CMRs around that allow for highway maint. vehicles, public utilities, aux. police, security vehicles, tow trucks, ice cream trucks, and some others, can have amber lights. I think here is also a line in the regulation which allows for vehicles to display amber if it is in the best interests of public safety.

Posted by: USMCTrooper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmizer1

I don't have it with me but I believe 540CMR22.07 or one of the CMRs around that allow for highway maint. vehicles, public utilities, aux. police, security vehicles, tow trucks, ice cream trucks, and some others, can have amber lights. I think here is also a line in the regulation which allows for vehicles to display amber if it is in the best interests of public safety.

There is a provision in 540 CMR 22.06 for certain vehicles allowed to use amber lights, with permission. Where the crackdown on contractors came from was the Big Dig. Too many people had all around strobes and amber LED's on their pickup trucks, sedans which were not construction vehicles like a dump truck or loader. The RMV started getting complaints and were able to see it first hand every day in Boston.

Like anything, the abuse of a few ruined it for everyone else. The RMV is denying the use of other colors and people who want amber lights must fit the law or face consequences. I saw a landscaper just the other day with metallic signs on his pickup truck flashing as many strobes as I have, in three colors.

My first case with white lights was a constable-shhh who had decked out his crown vic. Others have since included a snow plow using amber lights, in august, for what I have no idea; a Humvee with a dealer plate; the personal pickup of a gas station owner, and numerous too fast too furious type racers.

Posted by: djgj200

People that plow driveways (especially small driveways) are constantly backing out to reposition themselves and sometimes they do it rather quickly because with them time is money. Amber warning lights tell that driver to watch out for me/approach with caution or something to that effect.

Posted by: snapbox

Personally...

I completely agree that nobody other than law enforcement/rescue should have clear strobes.. However, I don't understand why this state can't get its head around people who actually use Amber as a warning light. So... This is my question for you. If they can't flash amber, what can they flash? What color can they use?

Posted by: wordstew

So here's the question of the day
I have an actual amber light permit application sent to me from the RMV about a year ago, it's still sitting on my desk.
FYI, if one were to use this application the return address goes to the RMV red/Blue Light permit section (that's printed right on the permit).

Does possession/approval of an actual amber light permit just as a Red/Blue light permit from the RMV allow someone to legallly use white/clear strobes????

Posted by: USMCTrooper

No.
An amber permit is for "amber" only.

The only vehicles that can display white, clear, red and blue lights are police cruisers, fire vehicles and ems/ambulance. Not my words- the words of the RMV legal, RMV Enforcement Ops and RMV Blue/Red Permit Section.

Not hearses, not snow plows, not construction vehicles, not tow trucks, not ice cream trucks, not private security, not the cable guy (although everyone in these categories does). The RMV began sending letters out to local Chiefs educating them. I have a copy of that letter too, dated March 2005.

I'm the messenger here remember. I call them they tell me.

Posted by: tuffone

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCTrooper

No.
An amber permit is for "amber" only.

The only vehicles that can display white, clear, red and blue lights are police cruisers, fire vehicles and ems/ambulance. Not my words- the words of the RMV legal, RMV Enforcement Ops and RMV Blue/Red Permit Section.

Not hearses, not snow plows, not construction vehicles, not tow trucks, not ice cream trucks, not private security, not the cable guy (although everyone in these categories does). The RMV began sending letters out to local Chiefs educating them. I have a copy of that letter too, dated March 2005.

I'm the messenger here remember. I call them they tell me.

Just a slight correction...Ice Cream trucks and similar vehicles are required to have an amber flashing light. I forgot the Section but it is inCho 90.

I think it applies to any vehicle after 1988, and I think the speed limit when passing these vehicles is 15MPH. I am certain on the amber light, but not sure on the speed.

Of course when has anyone written a CMVI for this violation.

Posted by: DodgeRam

Chapter 101: Section 16A. Sale of frozen desserts on or from motor vehicle; flashing lights required

Section 16A. Any hawker or peddler who sells frozen desserts, as defined in section sixty-five G of chapter ninety-four, on or from a motor vehicle, shall equip such vehicle with a flashing amber dome light and front and rear warning lights which shall flash alternately and which shall be kept flashing when such vehicle is stopped for the purpose of selling frozen desserts.

Posted by: DodgeRam

Chapter 90: Section 7- Any tractor or other self propelled vehicle used exclusively for agricultural or farming purposes, excepting automobiles and trucks, the use of which is declared by the owner or person in control thereof to be restricted to the period from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, and which is operated in or upon any way during said period shall be equipped with one stop light or a flashing red light to the rear.

Posted by: DodgeRam

Chapter 85: Section 15. Lights on vehicles

Section 15. Every vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on any public way, shall have attached to it a light or lights which shall be so displayed as to be visible from the front and the rear during the period from one half an hour after sunset to one half an hour before sunrise; provided, that this section shall not apply to any vehicle which is designed to be propelled by hand; and provided, further, that any vehicle carrying hay or straw for the purpose of transporting persons on a hayride, so called, shall display only electrically operated lights which shall be two flashing amber lights to the front and two flashing red lights to the rear, each of said lights to be at least six inches in diameter and mounted six feet from the ground. Upon the written application of the owner of a vehicle and the presentation of reasons therefor the department may, in writing, in such form and subject to such requirements as it may elect, and without expense to the applicant, exempt said vehicle from the provisions of this section for such period of time as said department may elect.

Posted by: DodgeRam

Chapter 90: Section 7E. Display of red or blue lights on vehicles; permits; revocation; violations

Section 7E. No motor vehicle operated pursuant to section seven other than fire apparatus, ambulances, school buses, vehicles specified in section seven D used for transporting school children, and vehicles specified in section seven I shall mount or display a flashing, rotating or oscillating red light in any direction, except as herein provided; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall prohibit an official police vehicle from displaying a flashing, rotating or oscillating red light in the opposite direction in which the vehicle is proceeding or prohibit fire apparatus from displaying a flashing, rotating or oscillating blue light in the opposite direction in which the vehicle is proceeding.
A vehicle owned or operated by a forest warden, deputy forest warden, a chief or deputy chief of a municipal fire department, a chaplain of a municipal fire department, a member of a fire department of a town or a call member of a fire department or a member or a call member of an emergency medical service may have mounted thereon flashing, rotating or oscillating red lights. Such lights shall only be displayed when such owner or operator is proceeding to a fire or in response to an alarm and when the official duty of such owner or operator requires him to proceed to said fire or to respond to said alarm, and at no other time.
No such red light shall be mounted or displayed on such vehicle until proper application has been made to the registrar by the head of the fire department and a written permit has been issued and delivered to the owner and operator. In the event that the operator is not the registered owner of the vehicle, no permit shall be issued until said owner forwards to the registrar a written statement certifying that he has knowledge that such red light will be mounted and displayed on said vehicle.
Any person operating a vehicle upon which flashing, rotating or oscillating red lights herein authorized are mounted shall have the permit for said lights upon his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place. Upon termination of the duties which warranted the issuance of the permit, the head of the fire department shall immediately notify the registrar who shall forthwith revoke such red light permit. Upon the written request of the chief of police or chief of fire of the town in which such permitted vehicle is registered, the registrar may revoke such permit. The registrar shall revoke such permit for the unauthorized use of such red lights and the owner and operator shall be subject to a fine as hereinafter provided.
Upon revocation, the registrar of motor vehicles shall notify forthwith the owner and operator of the vehicle for which such permit was issued and the head of the police department and fire department of the town in which his original permit was issued.
No motor vehicle or trailer except (i) a vehicle used solely for official business by any police department of the commonwealth or its political subdivisions or by any railroad police department or college or university police department whose officers are appointed as special state police officers by the colonel of state police pursuant to section sixty-three of chapter twenty-two C and subject to such special rules and regulations applicable to such college or university police department as the registrar may prescribe, (ii) a vehicle owned and operated by a police officer of any town or any agency of the commonwealth while on official duty and when authorized by the officer’s police chief or agency head and only by authority of a permit issued by the registrar, (iii) a vehicle operated by a duly appointed medical examiner or a physician or surgeon attached to a police department of any city or town only while on official duty and only by authority of a permit issued by the registrar, (iv) a vehicle operated by a police commissioner of a police department of any city only while on official duty and only by authority of a permit issued by the registrar, (v) a vehicle actually being used for the transportation of persons who are under arrest, or in lawful custody under authority of any court, or committed to penal or mental institutions, and only by authority of a permit issued by the registrar, (vi) a vehicle operated by a chaplain of a municipal police department while on official duty and only by authority of a permit issued by the registrar shall mount or display a flashing, rotating or oscillating blue light in any direction. No motor vehicle, as hereinbefore provided, requiring a permit from the registrar, shall mount or display a blue light on such vehicle until proper application has been made to the registrar by the head of the police department and such written permit has been issued and delivered to the owner and operator. Such notice shall include the place of residence and address of the owner and operator of the vehicle for which such permit is issued and the name of the make, vehicle identification number and the registration number of the vehicle for which such permit authorizes the display of blue lights. Any person operating a vehicle upon which blue lights have been authorized to be mounted or displayed, by permit, shall carry such permit for said lights upon his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place. Upon termination of the duties of such person which warranted the issuance of the permit, the chief of police shall immediately notify the registrar, who shall forthwith revoke such blue light permit. Upon the written request of the chief of police of the town in which such permitted vehicle is registered the registrar may revoke such permit. The registrar shall revoke such permit for the unauthorized use of such blue lights and the owner and operator shall be subject to a fine as hereinafter provided. Upon revocation, the registrar of motor vehicles shall notify forthwith the owner and operator of the vehicle for which such permit was issued and the head of the police department of the city or town in which such permitted vehicle is registered. Upon receipt of his notice of revocation, such owner and operator shall forthwith deliver such blue light permit to the registrar and he shall not be eligible for reissuance of such permit without consent of the head of the police department of the town in which his original permit was issued. Nothing in this section shall authorize any owner or operator to disregard or violate any statute, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation regarding motor vehicles or their use on ways of the commonwealth. The registrar may also make such rules and regulations governing or prohibiting the display of such other lights on motor vehicles as he may deem necessary for public safety.
Any person who violates any provision of this section for which a penalty is not otherwise provided shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than three hundred dollars.

Here's a strange one:

Chapter 143: Section 71N. Duties of ski area operators

2) mark and identify all trail maintenance and emergency vehicles, including snowmobiles, and furnish such vehicles with flashing or rotating lights, which shall be operated during the time that said vehicles are in operation within the ski area;

Posted by: DoD102

Yup agreed also. I feel it's much safer to have the lights than not. Especially if people are driving long distance to work, you get complacent and the lights kind of jar you back to reality. If they are being used inappropriately, then that's different. Just my 2cents.

Posted by: dh18

I think contractors and plow trucks have set their trucks up by the example set by MHD and MTA. Their trucks flash every color in the rainbow behind them.

How about the DCR (MDC) Rangers? What gives them the right to have red lights?

Posted by: Nuclearaudio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil

Your looking to outfit an animal control unit??

no there is a woman in my town who is currently having "Strobes" put on her personal verhicle. She is a "Volunteer" for the animal shelter and the Animal Control Officer. I tried explaining it to her. But she didn't get it.

The only way that i understand of someone putting any strobe other than Amber, they must get a written letter from the registar. but i dont even beleive that.

Posted by: Deuce

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuclearaudio

That's mint, Babs running lights and siren (horn??) in her Honda Accord for a kitty in a tree.. All the while yelling "out of my way damn it I'm a animal control officer volunteer!!!!!" Firefighters might have an issue with her encroaching on their gig..

She'll "get it" when she's cited enough times...

Posted by: USMCTrooper

[quote=tuffone]Just a slight correction...Ice Cream trucks and similar vehicles are required to have an amber flashing light. I forgot the Section but it is inCho 90.

I think it applies to any vehicle after 1988, and I think the speed limit when passing these vehicles is 15MPH. I am certain on the amber light, but not sure on the speed.

Of course when has anyone written a CMVI for this violation.[/quote/]

Just to slightly re-correct you. I wrote:

Quote:

No.
An amber permit is for "amber" only.

The only vehicles that can display white, clear, red and blue lights are police cruisers, fire vehicles and ems/ambulance. Not my words- the words of the RMV legal, RMV Enforcement Ops and RMV Blue/Red Permit Section. Not hearses, not snow plows, not construction vehicles, not tow trucks, not ice cream trucks, not private security, not the cable guy (although everyone in these categories does). The RMV began sending letters out to local Chiefs educating them. I have a copy of that letter too, dated March 2005.

I never said ice cream trucks or like vehicles can't have an amber light, they cannot have other lights, unless it came with the vehicle like hazards. Kudos for you though for knowing that provision in the law!

Posted by: 2-Delta

Most of the animal control officers in my surrounding towns have blue lights on their vans, i dont think clear would present a problem if she used them "appropriately".

Posted by: j809

Who really cares about any of this?

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