Chapter 05-063

2005 -- S 0095

Enacted 06/23/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES - EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Introduced By: Senators Tassoni, Cote, Doyle, Badeau, and Damiani

Date Introduced: January 20, 2005

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting

Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-24-31. Flashing lights -- Forward viewing or rotary beam lights. -- (a) Flashing

lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow removal

equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the

requirements of section 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with

lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber

lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red

lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500').

      (b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to

the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated:

      (1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire

chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized

volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency

directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the

office of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the

department of environmental management and the division of state fire marshal; school buses;

and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or alternating flashing white;

      (2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance

vehicles; snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water

company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities' trucks; vehicles of television, radio and

press photographers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the Northern

Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled vehicles

owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on official

state business; and vehicles marking the beginning and end of funeral processions: Amber; ,

provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles operated pursuant to a public utilities

commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any type operated for that purpose by the

American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use flashing amber lights at the front and

rear of the vehicle. To be activated only in the course of providing assistance to or transportation

for a disabled vehicle.

      (3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard

mounted lights: Blue or red.

      (4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4.

     SECTION 2. Section 31-14-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-14 entitled "Speed

Restrictions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-14-3. Conditions requiring reduced speed. -- The driver of every vehicle shall,

consistent with the requirements of section 31-14-1, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when

approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, when approaching and going

around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding

roadway, and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason

of weather or highway conditions. and in the presence of tow trucks, transportation trucks, and

roadside assistance vehicles displaying flashing amber lights while assisting a disabled motor

vehicle. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00724

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