CHAPTER 12. SPECIALIZED LIGHTS
39A:12SL1. Definitions
“Itinerant vendors' vehicle” means a motor vehicle used in the operation of the business of an itinerant vendor to carry the goods, wares or other merchandise offered for sale to the general public and from which sales are made to customers invited to the vehicle and solicited for such purpose through the ringing of a bell or the use of any other device or means designed to attract attention to the vehicle.
Source: 39:3-64.1
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39A:12-SL2. Emergency warning lights for member of volunteer fire company, first aid or rescue squad
a. An active member in good standing of a volunteer fire company, first aid or rescue squad recognized by and rendering service in any municipality may display on a motor vehicle driven by that active member an emergency warning light or lights. The Director shall not require the member to specify the vehicles on which the emergency warning light or lights may be mounted.
b. Emergency warning lights may be operated only while the vehicle is being used in answering a fire or emergency call.
c. Emergency warning lights shall be temporarily attached, removable lights of the flashing or revolving type, not more than 7 1/2 inches in diameter, equipped with a blue lens and a lamp of not more than 51 candlepower and controlled by a switch installed inside the vehicle.
d. No more than two emergency warning lights may be installed on a vehicle. If one light is used, it shall be installed in the center of the roof of the car, on the left windshield column in a position where a spotlight is normally located, or on the front of the vehicle so that the top of the emergency warning light is no higher than the top of the vehicle's headlights. If two lights are used, they may be placed on the windshield columns on each side of the vehicle where spotlights are normally mounted, or on either side of the roof at the front of the vehicle directly back of the top of the windshield. Under no circumstances may one light be placed on the roof and one on the windshield column in the spotlight position.
e. The Director shall prepare identification cards bearing the signature of the Director which, upon the request of the mayor or chief executive officer of any municipality being served by a volunteer fire company, first aid or rescue squad, shall be forwarded to the mayor or chief executive officer, to be countersigned and issued by the mayor or chief executive officer to the members in good standing of the volunteer fire company, first aid or rescue squad. Such identification cards shall be considered permits to display and operate emergency warning lights as provided above and shall apply to any motor vehicle driven by such a member. Emergency warning lights may not be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards, and each member must carry the identification card while displaying any emergency warning light on a vehicle.
f. The use of emergency warning lights shall not grant to any member any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles. Members displaying emergency warning lights shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and shall obey all the traffic laws of this State. The drivers of non-emergency vehicles upon any highway, however, shall yield the right of way to the vehicle of any member displaying emergency warning lights in the same manner as is provided for authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to R.S. 39:4-92.
g. Any person authorized to display emergency warning lights who willfully displays or uses such lights in violation of the provisions of this section shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $50, and the privilege to display the emergency warning lights may be suspended or revoked by the Director. A person who is not authorized to display emergency warning lights who willfully displays or uses such lights shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $100.
Source: 39:3-54.7; 39:3-54.8; 39:3-54.9; 39:3-54.10; 39:3-54.11; 39:3-54.12; 39:3-54.13.
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39A:12-SL3. Special identification lights for certain licensed private detective businesses
a. The Director may issue permits authorizing vehicles of licensed private detective businesses under contractual agreement to provide community security services in planned developments as defined in the "Municipal Land Use Law" to display a special identification light. Issuance of such permits shall also be approved and signed by the chief law enforcement official in the municipality in which such permit shall be used.
b. The permit shall specify the type of light, the manner in which it shall be displayed and the conditions under which the operator of the vehicle may operate the vehicle when the light is in use. The permit shall also specify the color of the light, which shall be other than red. The permit for the use of the special identification light shall be carried by the operator while the light is displayed on the vehicle.
c. The permit shall be valid only when the conditions contained therein are complied with, and the Director may cancel or revoke a permit whenever the conditions for its issuance no longer exist or on any other reasonable grounds.
d. The Director shall charge a $25 fee for the issuance of each permit.
e. Any person authorized to display a special identification light who displays that light in violation of the provisions of this section shall be liable for a penalty of $50 for the first offense, and $100 for each subsequent offense.
Source: 39:3-54.14.
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39A:12-SL4. Emergency warning lights for volunteer fire chief or first assistant chief
a. An active chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company rendering service in any municipality may display on a motor vehicle owned by and registered in the name of the chief or first assistant chief a red emergency warning light or lights, a siren, or both. The size and type of lights and siren, and the location of their controls, shall be determined by the Director.
b. All red emergency lights shall be mounted on the exterior of the motor vehicle. No more than two red emergency warning lights shall be installed on a vehicle. If one light is used, it shall be installed in the center of the roof of the vehicle, or on the left windshield column in a position where a spotlight is normally located. If two lights are used they may be placed on the windshield columns on each side of the vehicle where spotlights are normally mounted, or on either side of the roof at the front of the vehicle directly back of the top of the windshield. Under no circumstances may one light be placed on the roof and one on a windshield column in the spotlight position. The lights shall be operated only while the vehicle is being used by the registered owner chief or first assistant chief in answering a fire or emergency call.
c. All sirens shall be mounted under the hood of the motor vehicle and shall be operated only while the vehicle is being used by the registered owner chief or first assistant chief in answering a fire or emergency call.
d. The Director shall prepare identification cards bearing the signature of the Director, which, upon the request of the mayor or chief executive officer of any municipality being served by a volunteer fire company, shall be forwarded to the mayor or chief executive officer, to be countersigned and issued by the mayor or chief executive officer to the chief or first assistant chief of the volunteer fire company. Identification cards shall be considered permits to display and operate red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both. No lights or sirens shall be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards, and each chief or first assistant chief shall carry the identification card while red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, are displayed on a vehicle.
e. This section shall not grant to any chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles. Persons displaying red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and shall obey the traffic laws of this State. Drivers of nonemergency vehicles upon any highway shall yield the right of way to the vehicle of any chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company displaying red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, in the same manner as is provided for authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to R.S. 39:4-92.
f. Any person authorized to display red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, who willfully displays or uses the lights or sirens in violation of the provisions of this act, shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $50 and the privilege to display the lights or sirens may be suspended or revoked by the Director.
Source: 39:3-54.15; 39:3-54.16; 39:3-54.17; 39:3-54.18; 39:3-54.19; 39:3-54.20;
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39A:12-SL5. Use of amber warning lights by United States Postal Service employees
a. Any employee of the United States Postal Service who is required to use a motor vehicle owned or leased by the employee or a family member in the performance of the employee’s duties may display on that motor vehicle an amber warning light.
b. The amber warning light may be operated only while the motor vehicle is being used by the United State Postal Service employee in the performance of the employee’s duties as a rural letter carrier.
c. The amber warning light shall be a temporarily attached, removable light of the flashing or revolving type, not more than 7 1/2 inches in diameter, not more than 51 candlepower, and controlled by a switch installed inside the vehicle. While in operation, the amber warning light shall be conspicuously displayed on the roof of the motor vehicle.
d. No person displaying and operating an amber warning light is afforded any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other motor vehicles and all such persons shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and obey the traffic laws of this State.
Source: 39:3-54.21.
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39A:12-SL6. Itinerant vendors
a. Every itinerant vendor's vehicle shall be equipped with a signaling system that signals turning movements and has a switching arrangement that will cause the two front turn signals and the two rear turn signals on the vehicle to flash simultaneously as a vehicular traffic hazard warning signal. The system shall be capable of flashing simultaneously with the engine operating or stopped.
b. Whenever the driver of an itinerant vendor's vehicle stops or parks the vehicle on any roadway or shoulder for the purpose of transacting business, the driver shall flash the two front and two rear turn signals of the vehicle simultaneously as a vehicular traffic hazard warning signal and continue the flashing so long as the vehicle remains stopped or parked for such purpose.
Source: 39:3-64.2; 39:3-64.3.
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TITLE 39 – SPECIALIZED LIGHTS MEMORANDUM – JULY 7, 2003 – PAGE 1
title39/title39specializedlightsM070703