Lightbars!?! Whats the deal?

[Jesse Risley]

The "service" that you underlined is related to "automotive service" in the first part of the paragraph... I don't think that can be related to EMA usage.

I'm sure that's what they mean, as service vehicles are specified, but I do think the exact word choice might be open to some legal interpretation. At any rate, even if that would be permissible under the technicality of the wording used, it would only be applicable to an official municipal/city vehicle, not a private vehicle owned by a member of the local ESDA agency.

 

[rdale]

Agreed. Moral of the story - having a flashing yellow light is not worth it I've driven the TV station's chase van to Iowa's NWA sevwx convention across the IL tollroad every year, with an existing yellow lightbar, and passed plenty of cops (with the lights off) and no problems. I'd imagine most aren't going to care unless you get stupid.

- Rob

 

[Stephen Barabas]

I had always assumed that the use of light bars was dependent upon the color of the cap or bulb which you use. Hence green being for ambulances, red and blue for fire and police... amber the typical color for hazardous, more pertaining to storm chasing.

 

[rdale]

As pointed out in the lightbar thread I linked above, all of those laws are state-dependent. Ambulances are red and white in most states, green is EMA in Indiana, etc. I know of zero states that have laws which say amber is for stormchasers, but some states do allow amber under certain circumstances which MIGHT include chasing (while you are parked on the side of the road.)

 

[Jesse Risley]

I had always assumed that the use of light bars was dependent upon the color of the cap or bulb which you use. Hence green being for ambulances, red and blue for fire and police... amber the typical color for hazardous, more pertaining to storm chasing.

If you ever want to know what the laws are for a given state, just go to http://policeposers.com/light-laws/ and select the state down below. When you click on the state, it will offer a brief summary of the light laws, usually followed by a link to a specific statute to verify the text of the summaries given.

 

[Stephen Barabas]

I'm sure it's arbitrary. I'm not saying Amber is mention for storm chasing, but more so utilized for hazard. But in this case FOR STORM CHASING, should only be in use while on the side of roads simply to let other drivers passing by have a better visual.

. . . So I've been told by police. But I don't dude up my vehicle with a torrent of lightbars anyway. A simple beacon with an amber cap does the trick. But I agree with you. I'm sure states have their own rules.

 

[Stephen Barabas]

And thanks, Jesse. That's helpful!

 

[Chris Heater]

After some of our chases in 2009 this year, we use our lightbar much less often. I have a Chevy S-10 (RED) with a full sized lightbar (Code3 MX7000) which...in my opinion....was a mistake. We would normally run our lights driving down the road, but after seeing some people's reaction on the road, i'll be hesitant to do that anymore. Off the side of the road is ok in my opinion. I'll also mention my lightbar has intersection lights (sweeping pattern) which again, i would normally use but no longer do that because of people's reaction. I had them on August 19th and people actually ran a red light to get out of my way. It was that reaction that got me thinking i'd just get it where the intersection sweepers point to the corners and don't sweep anymore (like the alley lights and takedowns). Just run the rotators (and that's if i'm on the side of the road)

I want to mention, to this date, I have had NO issues AT ALL with an Illinois police officer. The ONLY time I had a problem with an officer was in Missouri when too many people were pulling over. A warning and that was it. See why i'm using the lights much less often? I see now there really is no use having the lights on while driving down the road

Your opinion...do you guys think i'm doing the right thing?

 

[David Drummond]

Agreed. Moral of the story - having a flashing yellow light is not worth it I've driven the TV station's chase van to Iowa's NWA sevwx convention across the IL tollroad every year, with an existing yellow lightbar, and passed plenty of cops (with the lights off) and no problems. I'd imagine most aren't going to care unless you get stupid.

- Rob

Well that's it really Rob. I don't get to IL much but if someone is so bored they really want to enforce something that ambiguous on an out of state vehicle, I'll pay my $30 lightbar fee and be on my way. It's almost a none issue.

It's allowed in Texas, and I have had multiple LEOs from everything from city police to the DPS condone my huge ass chaser pissing off lightbar, so until someone that hates lightbars starts paying for my chase vehicles, I could care less whether other chasers like it or not. That's just the bottom line right there.

 

[Mark Sefried]

Taken from Illinois Compiled Statutes http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K12-215

For Amber lights in IL, as Jesse has posted:

Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
other construction, maintenance or automotive service vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as a means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance, service or construction on a highway;

It does not say that an individually owned vehicle can have amber lights for spotting purposes.

For Illinois EMA volunteers:

(c‑2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid or unpaid member of a local or county emergency management services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights to be used in combination with blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if authorization by local authorities is in writing and carried in the vehicle.

Our EMA director in Tazewell county told us that we can't have amber lights in our county on our own vehicles. We can have blue or white/blue lights only with a letter signed by him (as stated in the IL Statutes).

There are differences depending on what state you are in regarding the use of amber lights.

 

[Jesse Risley]

Your opinion...do you guys think i'm doing the right thing?

I personally don't care whether or not someone chooses to have lights; I don't feel the need to castigate others on what is ultimately a personal choice and really none of my business. To offer a quick answer to your question of whether or not you are "doing the right thing," because you are a legal resident of Illinois and thus a licensed driver by this state, what you are doing while chasing inside of the state, per your own description, could get you into trouble based on the wording of the state statute. As Rob said, as long as you don't do anything asinine, you may never have a problem with law enforcement. What you choose to do is your choice, not mine.

 

[Chris Heater]

I personally don't care whether or not someone chooses to have lights; I don't feel the need to school others on what should be a personal choice and none of anyone's business. To offer a quick answer as to whether or not you are "doing the right thing," because you are a legal resident of Illinois and thus a licensed driver by this state, what you are doing while chasing inside of the state, per your own description, could get you into trouble based on the wording of the state statute. As Rob said, as long as you don't do anything asinine, you may never have a problem with law enforcement.

True. Local law enforcement (at least in Central Illinois) knows my team now and what my vehicle's look like. I've always seem to have an irk for seeing an accident right in front of me at least once a month (or at least have a car stranded in some way), and the officer always asks me to have me direct traffic with my lightbar (it has an arrowstik). As you said...unless I did something asinine, i wouldn't see myself getting in trouble

 

[rdale]

I'd be careful with that... At that point you aren't doing it as a storm spotter or officially authorized agent of the municipality, so if someone plows into your car -- it's a pretty clear cut legal case that you will end up on the wrong side of.

 

[Chris Heater]

I'd be careful with that... At that point you aren't doing it as a storm spotter or officially authorized agent of the municipality, so if someone plows into your car -- it's a pretty clear cut legal case that you will end up on the wrong side of.

I could get sued for someone plowing into my vehicle? Really if someone can't see all my lights, they shouldn't be driving

 

[Jesse Risley]

As you said...unless I did something asinine, i wouldn't see myself getting in trouble

You mean something like when "I had them on August 19th and people actually ran a red light to get out of my way"?