Chapter 076
2018 -- S 2284 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/28/2018

A N   A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - FLASHING VEHICLE LIGHTS

Introduced By: Senators Seveney, Coyne, Calkin, DiPalma, and Goodwin
Date Introduced: February 01, 2018

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 § 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 office of the
state fire marshal; school buses; hospital emergency response vehicles; 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; newspaper motor route carriers; 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. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25)
shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this
subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety
and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee.
     (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 § 31-41.1-4.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2019.
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LC004484/SUB A
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