Title 31
Motor and Other Vehicles

Chapter 23
Equipment and Accessories Generally

§ 31-23-11.1. Warning lights on private vehicles.

(a) A joint committee for volunteer permits, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs, shall take responsibility for the following actions regarding warning lights on privately owned vehicles:

(1) Develop procedures for the design, issuance, transfer and revocation of permit stickers;

(2) Develop rules and regulations for the use of warning lights;

(3) Develop minimum training standards for drivers;

(4) Develop procedures to govern the board’s activities.

(b) The fire chief or commander of a municipal or non-profit fire, rescue, or ambulance department shall take responsibility for the following actions regarding warning lights on privately owned vehicles:

(1) Make application for permits to joint committee on volunteer permits;

(2) Maintain a listing of vehicle registrations and vehicle identification numbers for which warning lights are issued;

(3) Ensure that permits are removed from vehicles upon transfer of ownership;

(4) Post in a conspicuous place at all times, standard operating guidelines for the proper use of warning lights.

(c) The chief or commander of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department shall limit the use of warning lights to chief officers, deputy chiefs, assistant chiefs, captains, or other members deemed necessary and appropriate by written justification to the joint committee on volunteer permits.

(d) The fire, rescue, or ambulance department must own any warning lights issued by the fire chief or commander of the department.

(e) Each authorized volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department must affix a permit sticker on any vehicle utilizing warning lights in accordance with rules and regulations developed by the joint committee on volunteer permits. Authorized members shall only utilize these warning lights within their department jurisdiction as the members respond to an emergency or to provide protection while parked at the scene of an emergency.