Flashing Strobe Lights On Non Emergency Vehicles

[TheAxeman]

Has anybody encountered this before? I was riding this past weekend and spotted a vehicle with flashing strobe lights closing in on me rapidly, perhaps 90MPH to my 60. Thinking it was a cop or some other type of EV I slowed down a bit. Next thing I know a white stretch Ford Expedition limo goes flying by me! I could tell he was having the same effect on other drivers as they pulled into the far right lane to let this moronic POS go by unhindered. A few miles later I saw him and his posse in the parking lot of a local winery.... <_< The strobes were mounted in the taillight and parking light housings on the front and back and were not colored red, blue or green but isn't there some sort of law to govern these things? Of course, now that I think about it headlight modulators on motorcycles aren't regulated either.

 

[Ignacio]

isn't there some sort of law to govern these things? Of course, now that I think about it headlight modulators on motorcycles aren't regulated either.

It varies from state to state. Some do, some don't, some are strict, some are loose, some are enforced diligently, some aren't.

All part of that Tenth Amendment thing.

 

[ponyfool]

I charged a guy in Oregon for having white flashers on his Jeep about 5 years ago. He was activating them to pull people over and yell at them. He would also do it to get through thick traffic. The case was dismissed because the lights were not blue or red, and the judge said, "If mail vehicles can have strobes, so can regular vehicles."

Thus, in Oregon, at least one judge thinks you'd be fine with them.

On a side note, I have a friend with a C14. They have those two very small lights between the headlights. I think having those flashing strobe that bicycles have would be a great addition to the visibility of his C14 during the day.

 

[Ian Farlow]

As noted, it varies from state to state. For example, in Georgia you can find the following:

- Red - Fire/EMS/HERO/Law Enforcement/Public Utility

- Blue - Law Enforcement

- Red/Blue Together - Public Safety (Combo of Fire/EMS and LE)

- Amber - Construction, Tow Services, Heavy/Wide Load Movement

- Purple - Hearse/Funeral Vehicle

- Green - EMS/Medical (Never actually seen this one)

- White - Any of the above in combination with another color

Tow trucks and equipment movers tend to display their lights while in operation on the roadway. Funeral vehicles do as well. These aren't emergency vehicles, per se, and yet are able to display strobes/flashing lights as a component of the function of the vehicle. In my work experience, we would focus more on violations involving blue or red lights more than anything else, based on the confusion to motorists that the lights present and well as their use by impersonators preying on the public.

So, not sure what that limo was all about, but it might have been a legitimate use of strobes (bearing in mind that I don't have any idea about NY laws or why a limo like that would need strobes anyway).

However, my gut tells me that it wasn't legitimate.

 

[wfooshee]

If they're white strobes, ignore them. He's not entitled to anything special. I've only seen such on contractor vehicles at road construction sites, but never in traffic.

I'd say give normal traffic courtesy, like move over when you can, but don't go out of your way, especially if he's mis-using them.

In the case of the OP, I'd call in the tag number with a "danger to others" statement regarding the speed.

 

[Duezzer]

Up here in the land of snow they have started putting the White strobes on our school busses

They are to only be used durning poor visability conditions - Heavy rain,fog or snow

Alberta Canada

 

[mdisher]

Up here in the land of snow they have started putting the White strobes on our school busses They are to only be used durning poor visability conditions - Heavy rain,fog or snow

Alberta Canada

****, not just in the land of snow, we have school buses around here that have em.

 

[TheAxeman]

A school bus you can understand. A hearse in a funeral procession you can understand. This rig had the lights set up like a police car would. It was bearing down so fast and weaving in and out of traffic I just assumed it had to be something more than a load of half drunken winery hoppers. It startled the crap out of me as I'm sure it did most of the people sharing the road with this *******.

 

[Duezzer]

The Police may be the people to call if you see these antics again

To drive a Limo most places require a special license and they cannot get very many tickets before the license is pulled

Up here in the land of Polar Bears anyway

Cops up hear like having citizen X call in the complaint - it gives them back up in court and prosecution is more successful and it is harder to plea bargin when it is a public complaint

Usually goes to court

Later

 

[Geezer]

It was probably the governor.

 

[cometman]

I have used my modulating front lights while going through CA. HP controlled stop signs. No problem. I use them on roads that I know fellow riders have been killed or had accidents on because of people not paying attention. I have used them on freeways and cagers move over, then get pissed off. Heck, the FJR looks enough like a cop so sometimes people move over anyhow. h34r:

 

[k7lvo]

I charged a guy in Oregon for having white flashers on his Jeep about 5 years ago. He was activating them to pull people over and yell at them. He would also do it to get through thick traffic. The case was dismissed because the lights were not blue or red, and the judge said, "If mail vehicles can have strobes, so can regular vehicles."
Thus, in Oregon, at least one judge thinks you'd be fine with them.

On a side note, I have a friend with a C14. They have those two very small lights between the headlights. I think having those flashing strobe that bicycles have would be a great addition to the visibility of his C14 during the day.

I've got strobes in the front turn signals and tail lights of my Gold Wing. I use them when assisting with bicycling events. I've also used them at accident/disabled vehicle scenes until the police arrived and have never had a LEO object.

However, in the case above, couldn't you have established intent to impersonate a LEO?

 

[Patriot]

I charged a guy in Oregon for having white flashers on his Jeep about 5 years ago. He was activating them to pull people over and yell at them. He would also do it to get through thick traffic. The case was dismissed because the lights were not blue or red, and the judge said, "If mail vehicles can have strobes, so can regular vehicles."
Thus, in Oregon, at least one judge thinks you'd be fine with them.

On a side note, I have a friend with a C14. They have those two very small lights between the headlights. I think having those flashing strobe that bicycles have would be a great addition to the visibility of his C14 during the day.

I've got strobes in the front turn signals and tail lights of my Gold Wing. I use them when assisting with bicycling events. I've also used them at accident/disabled vehicle scenes until the police arrived and have never had a LEO object.

However, in the case above, couldn't you have established intent to impersonate a LEO?

my bud, Nick da Ride Captain of MS had strobes put in his GL1800 wang like above. Used to gain attention in funeral processions. I am going with a harness to max my headlights lumens, and a modulator for same thing. When it's a veteran with no police escort, we usually do "some" blocking of traffic near the cemetery to get everyone in. Need big time visibility for those kind of tasks.