Need help with vehicle warning light laws

[coolmandog2009]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I have a question regarding this law.
(VIRGINIA CODE OF LAW)§ 46.2-1024. Flashing or steady-burning red or red and white warning lights.

Any member of a fire department, volunteer fire company, or volunteer rescue squad, any ambulance driver employed by a privately owned ambulance service, and any police chaplain may equip one vehicle owned by him with no more than two flashing or steady-burning red or red and white combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent. Warning lights permitted by this section shall be lit only when answering emergency calls.


My question is-- how many lights may you actually have?(I'm volun. resc. squad memb.) Most police officers within my state(that I've spoken to) told me that I could only have one flashing light., but the way this law reads seems like it means that I can have two separate flashing light units..So, which is right?

Thanks.

 

[justalayman]

no more than two flashing or steady-burning red or red and white combination warning lights

what is the question again?

is this possibly based on you are considering 1 light to be 1 light unit, such as the entire bar or other similar appliance and the others are considering this as 1 light bulb=1 light?

if that is the problem, they are correct.

 

[coolmandog2009]

I've got say two Mini Phantoms(they are dual dash lights) would both of them be legal?

 

[justalayman]

I suppose using my argument, both would since the each contain 66 LEDs so let's stretch this a bit to look at intent.


I believe the intent is a light was meant to be considered as a unit capable of emitting light as single lamp would. As such, each mini-phantom (I presuming the 2 ends flash independently of each other) would be considered 2 lights. As such, 2 mini phantoms would be seen as 4 lights but either one would be legal if that were the only lights on you vehicle.

Persoanally, I believe the law you are facing is outdated and I would suspect in was enacted well before the advent of LED lights were used for this use. Probably from the time where gumball machines were common and maybe the bars were coming into use. That allowed the use of 1 bar with 2 lights in it, nothing more or one small gumball machine in front windshield and 1 in the rear window.


so, now how do you argue anything differently. First, what ever is ruled by whomever makes the call (the "Superintendent", who ever that is) is pretty much the rule you must follow. Understand that and simply learn to accept that which you cannot change (that's a very good prayer to live by btw)


what are you trying to achieve? 1 of those in front windshield and one in the rear maybe?

 

[FlyingRon]

Before you get all squirrely putting flashing lights on your car you better check the individual fire (or whatever) company to see what their policy is with regard to POV responses. Many outright forbid the lights and making emergency response in the POV.

 

[coolmandog2009]

Yes, I want to put one in the front and the back and that's it. But, I don't know how the law interprets that... And, no to the other person, I'm not setting the vehicle up as a some "light happy" vehicle haha

 

[justalayman]

if the guy wants to be real picky, he can deny you. If you present this as those are really nice and visible lights and you don't want to turn the car into a parade float, he can allow them.


Rather than putting them on and then arguing with him, approaching him with an example or just a brochure and saying :hey, what do you think of these lights? One in the front and one in the back. I was worried about you approving them because each one flashed like it is 2 lights and I know the law says I am only allowed 2 lights total so I figured I would ask you first. What do you think? Hey, where we going for a beer tonight?




just kidding on the last line.

but arguing the point will result in the super using his rights of approval to deny and it would appear he has final say.

just out of dumb curiosity, can you make each the entire unit flash together?

nevermind, yes you can:

SIRENNET.COM - Star/SVP ULB9 Mini Phantom

I think I just had a seizure from that video