Colorado Flashing Amber Light Permit
Emergency and Warning Flashing Lights in Colorado: Rules, Colors, and Vehicle Requirements
What Drivers Need to Know, Which color can they use & Which vehicles needs this: A Complete Breakdown of Colors, Rules
Requirements of Emergency Lights for Vehicles in Colorado
In Colorado, emergency lights on vehicles must meet particular specifications. These lights must be red and can function as flashing, oscillating, or revolving lamps. They must be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle from a distance of 500 feet under typical daytime circumstances. Firefighting trucks may also show supplementary lighting in blue, white, or a combination of the two colors.
Emergency and Warning Lights: Permit Requirements, Validity, and Allowed Number of Lights
Permit validity: The beacon must be posted in a visible area, and permits have staggered expirations. The permit has a two-year validity duration.
Number of Decals Allowed: Only one decal is permitted per car.
Permit Requirements for Flashing or Amber Lights in Colorado:
Extralegal Vehicles: Vehicles or loads wider than 8 feet 6 inches but less than 12 feet in width can employ a flashing yellow light in front and at least two but no more than three in the rear. When going on two-lane highways, a pilot vehicle is needed at the front for vehicles or cargoes wider than 12 feet but no wider than 14 feet, and a pilot escort vehicle is required at the rear on four-lane highways. Vehicles or load more than 14 feet in width are not permitted to move at night unless they have a special Chapter 6 permit.
Volunteer firefighters: Volunteer firefighters’ vehicles may exhibit red signal lights that flash, oscillate, or rotate. These lights must be seen at a distance of 500 feet during daytime hours. These lights are suitable for a variety of situations, including funerals and parades.
Designated vehicles: Only approved vehicles are permitted to use emergency or warning lights. This category encompasses tow trucks, construction vehicles, pilot vehicles, and security vehicles.
Driver Requirements: Drivers must be especially cautious while approaching, overtaking, or passing vehicle with yellow warning lights. Additionally, vehicles must give the right of way to highway and traffic maintenance vehicles with flashing warning lights.
Flashing Warning Lights allowed for Vehicles in Colorado
Flashing warning lights are permitted for vehicles in Colorado.
In Colorado, flashing or warning lights are only authorized on certain vehicle types:
Authorized Service Vehicles:
These vehicles are privately owned, yet they fulfill an important public duty. Authorized service vehicles include:
• Auto rescue vehicles
• Pilot vehicles
• Public utility vehicles
• Tow trucks or wreckers
• Tree service equipment
• Land surveyor vehicles
Extralegal Vehicles or Loads:
Vehicles or Load that exceed certain dimensions must use flashing yellow lights while driving at night. This includes:
• Vehicles or load with a width of greater than 8 feet 6 inches but less than 12 feet.
• Vehicles or loads that surpass 12 feet but are no more than 14 feet wide.
• Vehicles or cargo exceeding the permissible length limitations or having an overhang.
Emergency vehicles: Emergency vehicles are vehicles owned and operated by or for government agencies, such as fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances.
Emergency lights can only be used by vehicles that have been formally authorized in Colorado. This includes:
• Fire department vehicles
• Police vehicles
• Ambulances
• Other special-purpose vehicles operated by a government agency
Privately-owned emergency vehicles:
Privately owned automobiles may also be utilized as emergency vehicles under certain circumstances. To be eligible, the car must be currently registered in the applicant’s name. The method involves:
• Filling out the application for emergency vehicle equipment authorization.
• Acquiring certification from one of the following agencies in the region where the vehicle will be used:
Sheriff
Chief of police
Fire chief
Colorado State Patrol
Ambulance service director
The certifying agency must confirm that the vehicle is required to save lives, property, or perform emergency governmental tasks within their jurisdiction.
Utilization of Emergency Lights in Colorado
Use of Emergency Lights in Colorado. In Colorado, emergency lights are used to warn other drivers of possible risks and clear the way for emergency vehicles:
Safety: Emergency lights play an important part in improving safety by providing additional warnings to vehicles in critical situations.
Clearing the Way: Emergency lights help clear the road for emergency vehicles including police cars, ambulances, and fire engines, allowing them to pass through traffic swiftly and safely.
Providing Directions: Emergency lights can also be utilized to provide unambiguous directions to drivers, such as signaling them to pull over or obey particular directives.
Slow Down or Move Over: Colorado law requires drivers to move at least one lane away from emergency vehicles or drop their speed to 20 mph below the official speed limit while approaching one.
Special Purpose Applications: During parades, funerals, and other special occasions, fire engines and firefighters may employ their emergency signal system. However, its utilization should not convey the idea that the vehicle is reacting to an actual emergency.
Laws of red blue amber and green lights for emergency flashing light for vehicles in Colorado
Colorado laws on red, blue, amber, and green emergency flashing lights for vehicles
In Colorado, state law allows only approved emergency vehicles to use red and blue flashing lights, with the option of using white or a mix of the two. Green flashing lights are only permitted at stationary command posts during emergencies and cannot be used by other vehicles. Amber lights are commonly used by service trucks to signal a warning, however they are not designed for emergency circumstances.
Key Points About Colorado’s Emergency Vehicle Light Laws
Red and blue are the primary colors used by approved emergency vehicles, such as police cars, fire engines, and ambulances.
• White: This color can be used alone or in conjunction with blue on emergency vehicles.
• Green: Green flashing lights are permitted only at specified fixed command posts during an emergency.
• Amber: Amber lights are widely used on service vehicles such as tow trucks to provide a warning, although they are not designed for emergency usage.
Important: It is prohibited to utilize emergency lights on any vehicle that does not have the necessary authorization. When emergency vehicles use their lights and sirens, drivers must give them the right of way.
Colorado Emergency Vehicle Light State Statutes
In Colorado, some vehicles are allowed to utilize emergency and warning lights as part of their operational tasks. These vehicles, whether public or private, are subject to laws stated in the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.), which control the usage of such lights.
Police vehicles:
Under C.R.S. 42-4-213, police vehicles must have at least one signal lamp set as high as feasible on the vehicle. This indicator must be a flashing, oscillating, or revolving red light that can be seen from both the front and rear at a distance of 500 feet during the day. In addition, police vehicles can display additional lights in blue, white, or a mix of the two. Green flashing lights can be employed by command post vehicles, but only while they are stationary.
Fire Trucks:
Fire vehicles must meet comparable standards, with C.R.S. 42-4-213 requiring at least one red light to be positioned on the highest feasible point of the vehicle, visible from 500 feet during the day. Additional blue, white, or a combination of these hues can be employed as extra lighting. If the fire truck serves as a command post during an emergency, green flashing lights may be deployed, but the vehicle must stay stationary.
Volunteer firefighters:
Volunteers in fire departments are able to install emergency lights on their own vehicles. C.R.S. 42-4-222 controls the usage of such lights, which must be red but may also be white or red-and-white. These lights must be visible from both the front and back of the vehicle at a distance of 500 feet during the day. However, volunteers must obtain a permit to use these lights, which are often approved for events such as funerals or parades but should not mislead the public into believing the driver is responding to an emergency.
Ambulances:
C.R.S. 42-4-213 requires ambulances to have at least one red flashing, oscillating, or spinning light located on the tallest section of the vehicle, visible from 500 feet in daytime. Additional blue, white, or blue-and-white lights may be used, as long as they fulfill visibility and operating requirements. Volunteer ambulance attendants can put comparable lights on their own vehicles with a permission, as long as the lights fulfill the same visibility standards.
Tow Trucks and Construction Vehicles:
C.R.S. 42-4-214 requires tow vehicles to employ yellow lights that flash, revolve, or oscillate. These lights must be set as high as feasible and visible from 500 feet in all directions while on the road. Similarly, construction vehicles can employ yellow lights that must be seen from the same distance and positioned in the highest practicable point.
Snow Plow Vehicles: Government snowplows are an exception. In addition to yellow lights, they may display two blue lights. These lights must be visible from 500 feet and are activated when the truck is plowing snow.
Utility Vehicles:
Utility vehicles, such as those that provide power or sanitation services, may utilize yellow lights. These lights must be visible from 500 feet in all directions and capable of flashing, rotating, or oscillating. They must be positioned high on the vehicle to ensure optimal visibility.
Pilot vehicles:
Pilot vehicles escorting big goods must additionally display yellow lights that are visible from 500 feet during daytime. These lights must be mounted at the vehicle’s highest point and are authorized to flash, oscillate, or revolve while operating. In Colorado, pilot vehicle operators must complete a certification checklist before using these lights.
Security vehicles:
Security vehicles are permitted to use yellow lights as well. These must be positioned high and visible from 500 feet throughout the day. When in operation, the lights must flash, oscillate, or revolve, much like those on other service vehicles.
For particular inquiries about the usage of emergency vehicle lights, contact local authorities or see the applicable Colorado legislation.
Important:
(Please keep in mind that this is only a guide and not legal advice. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, check local authorities or the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Obtain Colorado Flashing Amber Light Permit with US
Conclusion:
In Colorado, emergency and warning lights are vital for road safety, alerting drivers to possible risks, and allowing emergency vehicles to respond quickly to urgent circumstances. Whether you are a motorist, a service provider, or a vehicle owner, understanding the regulations, colors, and criteria for using these lights is critical for legal compliance and safety. Knowing when and when to deploy red and blue lights on emergency vehicles, as well as yellow lights on construction and pilot trucks, is critical for preserving road safety and reducing dangers.
If you drive a vehicle that requires emergency or warning lights in Colorado, be sure you are following the proper requirements and have the right permits. Do you need help obtaining permits or have concerns regarding your vehicle’s lighting requirements?
Contact us immediately at 630-222-5770 for professional guidance and dependable permit services.
Stay compliant and safe!
