NJ Blue Lights

[PEMO3 523]

Interesting story on CBS 880 stated in New Jersey police say it is a common courtesy and the law to pull over for flashing blue lights. Failure to yield could lead to a fine or points on your license. Seems confusing, which is it "common courtesy" or "the law". It can't be both.

[JJB531 652]

Interesting story on CBS 880 stated in New Jersey police say it is a common courtesy and the law to pull over for flashing blue lights. Failure to yield could lead to a fine or points on your license. Seems confusing, which is it "common courtesy" or "the law". It can't be both.

Sounds like the statement was intended to relay that while common sense would dictate it's courteous to allow an emergency responder displaying a blue light to pass, it is also the law and punishable if broken.

[firedude 985]

Here we go agian...

N.J.S.A. 39:3-54.12

Under NEW JERSEY STATE LAW, drivers of non-emergency vehicles

shall yield the right of way to the vehicle of any member of a volunteer

fire company or a volunteer first aid squad or rescue squad displaying

emergency warning lights as in the same manner as authorized

emergency vehicles (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92).

39:4-91 Failure to yield to emergency vehicles

39:4-91 Failure to yield to emergency vehicles, Right of way of emergency vehicles; liability of drivers.

39:4-91. a. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right of way to any authorized emergency vehicle when it is operated on official business, or in the exercise of the driver's profession or calling, in response to an emergency call or in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law and when an audible signal by bell, siren, exhaust whistle or other means is sounded from the authorized emergency vehicle and when the authorized emergency vehicle, except a police vehicle, is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle.

b. This section shall not relieve the driver of any authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall it protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any immunity or defense otherwise provided by law.

Amended 1951, c.23, s.49; 1997, c.423, s.1.

39:4-92. Authorized emergency vehicles; clearance for; following or parking near Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal, and equipped, as required by section 39:4-91 of this Title, and unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer,

(a) The driver of every vehicle shall immediately drive to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of an intersection of highways, and shall stop and remain in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed and

(B ) The driver or person in control of a street car shall immediately stop the car clear of an intersection of highways and keep it stationary until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

No driver of any vehicle other than one on official business shall follow any authorized emergency vehicle, traveling in response to an emergency call, closer than 300 feet, or drive nearer to, or park the vehicle within 200 feet of, where any fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.

Amended by L.1951, c. 23, p. 85, s. 50; L.1962, c. 148, s. 1.

According to NJ State Law, drivers are required to yeild to all emergency vehicles. In NJ, volunteer firefighter POVs are considered emergency vehicles. So yes, its the law.

Edited November 29, 2011 by firedude

[JJB531 652]

Here we go agian...

Care to elaborate?

[firedude 985]

Care to elaborate?

The topic of warning lights for volunteer firefighters has been discused many times on these forums. Here are some examples...

POV's

Very expensive Blue Light

N.Y. Passes New Emergency Light Law

Warning Lights on Con Ed Trucks

Mounting Lights

Wanton Disregard of the Law?

Flashing Blue Road Rage

Rear Facing Red lights

Blue Lights for all emergency service vehicles

BLUE LED's on MTA Busses

Would you still volunteer.......

Volunteer POV's In CT- Courtesy Lights?

NYS Blue Light Law

Fed up with bad drivers?

Trooper Hits, Arrests Firefighter En Route to Call

New NYS Law- "The Blue Light Bill"

Green Lights for VACs Personal Vehicles

Volunteers with Red Lights

Blue Light Laws for NJ?

Edited November 29, 2011 by firedude

[jack10562 414]

...for what one might consider is a relatively benign topic, this particular one gets more than it's fair share of coverage.

[JJB531 652]

I'm quite aware of the previous threads regarding lights on POV's. PEMO was looking for clarification on whether it was law or a courtesy in NJ because of the conflicting statement made by either a police official or misquoted by the author of the news piece. Clarification was adequately provided with the facts you provided. The "here we go again" comment is the reason why certain threads spiral into unproductive, one-liner riddled, useless rants.