H2599 — An Act relative to the use of green lights for municipal emergency management vehicles

Summary

An Act relative to the use of green lights for municipal emergency management vehicles

Bill Text

• Full text Current

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The bill establishes regulations for the use of flashing green lights on certain municipal vehicles, outlining conditions for their display and permit requirements.

• Chapter 90

  7E1/2. No motor vehicle operated pursuant to section seven other than MassDOT or municipal public works and emergency management vehicles shall mount or display a flashing, rotating or oscillating green light in any direction, except as herein provided; that nothing in this section shall prohibit an official police vehicle from displaying a flashing, rotating or oscillating red light in the opposite direction in which the vehicle is proceeding or prohibit fire apparatus from displaying a flashing, rotating or oscillating blue light in the opposite direction in which the vehicle is proceeding.

  This new section prohibits most vehicles from displaying green lights, with exceptions for specific municipal vehicles.

• Chapter 90

  A vehicle owned or operated by the municipal emergency management or public works department as appointed by the municipal governing body may have mounted thereon flashing, rotating or oscillating green lights. Such lights shall only be displayed when such owner or operator is proceeding to an emergency or in response to an alarm and when the official duty of such owner or operator requires them to proceed to said emergency or to respond to said alarm, or, for public works department, for official public works activities, and at no other time.

  This section allows specific municipal vehicles to use green lights under certain conditions.

• Chapter 90

  No such green light shall be mounted or displayed on such vehicle until proper application has been made to the registrar by the emergency management director or public works director or similar title, as appointed by the municipalities governing body and a written permit has been issued and delivered to the owner and operator.

  This establishes a permitting process for mounting green lights on municipal vehicles.

• Chapter 90

  In the event that the operator is not the registered owner of the vehicle, no permit shall be issued until said owner forwards to the registrar a written statement certifying that he has knowledge that such green light will be mounted and displayed on said vehicle.

  This ensures owner consent is required for the use of green lights on vehicles not owned by the operator.

• Chapter 90

  Any person operating a private or commercial vehicle upon which flashing, rotating or oscillating green lights herein authorized are mounted shall have the permit for said lights upon their person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place.

  This mandates that operators must carry permits for authorized green lights on vehicles.

• Chapter 90

  Upon termination of the duties which warranted the issuance of the permit, the mayor or chair of the board of selectmen shall immediately notify the registrar who shall forthwith revoke such green light permit.

  This allows for the revocation of permits when duties requiring the green lights cease.

• Chapter 90

  Upon the written request of the mayor or board of selectmen of the municipality in which such permitted vehicle is registered, the registrar may revoke such permit.

  This gives municipalities the authority to request revocation of green light permits.

• Chapter 90

  The registrar shall revoke such permit for the unauthorized use of such green lights and the owner and operator shall be subject to a fine as hereinafter provided.

  This establishes penalties for unauthorized use of green lights on vehicles.

• Chapter 90

  Upon revocation, the registrar of motor vehicles shall notify forthwith the owner and operator of the vehicle for which such permit was issued and the head of the police department and fire department of the town in which his original permit was issued.

  This ensures that relevant authorities and permit holders are informed of permit revocation.

• Chapter 90

  The registrar may also make such rules and regulations governing or prohibiting the display of such other lights on motor vehicles as he may deem necessary for public safety.

  This gives the registrar authority to regulate other light displays for safety purposes.

• Chapter 90

  Any person who violates any provision of this section for which a penalty is not otherwise provided shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, nor more than one thousand dollars.

  This sets specific monetary penalties for violations of the new regulations.

Sponsors

• Carol A. Doherty · Primary

Subjects