Bill Text: CA SB962 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 962

Bill Title: Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-08-13 - August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB962 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB962-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate May 14, 2026

Amended IN Senate March 09, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 962

Introduced by Senator Archuleta

February 03, 2026

An act to amend Section 25258 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 962, as amended, Archuleta. Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights.

Existing law authorizes specified peace officers, including, among others, police officers, probation officers, and members of the California National Guard, in the performance of the officers’ duties, to display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear of their emergency vehicles.

This bill, the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act, would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to, upon an appropriation from the Legislature, install a blue warning light on an emergency vehicle operated by a parole officer. The bill would additionally authorize parole officers to display the blue warning light from their emergency vehicles if they complete a 4-hour classroom training course regarding the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

This act shall be known as, and may be cited as, the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act.

SEC. 2.

Section 25258 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

25258.

(a) An authorized emergency vehicle operating under the conditions specified in Section 21055 may display a flashing white light from a gaseous discharge lamp designed and used for the purpose of controlling official traffic control signals.

(b) (1) An authorized emergency vehicle used by a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1 of, subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (n) of Section 830.3 of, subdivision (b) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32 of, Section 830.33 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, Section 830.6 of, or a probation officer or parole officer, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of, the Penal Code, in the performance of the peace officer’s duties, may, in addition, display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle.

(2) (A) Before a probation officer operates an emergency vehicle with a blue warning light, the officer shall complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Standards and Training for Corrections Division of the Board of State and Community Corrections.

(B) ~~Before~~ (i) Upon an appropriation from the Legislature, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may install a blue warning light on an emergency vehicle operated by a parole officer.

(ii) Before a parole officer operates an emergency vehicle with a blue warning light, the officer shall complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training.

(3) This subdivision does not expand any existing authority of a probation officer or parole officer to conduct a high-speed vehicle pursuit, nor does it change any existing training requirements for a high-speed vehicle pursuit.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (a), a vehicle shall not be equipped with a device that emits any illumination or radiation that is designed or used for the purpose of controlling official traffic control signals.