STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

SENATE BILL 284	By:	Brecheen

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to privately owned vehicles of volunteer firefighters; allowing such vehicles to be equipped with certain signal lamps under certain circumstances; amending 47 O.S. 2011, Section 12-227, which relates to special restrictions on certain lamps; making exception to certain prohibition; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 12-218.3 of Title 47, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Any privately owned motor vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer firefighter of a combination fire department responding to fire alarms or other emergencies may be, but is not required to be, equipped with:
1.  Signal lamps that:
a.	are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable,
b.	 display four alternately flashing red lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located on the rear at the same level, and
c.	 emit a light visible at a distance of five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight; or
2.  A signal lamp that is temporarily attached to the vehicle roof and flashes a red light visible at a distance of five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight.
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     47 O.S. 2011, Section 12-227, is amended to read as follows:
Section 12-227.  A.  Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle, other than headlamps, spot lamps, auxiliary driving lamps, flashing turn signals, vehicular hazard warning lamps, authorized emergency vehicle lamps, snow removal and construction and maintenance vehicle warning lamps, and school bus and church bus warning lamps, which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five (75) feet from the vehicle.
B.  Except as provided in Section 1 of this act and Sections 12-218, 12-218.1, 12-228, and 12-229 of this title, no person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying or capable of displaying a red or blue light visible from directly in front of the center thereof.
C.  Flashing lights are prohibited except on:
1.  An authorized emergency vehicle, as provided in Section 12-218 of this title;
2.  A school bus or a church bus, as provided in Section 12-228 of this title;
3.  Any snow-removal and construction, and maintenance equipment, as provided in Section 12-229 of this title;
4.  A wrecker or tow vehicle while at the scene of an emergency or loading or unloading a vehicle in close proximity to traffic as needed for safety precautions or as a means of indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing, as provided in Section 12-218.1 of this title;
5.  Any vehicle as a means of indicating a right or left turn, as provided in Sections 12-206.1 and 12-606 of this title;
6.  Any vehicle as means of indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing, as provided in Section 12-220 of this title;
7.  Any vehicle displaying side marker lamps which flash in conjunction with turn signal lamps or vehicle hazard warning lamps, as provided in Section 12-220 of this title;
8.  A farm tractor or an implement of husbandry, as provided in Section 12-215 of this title; or
9.  Any vehicle used while performing official duties as a rural or contract route mail carrier of the United States Postal Service, as provided in Section 12-218.2 of this title; or
10.  Any privately owned motor vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer firefighter of a combination fire department responding to fire alarms or other emergencies, as provided in Section 1 of this act.
D.  Blue lights are prohibited except as allowed in Sections 12-218, 12-218.1, and 12-229 of this title.
E.  Any person violating the provisions of subsection B, C or D of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2013.

54-1-293	LKS	1/11/2013 2:48:30 PM