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S3307
SENATE, No. 3307
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Corrado
SYNOPSIS
���� Authorizes certain emergency coordinators to operate
emergency lights on vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the display of emergency warning lights on
certain vehicles and amending P.L.1977, c.223 and P.L.1985, c.171.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.1977,
c.223 (C.39:3-54.7) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.��� a.� An active member in
good standing of any of the following organizations may mount and operate, on a
motor vehicle operated by that member, an emergency warning light or lights as
provided in P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.):
���� (1)�� a volunteer fire company
or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad recognized by and rendering service in
any municipality;
[
or
]
���� (2)�� any county or municipal
volunteer Office of Emergency Management recognized by and rendering service in
any county or municipality, provided the member's official duties include
responding to a fire or emergency call
;
����
(3)�� a county fire
coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator, as defined in section 3 of
P.L.2003, c.28 (C.52:14E-13); or
����
(4)�� a county emergency
medical services coordinator or deputy county emergency medical services
coordinator
.
���� b.��� The Chief Administrator
of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall not require the member to
specify on which motor vehicles the emergency warning light or lights may be
mounted.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.1)
���� 2.��� Section 5 of P.L.1977,
c.223, (C.39:3-54.11) is amended to read as follows:
���� 5.��� a.�
(1)
The Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall prepare suitable
identification cards
in a form and manner prescribed by and
bearing the
signature of the chief administrator which, upon the request of the mayor or
chief executive officer of any municipality recognizing and being served by a
volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad
[
on a form and
in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator
]
, shall be forwarded to the mayor
or chief executive officer, to be countersigned and issued by the mayor or
chief executive officer to the members in good standing of the volunteer fire
company or first aid or rescue squad.
����
(2)�� The chief
administrator shall prepare suitable identification cards in a form and manner
prescribed by and bearing the signature of the chief administrator which, upon
the request of a county executive or director of a board of county
commissioners recognizing and being served by a county fire coordinator, deputy
county fire coordinator, county emergency medical services coordinator or
deputy county emergency medical services coordinator, shall be forwarded to the
county executive or director to be countersigned and issued by the county
executive or director to the county fire coordinator, deputy county fire
coordinator, county emergency medical services coordinator, or deputy county
emergency medical services coordinator.
���� b.��� Identification cards
issued pursuant to
subsection a. of
this section and sections 5 and 6 of
P.L.2005, c.34 (C.39:3-54.22 and C.39:3-54.23) shall be considered permits to
mount and operate emergency warning lights as provided for in P.L.1977, c.223
(C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) and shall apply to any motor vehicle driven by the
[
member of a
volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer
Office of Emergency Management
]
the individual issued the identification card
.� Emergency warning lights
shall not be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards.� Each
[
member of a
volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer
Office of Emergency Management must
]
individual issued an identification card shall
carry the identification
card while an emergency warning light or lights are operated on the vehicle.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.4)
���� 3.��� Section 6 of P.L.1977,
c.223 (C.39:3-54.12) is amended to read as follows:
���� 6.��� Nothing contained herein
is intended to grant to any
[
member
of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a
volunteer Office of Emergency Management
]
individual authorized to operate emergency warning lights
any privileges
or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles
[
, and such
members
]
.� An authorized individual
operating emergency warning lights shall
drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and shall obey all the
traffic laws of this State including R.S.39:4-81, provided, however, that the
drivers of non-emergency vehicles upon any highway shall yield the right of way
to the vehicle of any
[
member
of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a
volunteer Office of Emergency Management
]
authorized individual
operating emergency warning lights in the same
manner as is provided for authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to
R.S.39:4-92.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.5)
���� 4.��� Section 1 of P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.15) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.���
[
A current
chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company, or chief officer of
a first aid or rescue squad, recognized by and rendering service in any
municipality may mount and operate on a motor vehicle owned by him and
registered in his name a red emergency warning light or lights, a siren, or
both, as prescribed in P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.15 et seq.).
]
�
a. �The
Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall permit an
eligible individual to mount and operate on a motor vehicle owned or leased and
registered to the individual a red emergency warning light or lights, a siren,
or both, as prescribed in P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.15 et seq.), if the
individual is:
����
(1) a current chief or
first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company, or chief officer of a first
aid or rescue squad, recognized by and rendering service in any municipality;
����
(2) a current county fire
coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator recognized by and rendering
service in any county; or
����
(3) a current county emergency
medical services coordinator or deputy county emergency medical services
coordinator recognized by and rendering service in any county.
����
b.
��� The size and type
of lights and siren, and the location of their controls, shall be determined by
the
[
Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
]
chief
administrator
.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.7)
���� 5.��� Section 2 of P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.16) is amended to read as follows:
���� All red emergency lights shall
be mounted on the exterior of the motor vehicle.� No more than two red
emergency warning lights shall be installed on a vehicle.� If one light is used
it shall be installed in the center of the roof of the vehicle, or on the left
windshield column in a position where a spotlight is normally located.� If two
lights are used they may be placed on the windshield columns on each side of
the vehicle where spotlights are normally mounted, or on either side of the
roof at the front of the vehicle directly back of the top of the windshield.�
Under no circumstances may one light be placed on the roof and one on a
windshield column in the spotlight position.� They shall be operated only while
the vehicle is being used by the
individual permitted pursuant to section 1
of P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.15)
[
registered
owner chief or first assistant chief
]
in answering a fire or emergency call.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.171, s.2)
���� 6.��� Section 3 of P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.17) is amended to read as follows:
���� All sirens shall be mounted
under the hood of the motor vehicle and shall be operated only while the
vehicle is being used by the
individual permitted pursuant to section 1 of
P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.15)
[
registered
owner chief or first assistant chief
]
in answering a fire or emergency call.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.171, s.3)
���� 7.��� Section 4 of P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.18) is amended as follows:
����
a.
���� The
[
Director of
the Division of Motor Vehicles
]
Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
shall
prepare suitable identification cards
in a form and manner prescribed by and
bearing the signature of the
[
director
]
chief
administrator
, which, upon the request of the mayor or chief executive
officer of any municipality recognizing and being served by a volunteer fire
company,
[
on
a form and in a manner prescribed by the director,
]
shall be forwarded to the mayor
or chief executive officer, to be countersigned and issued by the mayor or
chief executive officer to the chief or first assistant chief of the volunteer
fire company.� Identification cards issued pursuant to this
[
section
]
subsection
shall be considered permits to
[
display
]
mount
and operate red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, as provided for in
[
this act
]
P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.15 et seq.)
, and no lights or sirens shall be mounted
prior to the issuance of the identification cards.� Each chief or first
assistant chief of a volunteer fire company shall carry the identification card
while red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, are displayed on
[
his
]
the
vehicle.
����
b. �The chief administrator
shall prepare suitable identification cards in a form and manner prescribed by
and bearing the signature of the chief administrator, which, upon the request
of a county executive or director of a board of county commissioners
recognizing and being served by a county fire coordinator, deputy county fire
coordinator, county emergency medical services coordinator, or deputy county
emergency services coordinator, shall be forwarded to the county executive or
director, to be countersigned and issued by the county executive or director�
to the county fire coordinator, deputy county fire coordinator, county
emergency medical services coordinator, or deputy county emergency medical
services coordinator. Identification cards issued pursuant to this subsection
shall be considered permits to mount and operate red emergency warning lights,
sirens, or both, as provided for in P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.15 et seq.).�
Red emergency warning lights or sirens shall not be mounted prior to the issuance
of the identification cards.� Each county fire coordinator, deputy county fire
coordinator, county emergency medical services coordinator, or deputy county emergency
medical services coordinator shall carry the identification card while red
emergency
warning lights, sirens, or both,
are operated on the vehicle.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.171, s.4)
���� 8.��� Section 5 of P.L.1985,
c.171 (C.39:3-54.19) is amended to read as follows:
���� This act shall not grant to
any
[
chief
or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company
]
individual issued an
identification card pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.171
any privileges
or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles, and persons displaying
red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, shall drive with due regard for
the safety of all persons and shall obey the traffic laws of this State; but
drivers of nonemergency vehicles upon any highway shall yield the right of way
to the vehicle of any chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire
company
, county fire coordinator, deputy county fire coordinator, county emergency
medical services coordinator or deputy county emergency medical services
coordinator
displaying red emergency warning lights, sirens, or both, in
the same manner as is provided for authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to
R.S.39:4-92.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.171, s.5)
���� 9.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill authorizes certain
emergency officials to mount and operate emergency warning lights and sirens on
their personal vehicles when answering emergency calls.
���� Under current law, blue
emergency warning lights may be operated by a member of a volunteer fire
company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or by a member of a county or
municipal volunteer office of emergency management whose official duties include
responding to a fire or emergency call, provided the company or volunteer is
recognized by and rendering service in a county or municipality.� Current law
also permits a chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company to
operate red emergency warning lights.� This bill authorizes county fire
coordinators, deputy county fire coordinators, county emergency medical
services coordinators, and deputy emergency medical services coordinators to
operate these emergency warning lights if certain conditions are met.
���� In order for a county fire
coordinator, deputy county fire coordinator, county emergency medical services
coordinator, or deputy county emergency medical services coordinator to mount
and operate an emergency warning light, regardless of its color, the bill
requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to
prepare suitable identification cards bearing the chief administrator�s
signature upon the request of a county executive or director of a board of
county commissioners recognizing and being served by a county fire coordinator,
deputy county fire coordinator, county emergency medical services coordinator,
or deputy county emergency medical services coordinator.� The identification
cards would be countersigned and issued by the county executive or board
director to the county fire coordinator, deputy county fire coordinator, county
emergency medical services coordinator or deputy county emergency medical
services coordinator.� The bill prohibits emergency warning lights from being
mounted prior to the identification cards being issued, and the person issued a
card would need to carry the identification card while an emergency warning
light operates on the vehicle.� These identification requirements are identical
to those imposed under existing law for other authorized drivers operating
emergency warning lights.
���� Nothing in current law or this
bill grants a county fire coordinator, deputy county fire coordinator, county
emergency medical services coordinator, or deputy county emergency medical
services coordinator any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of
other vehicles, and the driver operating emergency warning lights is to drive
with due regard for the safety of all persons and obey all State traffic laws.