Thursday, Sep. 03, 2009

Live Wire: Flashing lights are regulated

• I recently saw a phone company truck in my neighborhood with a yellow flashing light. I was wondering, what are the laws regarding flashing lights and who can use them? Also, are there any color restrictions?

There are several sections within the state code of laws that regulate the use of flashing lights on vehicles.

Flashing lights are off-limits for most vehicles. Code section 56-5-4830 states that “flashing lights are prohibited except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow-removal equipment” or when there is a “vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.”

Department of Public Safety officials say that certain utility vehicles (phone company and the like) making frequent stops are covered by this section as well as vehicles used for postal delivery. However, in such cases these lights are simply a way of urging other drivers to use caution. They do not grant those particular vehicles any special highway driving privileges, as is the case for ambulances or fire trucks on the way to an emergency call.

The law (56-5-4740) does allow everyday drivers to use the warning lamps (or caution lights) on their vehicles to warn drivers in other vehicles of a traffic hazard that would require care in approaching.

Generally, blue flashing lights are restricted to use by law enforcement vehicles (Section 56-5-4700) while red flashing lights are reserved for such vehicles as school buses and emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, wreckers or Department of Transportation vehicles used in an emergency.

• Does the post office sell its change-of-address lists to businesses for commercial purposes?

Postal officials have told us the change-of-address forms are kept on file only for forwarding postal customers’ mail, and the lists are not shared or sold to any organization.

Live Wire is published on Thursdays.

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