Bill Text: NJ S380 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits certain vehicles operated by emergency response workers to use red lights and sirens.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S380 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S380-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain vehicles operated by emergency response workers to use red lights and sirens.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning emergency red lights and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A person may display a red emergency warning light, or lights, a siren, or both on a properly equipped motor vehicle if the vehicle is operated by a member of a first aid or rescue squad and used for the purpose of transporting emergency medical personnel and equipment to sick and injured persons. The size, type and placement of the light and siren shall be consistent with regulations promulgated by the commission.
b. As used in this section, "properly equipped motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle carrying life-saving equipment issued by the first aid or rescue squad including oxygen therapy, trauma and defibrillation equipment, an active two-way radio communications system, and any other equipment the Department of Health and Senior Services may require by regulation.
c. The commission shall not require rescue squads seeking to use red lights and sirens on properly equipped motor vehicles pursuant to this section to obtain a special registration or license plate other than the registration required for privately-owned vehicles operated on the roadways of this State. The commission may require, however, that a first aid or rescue squad that intends to use a red light or siren pursuant to this section provide the commission with a list of the properly equipped motor vehicles on which red lights or sirens are to be used and a list of the names of members authorized to operate vehicles equipped with red lights.
d. The commission, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall develop a system for the inspection of a motor vehicle on which a first aid or rescue squad intends to display a red light or siren pursuant to this section to ensure that the motor vehicle meets the requirements of subsection b. of this section and any regulations promulgated thereto. The commission shall also develop rules concerning the training a person shall complete before operating a vehicle equipped with a red light or siren pursuant to this section.
e. A person who violates the provisions of this section or any regulation promulgated pursuant to this section is subject to the penalties set forth in section 6 of P.L.1985, c.171 (C.39:3-54.20).
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment, but the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission and the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services may take such administrative action in advance as is necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill permits vehicles used by first aid and rescue squad members to provide emergency medical care that are equipped with certain life-saving equipment to display red emergency warning lights and sirens.
Under current law, red lights and sirens may only be displayed on authorized emergency vehicles and vehicles owned and operated by persons with permits to use red lights and sirens. The only members of a volunteer first air or rescue squad that may be issued permits are captains and principal assistants, and only two permits may be issued to any volunteer first aid or rescue squad.
These rules are problematic for rescue squads that use private vehicles with life-saving equipment, instead of designated emergency vehicles, to get to the sick and injured in an emergency. Because the vehicles used by these squads are registered as private vehicles, they do not meet the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" established by regulation. Therefore, these vehicles can only get blue emergency warning lights, not red lights and sirens.
This bill would allow vehicles registered privately that are used by first aid and rescue squad members to provide emergency medical care to use red lights and sirens, but only if the following conditions are met.
C The vehicle has been inspected by the Motor Vehicle Commission to verify that it is equipped with life-saving equipment issued by the first aid or rescue squad including oxygen therapy, trauma and defibrillation equipment, an active two-way radio communications system, and any other equipment the Department of Health and Senior Services may require by regulation.
C The operator of the vehicle has met the training requirements for the use of red lights developed by the Motor Vehicle Commission.
C The commission may also require that the first aid or rescue squad provide them with a list of approved vehicles and members that can operate such vehicles.
A violation of the bill's provisions would carry a fine of up to $50 and the loss of the privilege to use the red lights and sirens.
