DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 206

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF VEHICLES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 4356A, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4356A. Use of revolving or flashing green light.

Any motor vehicle used by a fire department or police department, emergency vehicles of state, federal, county or municipal departments, or public service corporations as are designated or authorized as emergency vehicles by the Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, and state-owned-and-operated snow removal equipment and vehicles, may be equipped with a green revolving or flashing light for use only when the vehicle is in service at an accident, fire or disaster scene to signify a command post to which fire and police officials may report for instructions or orders, or for use on hazardous material response vehicles traveling to such scene on the request of the fire department or the police department, or for use on state-owned-and-operated snow removal equipment and vehicles during winter weather operations. Such green revolving or flashing lights may only be used on a vehicle for the purposes and in the manner stated in this section.

(a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with a green revolving or flashing light if the motor vehicle meets any of the following requirements:

(1) Is used by a fire department or police department.

(2) Is designated or authorized as an emergency vehicle by the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and is owned and operated by a federal, state, county, or municipal agency or public service corporation.

(3) Is snow removal equipment that is owned and operated by the State or a municipality.

(b) A motor vehicle authorized under subsection (a) of this section to be equipped with a green revolving or flashing light may only use the light as follows:

(1) When the motor vehicle is in service at an accident, fire, or disaster scene to signify a command post to which fire or police officials may report for instructions or orders.

(2) If the motor vehicle is a hazardous material response vehicle traveling to an accident, fire, or disaster scene at the request of a fire department or police department.

(3) If the motor vehicle is snow removal equipment that is owned and operated by the State or a municipality and is in use during winter weather operations.

SYNOPSIS

Senate Bill 89 from the first half of the 152nd General Assembly allowed for state owned-and-operated vehicles used for snow removal to operate with green revolving or flashing lights during winter weather operations. This Bill extends the same use of green lights on municipal owned-and-operated snow removal equipment and vehicles during winter weather operations. Studies have shown green lights are more visible to the traveling public during winter weather conditions. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Author: Senator Pettyjohn