Kentucky Statutes 189.950 – Prohibitions — Exceptions
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
(1) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS § 189.910 to KRS § 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle, any siren, whistle, or bell. Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which shall be so arranged that it cannot be used as an ordinary warning signal.
(2) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS § 189.910 to KRS § 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any red or blue flashing, revolving, or oscillating light or place a red light on the front thereof. This subsection shall not apply to the use of red flashing lights on school buses or to stop lights or turn signals at the rear of any motor vehicle.
(3) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, a person shall not illuminate a blue light that is affixed to a motor vehicle while operating the motor vehicle on a highway. This subsection shall not apply to:
(a) Any light on a motorcycle that is not affixed to the front of the motorcycle; or
(b) Nonhalogen headlamps that have a slight blue tint and meet United States
Department of Transportation regulations.
(4) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS § 189.910 to KRS § 189.950 as public safety vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon any vehicle any yellow flashing, revolving, or oscillating light. This subsection shall not apply to the use of yellow lights for turn signals; or to emergency flasher lights for use when warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing; or to vehicles operated by mail carriers while on duty; funeral escort vehicles and church buses.
(5) Any person who is a regular or voluntary member of any fire department furnishing fire protection for a political subdivision of the state or any person who is a regular or voluntary member of a rescue squad may equip his or her vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he or she has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief of the fire department or rescue squad. He or she may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency or to a location where another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his or her official duties as a member of a fire department or rescue squad.
(6) (a) Any constable meeting the requirements of KRS § 70.325(2) may, upon approval of the fiscal court in the county of jurisdiction, the legislative council of an urban-county government, or the legislative body of a consolidated local government, equip vehicles used by said officer as emergency vehicles with one (1) or more flashing, rotating or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric condition from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle, and a siren, whistle or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws. Any constable authorized by the fiscal court to utilize blue lights and a siren pursuant to this section shall
maintain at least the insurance described by KRS § 304.39-110.
(b) 1. Any constable who has successfully completed a basic training course, as established by KRS § 15.440, at a school certified or recognized by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, and who maintains his or her certification as a peace officer pursuant to KRS § 15.380 through his or her term of office as a constable, may equip vehicles used by that officer as emergency vehicles with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws. Any constable authorized to use blue lights and a siren pursuant to this section shall maintain at least the insurance described by KRS § 304.39-110.
2. The fiscal court in the county of jurisdiction, the legislative council of an urban-county government, or the legislative body of a consolidated local government may revoke this authorization, if the fiscal court, the council, or the body determines an issue of public safety or abuse by the constable.
(7) Any person who is a paid or voluntary member of any ambulance service furnishing emergency medical services for a political subdivision of the state may equip his or her vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he or she has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief or director of the ambulance service. He or she may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of an emergency, a medical facility, or to a location where another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his or her official duties as a member of the ambulance service.
Effective: January 1, 2023
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 90, sec. 21, effective January 1, 2023. — Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 79, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017. — Amended 1986
Ky. Acts ch. 220, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 437, sec. 2, effective July
15, 1986. — Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. — Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 5.
(2) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS § 189.910 to KRS § 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any red or blue flashing, revolving, or oscillating light or place a red light on the front thereof. This subsection shall not apply to the use of red flashing lights on school buses or to stop lights or turn signals at the rear of any motor vehicle.
Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 189.950
- Department: means the Department of Highways. See Kentucky Statutes 189.010
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Motor vehicle: includes all vehicles, as defined in paragraph (a) of this subsection, except:
1. See Kentucky Statutes 189.010 - Motorcycle: means any motor-driven vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding tractors and vehicles on which the operator and passengers ride in an enclosed cab and excluding a moped as defined in this subsection. See Kentucky Statutes 189.285
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Vehicle: includes :
1. See Kentucky Statutes 189.010
(3) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, a person shall not illuminate a blue light that is affixed to a motor vehicle while operating the motor vehicle on a highway. This subsection shall not apply to:
(a) Any light on a motorcycle that is not affixed to the front of the motorcycle; or
(b) Nonhalogen headlamps that have a slight blue tint and meet United States
Department of Transportation regulations.
(4) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS § 189.910 to KRS § 189.950 as public safety vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon any vehicle any yellow flashing, revolving, or oscillating light. This subsection shall not apply to the use of yellow lights for turn signals; or to emergency flasher lights for use when warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing; or to vehicles operated by mail carriers while on duty; funeral escort vehicles and church buses.
(5) Any person who is a regular or voluntary member of any fire department furnishing fire protection for a political subdivision of the state or any person who is a regular or voluntary member of a rescue squad may equip his or her vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he or she has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief of the fire department or rescue squad. He or she may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency or to a location where another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his or her official duties as a member of a fire department or rescue squad.
(6) (a) Any constable meeting the requirements of KRS § 70.325(2) may, upon approval of the fiscal court in the county of jurisdiction, the legislative council of an urban-county government, or the legislative body of a consolidated local government, equip vehicles used by said officer as emergency vehicles with one (1) or more flashing, rotating or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric condition from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle, and a siren, whistle or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws. Any constable authorized by the fiscal court to utilize blue lights and a siren pursuant to this section shall
maintain at least the insurance described by KRS § 304.39-110.
(b) 1. Any constable who has successfully completed a basic training course, as established by KRS § 15.440, at a school certified or recognized by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, and who maintains his or her certification as a peace officer pursuant to KRS § 15.380 through his or her term of office as a constable, may equip vehicles used by that officer as emergency vehicles with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws. Any constable authorized to use blue lights and a siren pursuant to this section shall maintain at least the insurance described by KRS § 304.39-110.
2. The fiscal court in the county of jurisdiction, the legislative council of an urban-county government, or the legislative body of a consolidated local government may revoke this authorization, if the fiscal court, the council, or the body determines an issue of public safety or abuse by the constable.
(7) Any person who is a paid or voluntary member of any ambulance service furnishing emergency medical services for a political subdivision of the state may equip his or her vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he or she has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief or director of the ambulance service. He or she may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of an emergency, a medical facility, or to a location where another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his or her official duties as a member of the ambulance service.
Effective: January 1, 2023
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 90, sec. 21, effective January 1, 2023. — Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 79, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017. — Amended 1986
Ky. Acts ch. 220, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 437, sec. 2, effective July
15, 1986. — Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. — Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 5.