# Lightbars and State Laws **URL:** \ **Category:** Ectomobiles\ **Created:** [June 12, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400 "2015-06-12T01:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pyhasanon](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@pyhasanon](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/pyhasanon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/21 "2015-06-15T21:05:35Z")
You’ll still could get pulled over, and they might consider it a distraction to other drivers… ---
**Author:** ![Grimmy\_GB](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@Grimmy\_GB](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Grimmy_GB)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/22 "2015-06-15T22:07:39Z")
Eh, just a thought I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![LandoSystem](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/landosystem/32/6436_2.png) [@LandoSystem](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/LandoSystem)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/23 "2015-06-15T22:32:40Z")
I’ve heard of people purchasing decommissioned cop cars with nonworking strobes in the windows. I’ve also heard of those people being pulled over because of it. So… you may not get a ticket but you might get harassed. I think my local laws say you can’t have them installed at all. ---
**Author:** ![kurisu7885](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kurisu7885/32/6555_2.png) [@kurisu7885](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kurisu7885)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/24 "2015-06-15T23:07:28Z")
Welp, they got back to me. "The Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC) prohibits the use or possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any color except as otherwise provided by law. While there are circumstances where certain colored lights might be allowable under the MVC for certain authorized emergency vehicles, only a police car may be lawfully equipped with blue lights in Michigan pursuant to MCL 257.698. " Looks like in Michigan it’s a no go, least for blue lights. ---
**Author:** ![GothicGeek](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GothicGeek](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/GothicGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 10:56am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/25 "2015-06-16T10:56:32Z")
From my understanding here in Illinois: no, no, no, HELL no. The use of oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited… (except on emergency and such vehicles) No Red (625 ILCS 5/12-212) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-212) Sec. 12-212. No White (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (a) No Amber (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (b) No Blue (625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215) (Text of Section from P.A. 98-80) Sec. 12-215. (c) I know there are rules about a funeral procession only for purple lights. I can’t find the specifics for green lights. The only catch I see is: “No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway…” My understanding is a stationary vehicle or one on private property can have these. I agree with having the fuse pulled out when not going to be operating them for the immediate future. Also have the fuse holder put at a place either not easily accessible or something that would take a little while (like undoing several screws) to get to. If anyone would like the full laws of IL as I have found them let me know and I will toss them up. _disclaimer, I am not a lawyer and do not pretend to be giving completely sound legal advise_ ---
**Author:** ![LandoSystem](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/landosystem/32/6436_2.png) [@LandoSystem](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/LandoSystem)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/26 "2015-06-16T11:40:41Z")
> [@GothicGeek](#): > > _disclaimer, I am not a lawyer and do not pretend to be giving completely sound legal advise_ This is a good point and I suggest people reading here don’t just take our word for it. Most of your local laws can be found by just googling something like “state laws flashing lights.” Also there are some local ordinances that may concern Ecto-like equipment and decals. There’s a good chance your city will have a website with a link to ordinances. For example, my city has banned reflective decals without a special permit. So 'round here, Ecto-1A caution striping can get you a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Hijacker](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/hijacker/32/4037_2.png) [@Hijacker](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Hijacker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/27 "2015-06-16T14:06:02Z")
> [@Grimmy GB](#): > > Just makes me wonder, and I apologize if this sounds stupid, but perhaps you could remove the lighting or strobing portions (bulbs, LEDs, or the entire assembly) of the lightbar. In my mind, it would no longer be considered a light bar, but you would still have the visual aesthetics. Maybe it’s an option? Take it from someone who has had to deal with technicalities like this. If the cop thinks it could be a violation, you’re getting pulled over. My old exhaust on my 240SX was a ■■■■ can exhaust that came with the car. It wasn’t louder than factory (which is how the law is worded in Virginia “must not exceed factory decibal levels”), but I was pulled over multiple times because of it looked like it was a loud exhaust. Meanwhile, open pipe cars that retained their factory mufflers just to look like they didn’t cut the exhaust, skipped by local LEOs just fine. I swapped to a better magnaflow muffler once I could afford it and haven’t had any trouble since. Moral of the story, if it looks illegal, the cop assumes it’s illegal. ---
**Author:** ![parflagush](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/parflagush/32/176571_2.png) [@parflagush](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/parflagush)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/28 "2015-06-18T16:17:18Z")
Found this for Utah ([link](http://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6a/41-6a-S1603.html)): > [@](#): > > **\*\*41-6a-1616. High intensity beams – Red or blue lights – Flashing lights – Color of rear lights and reflectors. \*\*** > > (3) A person may not use flashing lights on a vehicle except for: > > (a) taillights of bicycles described in Section 41-6a-1114; > > (b) authorized emergency vehicles described in Section 41-6a-1601; > > (c) turn signals described in Section 41-6a-1604; > > (d) hazard warning lights described in Sections 41-6a-1608 and 41-6a-1611; > > (e) school bus flashing lights described in Section 41-6a-1302; > > (f) vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance described in Section 41-6a-1617; > > (g) a media production vehicle used in accordance with Section 41-6a-1718; and > > (h) a continuously flashing light system under Section 41-6a-1604. > > (4) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle described in Section 41-6a-1601, or a media production vehicle used in accordance with Section 41-7a-1718, a person may not use a rotating light on any vehicle. The only way around this might be the “media production vehicle”, which is described as this: > [@](#): > > **\*\*41-6a-1718. Media production vehicle – Definition – Exemption – Identification. \*\*** > > (1) As used in this section: > > ``` > (a) "Media production" means the making of a motion picture, television show, video, commercial, Internet video, or other viewable programming provided to viewers via a movie theater or transmitted through broadcast radio wave, cable, satellite, wireless, or Internet. > > (b) "Media production vehicle" means a vehicle used exclusively for media production. > > ``` > > (2) A media production vehicle is exempt from the restrictions of Section 41-6a-1616 while the vehicle is: > > ``` > (a) being used to simulate an authorized emergency vehicle in a media production; or > > (b) being driven in transit between the media production location and the media production vehicle storage location if during transit the vehicle displays a sign prominently on each front-side door of the media production vehicle stating "Media Production Vehicle." > > ``` We’d want to consult someone who understands the law better to see if we could leverage the “media production vehicle” clause. City ordinances could also affect this as well. Since I may never own an Ecto replica anyway, this isn’t something I’d personally have to deal with. But an interesting topic nonetheless! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bloodvayne](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@Bloodvayne](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Bloodvayne)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/29 "2015-06-20T01:39:52Z")
Meh… I guess I like to live dangerously. I have driven in most states driving up and down the east coast and across the US, etc. I have obvious emergency lights in my front and rear windows and grill. Haven’t been scolded about them yet. As I don’t play with them on the streets. And keep the controls “sorta” out of reach from the drivers seat. As some states require. ---
**Author:** ![ieatmousetraps](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@ieatmousetraps](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ieatmousetraps)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/30 "2015-07-03T19:43:32Z")
This thread just became surprisingly relevant to me. I live in Ohio, we can have lightbars just no blue and red. But I never thought about the road trips to other states. I will keep this in mind! Especially since I planned on driving it to C2E2 and surrounding cons next year. :love: ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_LeRoy](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/jake_leroy/32/5855_2.png) [@Jake\_LeRoy](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Jake_LeRoy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/31 "2015-07-06T12:28:03Z")
I’m not 100% shure on the laws here in Tennessee but have been told by my local pd that you can have blue lightbars as long as there not running while you are driving. But I got to looking online and found these. ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/8/f/8f079cbb4f872c155a9475c0c9290682e955bba5.jpeg)[/URL] I wonder if people in states that can’t have blue lightbars could use these. ---
**Author:** ![Boomerjinks](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/boomerjinks/32/128_2.png) [@Boomerjinks](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Boomerjinks)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400/32 "2015-07-07T00:48:20Z")
30 states: 0 citations. ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/1/5/15988e8c70fee885fc716835f000fd9a7cab7d35.jpeg) ■■■■ da po lice [Previous page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/lightbars-and-state-laws/37400.md?page=1)