Bill > S3921

Introduced Session

This bill authorizes county fire coordinators and deputy county fire coordinators, as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.28 (C.52:14E-13), to operate and display emergency warning lights, including red emergency warning lights and sirens. Under current law, blue emergency warning lights may be operated by a volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or by a county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management whose official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call, provided the company or volunteer is recognized by and rendering service by a county or municipality. Red emergency warning lights may be operated by a chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company. This bill authorizes county and deputy county fire coordinators to operate these emergency warning lights if certain conditions are met. In order for a county or deputy county fire coordinator to mount and operate any emergency warning light, regardless of its color, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to prepare suitable identification cards bearing the chief administrator's signature upon the request of the County Executive or Director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders recognizing and being served by a county or deputy county fire coordinator. The identification cards would be countersigned and issued by the County Executive or director to the county or deputy county fire coordinator. No emergency warning lights could be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards, and a county or deputy county fire coordinator would need to carry the identification card while any emergency warning light operates on the vehicle. These identification requirements are identical to those imposed under existing law for other authorized drivers operating emergency warning lights. Nothing in current law or this bill grants a county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles, and the driver operating emergency warning lights is to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and obey all State traffic laws.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Samuel Thompson (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 06/05/2023)

Official Document