4.7Improper Use of Emergency Lights
“The use or possession of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of any color is prohibited except as otherwise provided by law or under the following circumstances:
(a) A police vehicle must be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or blue lights, for use in the performance of police duties.
(b) A fire vehicle or ambulance available for public use or for use of the United States, this state, or any unit of this state, whether publicly or privately owned, must be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights and used as required for safety.
(c) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights for use when responding to an emergency call if when in use the flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights are clearly visible in a 360-degree arc from a distance of 500 feet.
(d) Flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights, placed in a position as to be visible throughout an arc of 360 degrees, must be used by a state, county, or municipal vehicle engaged in the removal of ice, snow, or other material from the highway and in other operations designed to control ice and snow, or engaged in other non-winter operations. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.
(e) A vehicle used for the cleanup of spills or a necessary emergency response action taken under state or federal law or a vehicle operated by an employee of the department of natural resources or the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy that responds to a spill, emergency response action, complaint, or compliance activity may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights. The lights described in this subdivision must not be activated unless the vehicle is at the scene of a spill, emergency response action, complaint, or compliance activity. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.
(f) A vehicle to perform public utility service, a vehicle owned or leased by and licensed as a business for use in the collection and hauling of refuse, an automobile service car or wrecker, a vehicle of a peace officer, a vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier or a person under contract to deliver newspapers or other publications by motor route, a vehicle utilized for snow or ice removal under [MCL 257.682c], a private security guard vehicle as authorized in [MCL 257.698(7)], a motor vehicle while engaged in escorting or transporting an oversize load that has been issued a permit by the state transportation department or a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, a vehicle owned by the National Guard or a United States military vehicle while traveling under the appropriate recognized military authority, a motor vehicle while towing an implement of husbandry, or an implement of husbandry may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights. However, a wrecker may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights that must be activated only when the wrecker is engaged in removing or assisting a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident or disablement. The flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights must not be activated except when the warning produced by the lights is required for public safety. A vehicle engaged in authorized highway repair or maintenance may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights. This subdivision does not prohibit the operator of a vehicle utilized for snow or ice removal under [MCL 257.682c] that is equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights from activating the flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights when that vehicle is traveling between locations at which it is being utilized for snow or ice removal.
(g) A vehicle engaged in leading or escorting a funeral procession or any vehicle that is part of a funeral procession may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating purple or amber lights that must not be activated except during a funeral procession.
(h) An authorized emergency vehicle may display flashing, rotating, or oscillating white lights in conjunction with an authorized emergency light as prescribed in [MCL 257.698].
(i) A private motor vehicle of a physician responding to an emergency call may be equipped with and the physician may use flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights mounted on the roof section of the vehicle either as a permanent installation or by means of magnets or suction cups and clearly visible in a 360-degree arc from a distance of 500 feet when in use. The physician shall first obtain written authorization from the county sheriff.
(j) A public transit vehicle may be equipped with a flashing, oscillating, or rotating light mounted on the roof of the vehicle approximately 6 feet from the rear of the vehicle that displays a white light to the front, side, and rear of the vehicle, which light may be actuated by the driver for use only in inclement weather such as fog, rain, or snow, when boarding or discharging passengers, from 1/2 hour before sunset until 1/2 hour after sunrise, or when conditions hinder the visibility of the public transit vehicle. . . .
(k) A person engaged in the manufacture, sale, or repair of flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights governed by [MCL 257.698(5)] may possess the lights for the purpose of employment, but shall not activate the lights upon the highway unless authorized to do so under [MCL 257.698(6)].
(l) A vehicle used as part of a neighborhood watch program may be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights, if the vehicle is clearly identified as a neighborhood watch vehicle and the neighborhood watch program is working in cooperation with local law enforcement. The lights described in [MCL 257.698(5)(l)] must not be activated when the vehicle is not being used to perform neighborhood watch program duties.” MCL 257.698(5).
“A person who operates a vehicle in violation of [MCL 257.698] is responsible for a civil infraction and shall be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00.” MCL 257.698(9).
Only applicable sanctions are listed below; accordingly, if a particular sanction is omitted from this section, it is not applicable to this offense. The Offense Code Index for Traffic Violations published by the secretary of state and sourced from the Michigan Department of State Court Manual includes a table detailing traffic offenses and applicable sanctions. See Section 1.41 for more information on abstracting procedures.
•Two points. See MCL 257.320a(1)(u); MCL 257.732(1)(a). See Section 1.42 for more information on points.