|
|
Proudly
Serving Upper Leacock Township Since 1988
|
|
|
BLUE WARNING LIGHT POLICY
1. Members must be 18 years of age or older to use a blue light warning device. 2. The Fire Chief must give authorization to responders before they are permitted to use a blue warning light. 3. The vehicle displaying a blue warning light must be registered to the member requesting authorization. 4. Responders are only permitted to outfit one vehicle with a blue warning light. 5. Blue warning lights may ONLY be used enroute to EMERGENCY calls. EMERGENCY calls may consist of but are not limited to: - Structure Fires, Barn Fires, Building Fires, Dwelling Fires, and Car Fires - Vehicle Accident and Vehicle Accident Stand-by - Industrial Rescue, Residential Rescue, and Water Rescue - Haz-Mat Incidents, Spill Control - Investigations, CO Detector Alarms - Automatic Alarms - EMS Assist Calls, Police Department Assist Calls, Fire Police Assist Calls, and Air Assist Calls. *A true EMERGENCY call is one that requires a rapid response to preserve life or property.
6. Blue warning lights MAY NOT be used enroute to NON EMERGENCY calls such as: - Automatic Alarms Reported False - Public Service calls - Engine or Air Company transfer calls - Work details - Controlled Burns - Stand-by Calls In-Station when the 911 Phone System is Down - Any Other NON-EMERGENCY Calls not mentioned above
7. Blue warning lights may be used in Upper Leacock Township when responding to EMERGENCY calls.
8. Members may also use blue warning lights if ULFC is dispatched to assist another Company in Lancaster County and you were authorized to drive your personal vehicle to the scene of that EMERGENCY.
9. Fire company members are not permitted to authorize the use of their blue warning light while enroute to an EMERGENCY call when a non-member is acting as a driver for the member.
10. Blue warning lights must be removed from your vehicle immediately upon termination from the Company UNLESS you are a member of another Emergency Service Organization and they have give you authorization to use a blue warning light for their organization.
11. Members may also be required to remove their blue warning light following disciplinary action.
12. All members using a blue warning light are REQUIRED to submit written notification the Fire Chief listing your name, vehicle make, and license plate number pipr to February 1 each year. You must also notify the Fire Chief immediately of any vehicle information changes.
13. No member is permitted to use a blue warning light or operate any vehicle on a roadway, while responding to an EMERGENCY call, if they do not have a valid drivers license.
14. All members are prohibited from using lights of any color other than blue. No other color light is permitted. EXCEPTION - Chief Officer’s vehicles are classified as emergency vehicles in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and therefore are permitted to use red lights, sirens, clear lights, strobe lights, dash lights, headlight wig-wag lights, take down lights, alley lights, and grill lights. Chief Officers are exempt from this blue warning light policy and will be held accountable to all Pennsylvania State laws governing emergency vehicles.
15 No red lights or any type of audible sirens are permitted.
16. No amber lights in configuration with blue warning lights may be used
17. No head light wig-wag lights or strobe marker light systems may be used.
18. No clear lights are permitted. Take-down lights may not be use while the vehicle is in motion.
19. Blue warning lights must be visible a full 360 degrees.
20. No grill lights or side marker lights may be used.
21. Blue warning lights may consist of a magnetic mount or permanent mount.
23. Blue warning lights may consist of a tear drop design, half bar design, containing one or more bulbs, that, when activated, produces one or more points of light to a viewer.
24. No vehicle can display more then two blue warning lights.
25. Fire Police and Chief Officers are the only responders permitted to use yellow arrow stick lights. Fire Police are not permitted to use the yellow arrow stick lights enroute to EMERGENCY calls. Fire Police are only allowed to use the yellow arrow stick lights when their vehicle is stationary at the scene of a call.
26. Blue warning lights are courtesy lights and civilian drivers are NOT REQUIRED to yield the right of way to you when responding to an EMERGENCY call.
27 NO RECKLESS OR UNSAFE DRIVING WILL BE TOLERATED!
28. Blue warning light users ARE NOT PERMITTED to break any of the laws as specified in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, such as, but not limited to; speeding, failing to stop for red lights, failing to stop for stop signs, passing other motorists in a No Passing Zone, and/or disobeying traffic control signs (such as One Way signs).
29. You assume civil liability for your actions if you cause an accident while in route to an EMRERGENCY call.
30. A Chief Officer will investigate any violations of this policy ONLY when a written complaint is filed against a member within 30 days of the alleged misconduct.
31. The Fire Chief has the right to amend or make additions to this policy at any given time. The Fire Chief has the right to implement a policy that would prohibit Upper Leacock Fire Company members from using blue warning lights if this policy is abused.
32. The Fire Chief or his designee is REQUIRED to notify the Pennsylvania State Police and local police agencies, in writing, of the list of approved blue light user from the Company by March 1st of each year.
33. Upper Leacock Fire Company disciplinary code for members violating any rules to the Blue Warning Light Policy. - 1st OFFENSE OF THIS POLICY -- will result in a 10-day suspension of ALL Fire Company activities and a 60-day suspension of your blue warning light privilege.
- 2nd OFFENSE OF THIS POLICY -- will result in 30-day suspension of ALL Fire Company activities and a 1-year suspension of your blue warning light privilege.
- 3rd OFFENSE OF THIS POLICY -- will result in permanent loss of your blue warning light privilege and POSSIBLE dismissal of membership from the Upper Leacock Fire Company.
34. If you have any concerns or questions about this blue warning light policy, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to consult the Fire Chief since he is the only one permitted, by law, to authorize the use of a blue warning light.
35. Fire Company members responding to the Fire Station for an emergency call without using a blue light are expected to adhere to all of the rules of the road mentioned above and violators will be disciplined the same as mentioned above in rule #34 Approved by membership vote on: __________________
President: ____________________ Ted Burkhart Secretary: ____________________ Pam Huber
|