Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 12-218
Audible and Visual Signals on Law Enforcement and Authorized Emergency Vehicles
Effective Jul 1, 2000Added by Laws 1961, HB 556, p. 399, § 12-218, eff. September 1, 1961; Amended by Laws 1993, SB 43, c. 13, § 4, emerg. eff. March 24, 1993; Amended by Laws 1998, HB 2251, c. 55, § 1, eff. November 1, 1998 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, HB 1212, c. 24, § 3, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2000, HB 2399, c. 35, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2000 (superseded document available ).
- A. Every authorized emergency vehicle shall, in addition to any other equipment and distinctive markings required by this title, be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle or bell capable of giving an audible signal.
- B. Every school bus used for transportation of school children and every authorized emergency vehicle shall, in addition to any other equipment and distinctive markings required by this act, be equipped with signal lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, which shall be capable of displaying to the front two alternately flashing red, or for authorized emergency vehicles, flashing red or blue lights or a combination of flashing red and blue lights located at the same level, and these lights shall have sufficient intensity to be visible at five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight or, as an alternative, authorized emergency vehicles may use one red or blue signal lamp so located at or near the top of the vehicle which when lighted is visible for a distance of five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight both to the front and to the rear of the vehicle.
C. A law enforcement vehicle when used as an authorized emergency vehicle may but need not be equipped with alternately-flashing red or blue lights specified herein. An unmarked vehicle used as a law enforcement vehicle for routine traffic enforcement shall be equipped with the following combination of lights:
- 1. Three flashing red, blue, or a combination of red and blue lights emitting the flashing lights to the front of the vehicle;
- 2. Two flashing white lights emitting the flashing white lights to the front of the vehicle;
- 3. Flashing red, blue, white or any combination of red, blue or white lights placed at and emitting the flashing lights from the four corners of the vehicle so that they are visible for three hundred sixty (360) degrees; and
- 4. One flashing red, blue, yellow, or any combination of red, blue, or yellow lights emitting the flashing light to the rear of the vehicle.
- D. The use of the signal equipment described herein shall impose upon drivers of other vehicles the obligation to yield right-of-way and stop as prescribed in Sections 11-405 and 11-705 of this title.
- E. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a device capable of producing auditory warning signals similar to an emergency vehicle or to use audible signal equipment from a motor vehicle for the purpose of causing any other motor vehicle operator to yield right-of-way and stop, or which actually causes any other motor vehicle operator to yield the right-of-way and stop, whether intended or not. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles of any fire department, fire patrol, law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, or other authorized emergency vehicles.
Added by Laws 1961, HB 556, p. 399, § 12-218, eff. September 1, 1961; Amended by Laws 1993, SB 43, c. 13, § 4, emerg. eff. March 24, 1993; Amended by Laws 1998, HB 2251, c. 55, § 1, eff. November 1, 1998 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, HB 1212, c. 24, § 3, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2000, HB 2399, c. 35, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2000 (superseded document available ).