(1) Installation of sirens and speakers on authorized emergency vehicles shall be as follows:
- (a) Class A electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle or, between the grille and radiator, or under the hood;
- (b) Class B electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle, or between the grille and the radiator;
- (c) Class A and B electronic sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle or with the horn opening facing forward ahead of the radiator with a relatively open path for the sound to project forward. The horn axis shall be parallel to the vehicle centerline;
- (d) Dual speakers for electronic sirens shall be connected in phase and mounted so that the speaker axis is parallel to the vehicle centerline or angled outward not more than ten degrees to the sides;
- (e) Electronic siren speakers may be mounted facing forward behind a speaker grille in a lightbar.
- (2) Ambulances regulated by the Health Services are also subject to requirements of that agency. This includes the requirements for a Siren-Public Address System, Part 3.14.6 of KKK-A-1822B, the federal specifications for the “Star-of-Life Ambulance.”
(3) Mechanical motorcycle sirens that do not operate when the vehicle is stationary shall not be installed on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1981.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]
Statutory/Other Authority
ORS 184.616, 815.030, 815.230, 815.370 & 820.380
Statutes/Other Implemented
ORS 815.030, 815.225 - 815.230 & 820.350 - 820.370
History
MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87, Renumbered from 735-080-0080
MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75
DMV 1-2024, amend filed 01/26/2024, effective 01/26/2024
DMV 29-2020, amend filed 09/29/2020, effective 01/01/2021
DMV 23-2020, temporary amend filed 06/25/2020, effective 07/06/2020 through 01/01/2021
DMV 20-2007, f. 12-24-07, cert. ef. 1-1-08
DMV 6-1996, f. & cert. ef. 8-15-96