§ 1251. Sirens and emergency warning lamps; out-of-state emergency and rescue vehicles
(a) Prohibition. A motor vehicle shall not be operated upon a highway of this State equipped with
any of the following:
(1) a siren unless either a permit authorizing the siren, issued by the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles, is carried in the vehicle or a permit is not required pursuant to
section 1252 of this subchapter;
(2) an emergency warning lamp unless either a permit authorizing the emergency warning
lamp, issued by the Commissioner, is carried in the vehicle or a permit is not required
pursuant to section 1252 of this subchapter;
(3) a blue light of any kind unless either a permit authorizing the blue light, issued
by the Commissioner, is carried in the vehicle or a permit is not required pursuant
to section 1252 of this subchapter; or
(4) a lamp or lamps that are not emergency warning lamps and provide a flashing light
in a color other than amber, except that this prohibition shall not apply to a motorcycle
headlamp modulation system that meets the criteria specified in Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 108, codified at 49 C.F.R. § 571.108.
(b) Permit transfer. A permit may be transferred following the same procedure and subject to the same
time limits as set forth in section 321 of this title. The Commissioner may adopt additional rules as may be required to govern the acquisition
of permits and the use pertaining to sirens and emergency warning lamps.
(c) Exception for vehicles from another state. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, when responding
to emergencies, law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, fire vehicles, or vehicles owned
or leased by, or provided to, volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members that
are registered or licensed by another state or province may use sirens and emergency
warning lamps in Vermont, and a permit shall not be required for such use, provided
the vehicle is properly permitted or otherwise permitted to use the sirens and emergency
warning lamps without permit in its home state or province. (Amended 1967, No. 265 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1985, No. 85, § 6; 2001, No. 106 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2009, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 39; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. June 1, 2010; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. July 1, 2024.)