Emergency Vehicle Light Colors in New Hampshire
Red Lights
Under New Hampshire law, red emergency lights are restricted to specific authorized vehicles:
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Authorized Use:
- Emergency response vehicles owned or leased by municipal, village district, or federal fire departments and forestry departments.
- Privately owned or leased vehicles by full-time or volunteer firefighters employed by municipal, village district, or federal fire departments and forestry departments, or forest fire wardens and deputy wardens when authorized by their department heads.
- Licensed public or private ambulances and emergency medical response/rescue vehicles, and crew members when authorized by their employers.
- Federal or state emergency management vehicles, airport authority emergency vehicles, and government vehicles responding to hazardous substance incidents.
- Hospital emergency personnel with a valid permit issued by the commissioner of safety.
- Red lights as part of, but not in place of, police vehicle emergency warning systems.
Blue Lights
Blue lights are primarily reserved for law enforcement and certain emergency response vehicles:
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Authorized Use:
- Vehicles owned or leased by state, county, municipal, or federal law enforcement agencies.
- Fire marshal vehicles and emergency response vehicles of fire, forestry, or EMS departments.
- Private ambulance vehicles contracted with a city, town, or village district.
- Privately owned or leased vehicles by sworn law enforcement officers when authorized by their department heads.
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Restrictions:
- If installed on a private law enforcement officer’s vehicle, blue lights must be covered when driven by someone other than the officer.
- Non-law enforcement emergency vehicles may only have a single rear-facing blue light.
- Private ambulance services must remove blue lights when contracts with municipalities expire.
Other Vehicle Lighting Regulations in New Hampshire
Auxiliary and Spot Lamps
Vehicle owners may equip their vehicles with auxiliary lighting, subject to specific regulations:
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Spot Lamps:
- Any motor vehicle may be equipped with up to two spot lamps.
- Spot lamps must not shine into other vehicles’ windshields, mirrors, or windows.
- Exception: Police officers may use a spot lamp to illuminate a stopped vehicle from the rear.
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Auxiliary Driving Lamps:
- Up to three may be mounted on the front of a vehicle between 12 and 42 inches in height.
- Motorcycles may have up to four, mounted no higher than 42 inches.
- All lamps must be approved by the director.
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Restrictions:
- Aftermarket LED light bars, flood lights, and roof/roll bar lights must not be used while driving on public roads.
Headlamp Regulations
Headlamps must adhere to specific standards:
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Requirements:
- During low visibility (rain, snow, fog) and from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, at least two front lamps must be on.
- Headlamps must illuminate the road enough to clearly see objects up to 200 feet ahead.
- Headlamps must be mounted between 24 and 54 inches from the ground on an unladen vehicle.
Additional Lighting Considerations
Underglow Lighting
While New Hampshire statutes do not explicitly address underglow lighting, it is generally subject to the following guidelines:
- General Guidelines:
- No red, blue, amber, or green underglow lights are permitted.
- License plate illumination must be white.
Summary
In New Hampshire, the use of red and blue emergency lights is strictly regulated and limited to specific authorized vehicles and personnel. Auxiliary lighting is permitted within defined parameters, and certain aftermarket lighting, such as LED light bars, is restricted during vehicle operation. Vehicle owners should ensure compliance with all state statutes to avoid penalties.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal guidance, consult the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety or a legal professional. If something is incorrect and you would like to suggest an edit, please contact us.
