Texas Statutes for Emergency & Special Vehicle Lighting
1. Authorized Emergency Vehicles
Under Texas Transportation Code §547.702, “authorized emergency vehicles”—such as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances—must use signal lamps that:
- Display four alternately flashing red lights, two at the front and two at the rear.
- Be visible from 500 feet in normal daylight.
- May optionally include alternating or flashing white lights meeting the same mounting/visibility standards.
Additionally:
- Volunteer firefighter or EMS personal vehicles responding to emergencies may be equipped similarly.
- Police vehicles may but aren’t required to use multiple flashing lamps.
2. Restrictions on Non-Emergency Vehicles
Per §547.305, non-emergency vehicles are restricted:
- Cannot display red lights visible from the front, unless it's a legitimate brake/taillight.
- May not have red, white, or blue beacons or flashing lights unless specifically authorized.
- Security patrol vehicles may only use green, amber, or white lights.
- Escort flag vehicles for oversized loads may use alternating or flashing blue and amber lights.
- Vehicles needing amber warning beacons include school buses, church buses, tow trucks (in tow-mode), highway maintenance/TxDOT vehicles, and authorized emergency vehicles.
3. Work-Zone and Maintenance Vehicles
Under §547.305(d–e):
- Highway maintenance, utility, and construction vehicles may use flashing amber lights.
- Blue lights on driver-side and amber on passenger-side are common practice in TxDOT operations.
- These vehicles are prohibited from flashing white lights.
Other Vehicle Lighting Requirements
True emergency signaling notwithstanding, vehicles in Texas must still follow standard safety light and reflector rules:
- Taillamps: emit red light visible 1,000 ft rear.
- Turn signals: front must be white or amber; rear must be red or amber.
- Clearance/marker lights & reflectors: front/side-front = amber; rear/side-rear = red.
- Fog, spot, auxiliary lamps, hazard lamps, and reflectors have specific mounting and beam-direction rules—per §547.327–332.
Aftermarket & Custom Lighting: Legal vs. Non-Legal
Allowed Add-Ons
- Amber flashers/beacons: acceptable for service, utility, tow, and escort vehicles.
- White auxiliary/flood lights (spot-lights, alley lights, take-down lights): widely used by emergency services; also permitted on personal vehicles under standard regulations.
- Green lights: strictly for security patrol vehicles, per §547.305(e‑1).
Prohibited Lighting
- Red or blue lights/beacons on personal, non-authorized vehicles (visible from front or side) are illegal.
- White flashers not used on authorized emergency vehicles.
- Magenta, purple, or other novelty “courtesy lights” are not recognized by Texas law.
Best Practices for UltraBrightLightz.com Customers
- Know your vehicle category: Are you operating an emergency-authorized unit, service vehicle, or personal/security vehicle?
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Choose appropriate colors:
- Emergency: red & optionally white flashing.
- Service/utility/tow: amber (with blue allowed per TxDOT fleet settings).
- Security patrol: green, amber, white only.
- Escort flag vehicles: blue & amber alternately.
- Check mounting & visibility: Lights must be high, widely spaced, and meet candlepower and sight-distance specs (e.g., 500 ft for emergency flashers).
- Avoid illegal combinations: No red/blue on private or unapproved vehicles. Amber is safest default for visibility without violating law.
- Follow standard lighting rules, even when installing extras—keep all turn, tail, clearance lamps compliant.
Legal Install Summary Table
| Vehicle Type | Allowed Flashing Colors |
|---|---|
| Authorized Emergency Vehicles | Red (front/rear) ± White flashers, siren audible 500 ft |
| Volunteer First Responders | Same as above, optional temporary red flashers |
| Security Patrol Vehicles | Green, Amber, White only |
| Escort Flag Vehicles | Alternating/Flashing Blue & Amber |
| Tow & Service Vehicles | Amber (blue allowed for TxDOT fleets); blue/red on tow vehicles only when stopped at incidents |
| Highway Maintenance Vehicles | Amber (plus blue on driver side); white flashers prohibited |
| Personal Vehicles | Standard factory lighting only (no red/blue/white flashers) |
Final Tips
- Non-compliant lighting = legal risk: Unauthorized red/blue lights on private vehicles can result in citations, fines, or equipment seizure.
- Intent matters: Temporary lighting (e.g., volunteer firefighter magnet lights) still must match statute allowances.
- Install smart: Choose LEDs that comply with spacing, brightness, and flash pattern standards. Amber is your safest color choice outside official emergency fleets.
- Stay updated: Lighting laws can change—research current Texas Transportation Code chapters 547 and 623 (for ESAs and escorts) before purchases.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal guidance, consult the Texas Department of Public Safety or a legal professional. If something is incorrect and you would like to suggest an edit, please contact us.
