SB 124 amends Indiana motor vehicle law to expand the lighting options allowed on certain firefighting apparatus. Under current law, authorized emergency vehicles may use signal lamps capable of flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or red-and-white lights. This bill adds a new provision allowing firefighting apparatus owned or operated by a political subdivision or a volunteer fire department to be equipped with red-and-blue signal lamps, so long as the lights are visible to oncoming traffic within 180 degrees around the front of the vehicle.
The bill also updates related restrictions on the use of red-and-white and red-and-blue lamps by vehicles that are not authorized under the chapter. It clarifies that vehicles not covered by the emergency-vehicle exceptions may not display red-and-white or red-and-blue lamps, and it retains the requirement that unauthorized persons remove such lamps. The bill is set to take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 124 would amend IC 9-19-14, the Indiana Code chapter governing emergency vehicle lighting, by creating a specific exception for firefighting apparatus operated by local governments or volunteer fire departments. It would not broadly change lighting rules for all emergency vehicles, but it would authorize a new color combination—red and blue—for a defined class of fire vehicles. The bill also makes conforming changes to the prohibition on unauthorized use of red-and-white or red-and-blue lamps, which could affect firefighters, volunteer departments, vehicle upfitters, and enforcement of vehicle equipment violations.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears neutral to supportive. The measure is framed as a targeted public-safety and operational update for firefighting apparatus rather than a controversial policy change. No opposition, amendments, or recorded concerns are shown in the available context.
Contention
No specific contention is documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. The only likely policy issue suggested by the text is whether allowing red-and-blue lights on firefighting apparatus could create confusion with other emergency vehicles or expand the use of police-style lighting, but no legislator or stakeholder is shown raising that concern in the materials provided. The bill appears narrowly tailored to political subdivisions and volunteer fire departments, which may limit objections.