Maine § 29-A §2054 Emergency and auxiliary lights; sirens; privileges

Maine Statutes

§ 29-A §2054 — Emergency and auxiliary lights; sirens; privileges

Maine·Title 29-A MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC·Ch. 19 OPERATION

1.Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

2.Authorized lights. Authorized lights are governed as follows.

3.Sirens. A bell or siren may not be installed or used on any vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle.

4.Right-of-way. An authorized emergency vehicle operated in response to, but not returning from, a call or fire alarm or operated in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law has the right-of-way when emitting a visual signal using an emergency light and an audible signal using a bell or siren. On the approach of any such vehicle, the operator of every other vehicle shall immediately draw that vehicle as near as practicable to the right-hand curb, parallel to the curb and cle

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1.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
2.
Authorized lights.
Authorized lights are governed as follows.
3.
Sirens.
A bell or siren may not be installed or used on any vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle.
4.
Right-of-way.
An authorized emergency vehicle operated in response to, but not returning from, a call or fire alarm or operated in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law has the right-of-way when emitting a visual signal using an emergency light and an audible signal using a bell or siren. On the approach of any such vehicle, the operator of every other vehicle shall immediately draw that vehicle as near as practicable to the right-hand curb, parallel to the curb and clear of any intersection and bring it to a standstill until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. A violation of this subsection is a Class E crime that is punishable by a minimum fine of $250 for the first offense and for a 2nd offense occurring within 3 years of the first offense a mandatory 30-day suspension of a driver's license.
4-A.
Registered owner's liability for vehicle failing to yield right-of-way.
A person who is a registered owner of a vehicle at the time that vehicle is involved in a violation of subsection 4 commits a traffic infraction unless a defense applies pursuant to paragraph D. For purposes of this subsection, "registered owner" includes a person issued a dealer or transporter registration plate.
5.
Exercise of privileges.
The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to, but not upon returning from, an emergency call or fire alarm or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law may exercise the privileges set forth in this subsection. The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
6.
Emergency lights and audible signals.
The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle who is exercising the privileges granted under subsection 5 shall use an emergency light authorized by subsection 2. The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle who is exercising the privileges granted under subsection 5, paragraphs B, C, D and E shall sound a bell or siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other operators of the emergency vehicle's approach.
7.
Duty to drive with due regard for safety.

Subsections 4, 5 and 6 do not relieve the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor do those subsections protect the operator from the consequences of the operator's reckless disregard for the safety of others.
8.
Standards for lights on highway maintenance vehicles.
The Commissioner of Transportation, with the consent of the Chief of the State Police, shall adopt standards and specifications for headlights, clearance lights, identification lights and other lights on highway maintenance vehicles. These standards must include prescribed usage for the various lights when a highway maintenance vehicle is in operation. The standards and specifications adopted pursuant to this section must correspond to and so far as practical conform with those approved by the national association of state highway officials. The standards and specifications adopted pursuant to this section are in addition to and do not supersede the lighting requirements established in subsections 1 to 7 and sections 1904 to 1909.
9.
Stationary vehicles.
The operator of a vehicle passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using an emergency light or a stationary public service vehicle using its authorized lights, with due regard to the safety and traffic conditions, shall:
10.
Life support transport vehicle.
A life support transport vehicle may not be equipped with emergency lighting or sirens and may not exercise emergency privileges under subsection 4 or 5. The Commissioner of Public Safety may adopt rules for the purpose of designating life support transport vehicles. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
11.
Maine State Ferry Service.
The Commissioner of Transportation may adopt rules to allow certain authorized emergency vehicles, including but not limited to a life support transport vehicle, to idle on a vessel operated by the Maine State Ferry Service and any additional rules necessary to ensure passenger safety while such a vehicle is idling on a ferry. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

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Legislative History

PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 22, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §C6 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 247, §4 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 162, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 29, §2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 10, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 360, §§5-8 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 78, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 97, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 209, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 340, §7 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 451, §T14 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 510, §§C8,9 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 633, §§4,5 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 14, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 15, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 183, §2 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 299, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 314, §12 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 482, §4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 11, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 62, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 348, §§18-20 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 251, §10 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 317, Pt. F, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 421, §4 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 448, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §30 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 462, §4 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 31, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 32, §§1-4 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 21, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 26, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 229, §32 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. C, §74 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 254, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 319, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 327, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 335, §5 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 397, §§25-28 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 26, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 113, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 186, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 205, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 582, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 68, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 131, §1 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 190, §§1-4 (AMD).