Emergency light laws

Submitted by redditspacer t3_yck1b2 in massachusetts

What does the law say about amber lights on a private vehicle. Do I have to let them pass?

I ask because a private vehicle for what looked like an electrical company was driving aggressively with these on and flashing their headlights to pass. I let them but was curious what legal justification they had to use these in that manner was.

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Comments

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ganduvo t1_itmpxvk wrote

You don't have to pull over for amber lights. They're primarily there for visibility and to alert you to the fact that they may be working/towing/stopping frequently/etc.

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MrMcSwifty t1_itmrzg8 wrote

OP is talking about amber lamps on private vehicles, aka hazard lights. You are correct in that you still don't have to pull over, but if someone has them on and is trying to pass, I'm going to let them. You never know what their situation is.

I have no idea why this is getting downvoted lol

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ManifestDestinysChld t1_itmukzx wrote

"Someone came up behind me clearly in some sort of emergency, but I didn't let them pass because their blinking lights were the wrong color" would definitely be peak Masshole decision making.

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Peeeculiar t1_itml78q wrote

They may have had to poop.

Always give the benefit of the doubt to the amber lamps.

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warlocc_ t1_itn1mh8 wrote

If it's not blue or red, you can ignore it if you want. Personally, if it's clear they're trying to get somewhere ASAP, I'd let them pass. You never know what you might have just helped them with.

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PabloX68 t1_itnqmia wrote

First, amber lights like you'd see on a tow truck or plow truck have no legal weight whatsoever. If they aren't blue or red, you don't have to move.

On the other hand, where were you when he flashed his high beams? If you were in the left lane of a divided highway, move over regardless.

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redditspacer OP t1_itnrwq8 wrote

Single lane in a town center.

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PabloX68 t1_itns9zg wrote

In that case you should have rolled your window down and flipped him off.

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somegridplayer t1_itps2tu wrote

Was it lettered? Feel free to drop a dime on them. Worst that can happen is they say it was an emergency.

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