1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; authorizing volunteer emergency responders to use flashing 
1.3 	warning lights in certain instances;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 
1.4 	169.58, subdivision 2; 169.59, subdivision 4; 169.64, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.58, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Red lamp; permit for volunteer emergency responders. Upon obtaining a 
1.8 	permit from the commissioner of public safety, any motor vehicles operated by an active 
1.9 	member of a volunteer fire department authorized by or contracting with any city, town, or 
1.10 	township in this state, an emergency medical first responder, or an ambulance crew member 
1.11 	may be equipped with a lamp emitting a red flashing warning light to the front of such 
1.12 	vehicle. The lens of such lamp shall be not more than three inches in diameter. Such lamp 
1.13 	shall be lighted only when the member of the volunteer fire department, ambulance crew 
1.14 	member, or emergency medical first responder is responding to an emergency call in 
1.15 	connection with duties as a volunteer firefighter, ambulance crew member, or responder. 
1.16 	The commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized to issue permits on applications of 
1.17 	a member of a volunteer fire department properly certified to by the chief of said volunteer 
1.18 	fire department, and on applications for emergency medical first responders or ambulance 
1.19 	crew members. The commissioner of public safety must be notified immediately upon the 
1.20 	termination of membership in a volunteer fire department or when an ambulance or permitted 
1.21 	emergency medical first responder ceases operations.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.59, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 4.Flashing warning light. Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may 
2.3 	be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a 
2.4 	vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, 
2.5 	or passing, and when so equipped may display such warning in addition to any other warning 
2.6 	signals required by this section or section 169.50, subdivision 1 or 3; 169.56, subdivision 
2.7 	1, 2, 3, or 4; 169.57, subdivision 1; 169.58, subdivision 2; or 169.64, subdivision 3. The 
2.8 	lamps used to display such warnings to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as 
2.9 	widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display simultaneous flashing white or 
2.10 	amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display 
2.11 	such warnings to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally 
2.12 	as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of 
2.13 	color between amber and red. Instead of a pair of lamps that flash simultaneously, either 
2.14 	one or two strobe lights or rotating beacon lights with an amber or yellow lens may be used 
2.15 	both to the front and rear of the vehicle. These warning lights shall be visible from a distance 
2.16 	of not less than 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.

2.17 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.64, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.18 		Subd. 3.Flashing lights. Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized 
2.19 	emergency vehicle, motor vehicle operated under section 169.58, subdivision 2, school bus, 
2.20 	bicycle as provided in section 169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance equipment, tow 
2.21 	truck or towing vehicle, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm equipment, rural 
2.22 	mail carrier vehicle, funeral home vehicle, or on any vehicle as a means of indicating a right 
2.23 	or left turn, or the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in 
2.24 	approaching, overtaking, or passing. All flashing warning lights shall be of the type 
2.25 	authorized by section 169.59, subdivision 4, unless otherwise permitted or required in this 
2.26 	chapter.