Section 18-712. AUDIBLE AND VISUAL SIGNALS

 

712.1The Director may register as an authorized emergency vehicle the vehicles of any fire or police department, any ambulance, and any other official government-owned vehicle used for the emergency care or preservation of life, health, and property.

 

712.2Each authorized emergency vehicle shall, in addition to any other equipment and distinctive markings required by these regulations, be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell capable of giving a signal audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500 ft.) and of a type approved by the Director; and with at least one (1) lighted lamp displaying a red light capable of flashing alternately and visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet (500 ft.) to the front of the vehicle.

 

712.3A police vehicle, when used as an authorized emergency vehicle, may (but need not) be equipped with at least one (1) lighted lamp displaying a red light as specified in this section.

 

712.4Whenever an emergency vehicle is equipped with a siren, the siren shall not be used except when the vehicle is being operated in response to an emergency call; or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which case, the driver of the vehicle shall sound the siren when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach of the vehicle.

 

712.5  Each school bus and multi-purpose school vehicle registered in the District of Columbia shall be equipped with red flashing signal lamps. The lamps shall be mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall be capable of displaying to the front two (2) alternately flashing red lights located at the same level and to the rear two (2) alternately flashing red lights located at the same level.

 

712.6School buses designed to carry fifteen (15) or fewer passengers and multi-purpose school vehicles shall have the lamps mounted on the roof; provided, that any school bus which, prior to February 14, 1971, was in compliance with then existing requirements shall not be required to change the location of the lamps.

 

712.7Flashing red lights on school buses shall have sufficient intensity to be visible when flashing at five hundred feet (500 ft.) in normal sunlight.

 

authority

Sections 1825 and 1826 of the Department of Motor Vehicles Establishment Act of 1998, effective March 26, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-175; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-904 and 50-905) (2009 Repl.)); Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Department of Transportation Establishment Act of 2002, effective May 21, 2002 (D.C. Law 14-137; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-921.04, 50-921.05, and 50-921.06 (2009 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); Sections 6, 7, and 13 of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, approved March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-2201.03, 50-1401.01 and 50-1403.01 (2009 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); Section 105 of the District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978, effective September 12, 1978 (D.C. Law. 2-104; D.C. Official Code § 50-2301.05) (2009 Repl.)); Sections 3 and 10 of the Uniform Classification and Commercial Driver’s License Act of 1990, effective September 20, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-161; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-402 and 50-409 (2009 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); Section 801 of the Motor Vehicle and Safe Driving Amendment Act of 2000, effective April 27, 2001 (D.C. Law 13-289; D.C. Official Code § 50-921 (2009 Repl.)); Mayor’s Order 77-127, dated August 3, 1977; and Mayor’s Order 91-161, dated October 15, 1991.

source

Regulation No. 72-13 effective June 30, 1972, 32 DCRR § 6.216, Special Edition; as amended by Regulation 74-17 effective June 29, 1974; as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 10071 (July 12, 2013).