HB 0075 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
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6	The Committee on Transportation recommends the following:
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8	Committee Substitute
9	Remove the entire bill and insert:
10	A bill to be entitled
11	An act relating to motor vehicles; amending s. 316.2398,
12	F.S.; revising provisions that regulate the display or use
13	of red lights on motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters
14	or medical staff; providing an effective date.
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16	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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18	Section 1. Section 316.2398, Florida Statutes, is amended
19	to read:
20	316.2398 Display or use of red warning signalslights;
21	motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or medical staff.--
22	(1) A privately owned vehicle belonging to an active
23	firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer
24	firefighting company or association, while en route to the fire
25	station for the purpose of proceeding to the scene of a fire or
26	other emergency or while en route to the scene of a fire or
27	other emergency in the line of duty as an active firefighter
28	member of a regularly organized firefighting company or
29	association, or a privately owned vehicle belonging to a medical
30	staff physician or technician of a medical facility licensed by
31	the state, while responding to an emergency in the line of duty,
32	may display or use red warning signalsa red lightvisible from
33	the front and from the rear of such vehicle, subject to the
34	following restrictions and conditions:
35	(a) No more than two red warning signals may be displayed
36	A light may not have a light source greater than 50 candlepower.
37	(b) Only one red light of the revolving type may be
38	displayed, and such light must be permanently or magnetically
39	mounted to the dashboard or roof of the vehicle.
40	(c) The red light must consist of a lamp with a red lens,
41	but may not consist of an uncolored lens with a red bulb.
42	(d) The red light may not be a part of the regular
43	headlamps, taillights, or turn signal lights displayed on such
44	vehicle.
45	(b)(e)No inscription of any kind may appear across the
46	face of the lens of the red warning signallight.
47	(f) The lens of the red light may not be less than 3
48	inches or more than 8 inches in diameter.
49	(c)(g)In order for an active volunteer firefighter to
50	display such red warning signalsa red lighton his or her
51	vehicle, the volunteer firefighter must first secure a written
52	permit from the chief executive officers of the firefighting
53	organization to use the red warning signalslight, and this
54	permit must be carried by the volunteer firefighter at all times
55	while the red warning signals arelight isdisplayed.
56	(2) It is unlawful for any person who is not an active
57	firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer
58	firefighting company or association or a physician or technician
59	of the medical staff of a medical facility licensed by the state
60	to display on any motor vehicle owned by him or her, at any
61	time, any red warning signalsa red lightas described in
62	subsection (1).
63	(3) It is unlawful for an active volunteer firefighter to
64	operate any red warning signalsa red lightas authorized in
65	subsection (1), except while en route to the fire station for
66	the purpose of proceeding to the scene of a fire or other
67	emergency, or while at oren route to the scene of a fire or
68	other emergency, in the line of duty.
69	(4) It is unlawful for a physician or technician of the
70	medical staff of a medical facility to operate any red warning
71	signalsa red lightas authorized in subsection (1), except when
72	responding to an emergency in the line of duty.
73	(5) A violation of this section is a nonmoving violation,
74	punishable as provided in chapter 318. In addition, any
75	volunteer firefighter shall be dismissed from membership in the
76	firefighting organization by the chief executive officers
77	thereof.
78	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
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