1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transportation; specifying the warning lights that volunteer first
1.3 responders are authorized to use in their personal vehicles when responding to a
1.4 call; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 169.58, subdivisions 2, 3; 169.64,
1.5 subdivision 3.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.58, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 2.Red lamp; permit for volunteer emergency responders.Upon obtaining a
1.9permit from the commissioner of public safety, any motor vehicles operated by an active
1.10member of a volunteer fire department authorized by or contracting with any city, town, or
1.11township in this state, an emergency medical first responder, or an ambulance crew member
1.12may be equipped with a lamp emitting a flashing or steady-burning red or red and white
1.13combination warning light unit of types approved by the commissioner to the front of such
1.14vehicle. The lens of such lamp shall be not more than three inches in diameter. Such lamp
1.15shall be lighted only when the member of the volunteer fire department, ambulance crew
1.16member, or emergency medical first responder is responding to an emergency call in
1.17connection with duties as a volunteer firefighter, ambulance crew member, or responder.
1.18The commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized to issue permits on applications of
1.19a member of a volunteer fire department properly certified to by the chief of said volunteer
1.20fire department, and on applications for emergency medical first responders or ambulance
1.21crew members. The commissioner of public safety must be notified immediately upon the
1.22termination of membership in a volunteer fire department or when an ambulance or permitted
1.23emergency medical first responder ceases operations.
1Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/AC 25-0212701/14/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1344
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.58, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 3.Volunteer ambulance driver.The commissioner of public safety, upon
2.3application therefor, may issue a permit to any certificated volunteer ambulance driver
2.4authorizing the driver to equip any privately owned motor vehicle operated by the driver
2.5with a lamp emitting a flashing or steady-burning red or red and white combination warning
2.6light unit to the front of the vehicle. The lamps shall conform to specifications adopted by
2.7the commissioner. The lamp shall be lighted only when the driver is proceeding to the
2.8location of an ambulance in response to an emergency call. The application shall be in the
2.9form prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain verification satisfactory to the
2.10commissioner of the applicant's status as a certificated volunteer ambulance driver. Any
2.11permit issued shall expire immediately upon termination of the permittee's employment as
2.12a volunteer ambulance driver.
2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.64, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.14 Subd. 3.Flashing lights; glaring lights.(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except:
2.15 (1) on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, bicycle as provided in section
2.16169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle as provided
2.17in section 168B.16, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm equipment, rural mail
2.18carrier vehicle, or funeral home vehicle;
2.19 (2) on any vehicle as a means of indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a
2.20vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing; or
2.21 (3) on a vehicle operated by a volunteer emergency responder pursuant to section 169.58,
2.22subdivision 2, or a volunteer ambulance driver pursuant to section 169.58, subdivision 3;
2.23or
2.24 (4) as otherwise provided in this section.
2.25 (b) All flashing warning lights must be of the type authorized by section 169.59,
2.26subdivision 4, unless otherwise permitted or required in this chapter.
2.27 (c) A stop lamp or signal lamp is prohibited from projecting a glaring or dazzling light,
2.28except for:
2.29 (1) strobe lamps as provided under subdivision 8 or section 169.59, subdivision 4; or
2.30 (2) a school bus equipped with a supplemental warning system under section 169.4503,
2.31subdivision 31.
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR KRB/AC 25-0212701/14/25