MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Judiciary A By: Representative Hood House Bill 1403 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OWNED FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY BLUE LIGHTS IN ADDITION TO RED AND WHITE LIGHTS DURING EMERGENCY CALLS IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 63-7-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 63-7-19. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided for unmarked vehicles under Section 19-25-15 and Section 25-1-87, every police vehicle shall be marked with blue lights. Every ambulance and special use EMS vehicle as defined in Section 41-59-3 shall be marked with red lights front and back and also may be marked with white and amber lights in addition to red lights. Every government owned fire department vehicle, except vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments that receive funds pursuant to Section 83-1-39 when responding to calls, may be marked with red, blue and white lights if: (i) such vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than Twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds, (ii) if the use of the lights are authorized in writing by the fire chief of the government agency (iii) and if such lights are shown or displayed only on the rear of such vehicle. Every emergency management/civil defense vehicle, including emergency response vehicles of the Department of Environmental Quality, shall be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating red lights. Official vehicles of a 911 Emergency Communications District may be marked with red and white lights. Every wrecker or other vehicle used for emergency work, except vehicles authorized to use blue or red lights, shall be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating amber-colored lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way, as provided in Section 63-3-809. Only police vehicles used for emergency work may be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating blue lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. Only law enforcement vehicles, fire vehicles, private or department-owned vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments which receive funds pursuant to Section 83-1-39 when responding to calls, emergency management/civil defense vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the Department of Environmental Quality, ambulances used for emergency work, and 911 Emergency Communications District vehicles may be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating red lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. This section shall not apply to school buses carrying lighting devices in accordance with Section 63-7-23. (b) Emergency response vehicles listed in this subsection (1) are also authorized to use alternating flashing headlights when responding to any emergency. (2) Any vehicle operated by a United States rural mail carrier for the purpose of delivering United States mail may be marked with two (2) amber-colored lights on front top of the vehicle and two (2) red-colored lights on rear top of the vehicle and alternatively or additionally may be marked with a white, flashing strobe light on the roof of the vehicle so as to warn approaching travelers to decrease their speed because of danger of colliding with the mail carrier as he stops and starts along the edge of the road, street or highway. (3) Any sanitation vehicle operated by a county, municipality or other political subdivision of this state or by a contractor under contract with a county, municipality or other political subdivision of this state to collect solid waste, refuse or recyclable material may be marked with flashing or oscillating white- or amber-colored lights so as to warn approaching travelers to decrease speed because of the danger of colliding with the sanitation collection vehicle as it stops and starts along the road, street or highway. (4) Any nonlaw enforcement vehicle being used to lead and facilitate the movement of a military funeral procession may be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating purple lights. "Military funeral procession" means two (2) or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased member of the United States Armed Forces, or traveling to the church, chapel or other location at which the funeral service or entombment is to be held. (5) Any operator of an emergency vehicle authorized to be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating lights in accordance with this section, shall use blinking, rotating or oscillating lights when operating the emergency vehicle at a speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour over the posted speed limit. SECTION 2. Section 63-7-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 63-7-20. (1) It is unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer on duty or as authorized under Section 63-7-19 for government owned fire department vehicles, to use or display blue lights on a motor vehicle as provided for in Section 63-7-19. (2) It is unlawful for any person to use or display red lights on a motor vehicle except as provided for in Section 63-7-19. It is not unlawful for the red lights authorized for private or department-owned vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments, as provided in Section 63-7-19, to remain mounted on such vehicles when the lights are not in use. (3) It is unlawful for any vehicle to use alternating flashing headlights except an emergency vehicle as provided in Section 63-7-19. (4) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Hood
# House Bill 1403
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OWNED FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY BLUE LIGHTS IN ADDITION TO RED AND WHITE LIGHTS DURING EMERGENCY CALLS IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-7-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-7-19. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided for unmarked vehicles under Section 19-25-15 and Section 25-1-87, every police vehicle shall be marked with blue lights. Every ambulance and special use EMS vehicle as defined in Section 41-59-3 shall be marked with red lights front and back and also may be marked with white and amber lights in addition to red lights. Every government owned fire department vehicle, except vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments that receive funds pursuant to Section 83-1-39 when responding to calls, may be marked with red, blue and white lights if: (i) such vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than Twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds, (ii) if the use of the lights are authorized in writing by the fire chief of the government agency (iii) and if such lights are shown or displayed only on the rear of such vehicle. Every emergency management/civil defense vehicle, including emergency response vehicles of the Department of Environmental Quality, shall be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating red lights. Official vehicles of a 911 Emergency Communications District may be marked with red and white lights. Every wrecker or other vehicle used for emergency work, except vehicles authorized to use blue or red lights, shall be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating amber-colored lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way, as provided in Section 63-3-809. Only police vehicles used for emergency work may be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating blue lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. Only law enforcement vehicles, fire vehicles, private or department-owned vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments which receive funds pursuant to Section 83-1-39 when responding to calls, emergency management/civil defense vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the Department of Environmental Quality, ambulances used for emergency work, and 911 Emergency Communications District vehicles may be marked with blinking, oscillating or rotating red lights to warn other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. This section shall not apply to school buses carrying lighting devices in accordance with Section 63-7-23.
(b) Emergency response vehicles listed in this subsection (1) are also authorized to use alternating flashing headlights when responding to any emergency.
(2) Any vehicle operated by a United States rural mail carrier for the purpose of delivering United States mail may be marked with two (2) amber-colored lights on front top of the vehicle and two (2) red-colored lights on rear top of the vehicle and alternatively or additionally may be marked with a white, flashing strobe light on the roof of the vehicle so as to warn approaching travelers to decrease their speed because of danger of colliding with the mail carrier as he stops and starts along the edge of the road, street or highway.
(3) Any sanitation vehicle operated by a county, municipality or other political subdivision of this state or by a contractor under contract with a county, municipality or other political subdivision of this state to collect solid waste, refuse or recyclable material may be marked with flashing or oscillating white- or amber-colored lights so as to warn approaching travelers to decrease speed because of the danger of colliding with the sanitation collection vehicle as it stops and starts along the road, street or highway.
(4) Any nonlaw enforcement vehicle being used to lead and facilitate the movement of a military funeral procession may be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating purple lights. "Military funeral procession" means two (2) or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased member of the United States Armed Forces, or traveling to the church, chapel or other location at which the funeral service or entombment is to be held.
(5) Any operator of an emergency vehicle authorized to be marked with blinking, rotating or oscillating lights in accordance with this section, shall use blinking, rotating or oscillating lights when operating the emergency vehicle at a speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
SECTION 2. Section 63-7-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-7-20. (1) It is unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer on duty or as authorized under Section 63-7-19 for government owned fire department vehicles, to use or display blue lights on a motor vehicle as provided for in Section 63-7-19.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to use or display red lights on a motor vehicle except as provided for in Section 63-7-19. It is not unlawful for the red lights authorized for private or department-owned vehicles used by firemen of volunteer fire departments, as provided in Section 63-7-19, to remain mounted on such vehicles when the lights are not in use.
(3) It is unlawful for any vehicle to use alternating flashing headlights except an emergency vehicle as provided in Section 63-7-19.
(4) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.