This bill amends existing New Jersey law to expand the authority of certain emergency officials to mount and operate emergency warning lights and sirens on their personal vehicles while responding to emergency calls. Currently, only members of volunteer fire companies, first aid or rescue squads, and certain emergency management officials are permitted to use blue emergency lights. The bill adds county fire coordinators, deputy county fire coordinators, county emergency medical services coordinators, and deputy emergency medical services coordinators to this list, allowing them to operate emergency lights if they meet specific conditions.

To facilitate this, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue identification cards to these officials upon request from county executives or directors. These cards must be countersigned and carried by the officials while operating emergency lights, and no lights may be mounted prior to receiving the cards. The bill also clarifies that these officials do not receive any special privileges over other drivers and must adhere to all traffic laws while operating their vehicles with emergency lights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:3-54.7, 39:3-54.11, 39:3-54.12, 39:3-54.15, 39:3-54.16, 39:3-54.17, 39:3-54.18, 39:3-54.19