Existing law prohibits any vehicle, other than an authorized emergency vehicle, from being equipped with a siren. Existing law requires an emergency vehicle to be equipped with a siren that meets requirements set forth by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
Existing regulations of the California Highway Patrol define a "hi-lo" to be a nonsiren sound alternating between a fixed high and a fixed low frequency and require the "hi-lo" function to be disabled on any siren manufactured after January 1, 1978.
This bill would authorize an emergency vehicle to be equipped with a "hi-lo" audible warning sound and would authorize the "hi-lo" to be used solely for the purpose of notifying the public of an immediate need to evacuate.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Statutes affected:
SB909: 27002 VEH
02/03/20 - Introduced: 27002 VEH
03/16/20 - Amended Senate: 27002 VEH
SB 909: 27002 VEH