While on the CA
law topic...
The cake... errr I mean rear amber light, is a lie... it is specifically allowed... but not required.... it's common practice,
NFPA,
KKK and CHP.... so pretty much everyone in CA.... Also you only have to use the siren "as reasonably necessary". Anyway here are the CA laws I think are applicable.
Here are the full laws....taken from
http://www.chp.ca.gov/publications/pdf/chp810.pdf
2012 California Vehicle Code Table of Contents
Exemption of Authorized Emergency Vehicles
21055. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21350), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 21650), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 21800), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 21950), Chapter 6 (commencing with 22100), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 22348), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 22450), Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500), and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of this division, and Article 3 (commencing with Section 38305) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 38312) of Chapter 5 of Division 16.5, under all of the following conditions:
(a) If the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call or while engaged in rescue operations or is being used in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the
law or is responding to, but not returning from, a fire alarm, except that fire department vehicles are exempt whether directly responding to an emergency call or operated from one place to another as rendered desirable or necessary by reason of an emergency call and operated to the scene of the emergency or operated from one fire station to another or to some other location by reason of the emergency call.
( B) If the driver of the vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians.
A siren shall not be sounded by an authorized emergency vehicle except when required under this section.
Use of Red Warning Light
25269. No person shall display a flashing or steady burning red warning light on a vehicle except as permitted by Section 21055 or when an extreme hazard exists.
Authorized Emergency Vehicles
21806. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following:
(a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
(2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.
( B) The operator of every street car shall immediately stop the street car, clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
© All pedestrians upon the highway shall proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety and remain there until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
Legislative Policy: Red Lights and Sirens
30. It is declared as a matter of legislative policy that red lights and sirens on vehicles should be restricted to authorized emergency vehicles engaged in police, fire and lifesaving services; and that other types of vehicles which are engaged in activities which create special hazards upon the highways should be equipped with flashing amber warning lamps.
Chapter 2. Lighting Equipment -WARNING LAMPS
§ 671. General Lighting Equipment.
Lighting equipment other than that specified in the following sections of this article shall be aimed so the center of the beam produced by the major filament is parallel to the road and projects directly to the front, side, or rear, depending on mounting location. Adjustable warning lamps in movable spotlamp type housings shall be aimed in the direction selected by the vehicle driver to provide adequate warning to other traffic.
§ 685. Installation and Maintenance.
Lighting equipment shall be securely mounted on a rigid part of the vehicle to prevent noticeable vibration of the beam and shall be maintained with the proper aim when the vehicle is stationary and in motion. No lighting device, unless otherwise permitted, shall be mounted so any portion of the vehicle, load, or vehicle equipment interferes with the distribution of light or decreases its intensity within the photometric test angles unless an additional device is installed so the combination of the two meets these requirements. Mounting heights shall be measured from the center of the lamp or reflector to the level surface upon which the vehicle stands when it is without load.
§ 686. Mounting of Aftermarket Devices.
Aftermarket lamps, with orientation markings such as "top" shall be mounted in accordance with the markings. Sealed and semisealed optical units shall be installed with the lettering on the lens face right side up. Front and rear reflex reflectors shall be securely mounted on a rigid part of the vehicle with the plane of the lens perpendicular to the roadway and parallel to the rear axle. Side reflex reflectors shall be mounted with the lens face perpendicular to the roadway and parallel to the rear wheels. Aftermarket devices with nonadjustable housings shall be mounted with the base on a horizontal or vertical surface, whichever is appropriate, unless different mounting instructions are included with such devices when offered for sale.
§ 700. Warning Lamps.
Required front warning lamps . . . shall be mounted so the entire projected area of the lens is visible from all eye heights of drivers of other vehicles at angles within 45 deg left to 45 deg right of the front of the vehicle. If the light within these required angles is blocked by the vehicle or any substantial object on it, an additional warning lamp shall be displayed within the obstructed angle. Warning lamps may be mounted at any height.
§ 810. Scope.
This article applies to warning lamps for emergency vehicles . . . governed by Vehicle Code Sections 25252 through 25278.
§ 811. Definitions.
(a) A "warning lamp" is a lamp designed for use on authorized emergency vehicles . . . to indicate the existence of a traffic hazard or to signal other drivers to stop or yield the right of way. . . .
(e) A "flashing lamp" is a lamp in which the emitted light in a particular direction alternates between on and off either electrically by controlling the current or mechanically by a revolving, oscillating, or other mechanism.
(f) A "steady burning lamp" is a lamp in which the emitted light in any direction is uninterrupted.
19
§ 812. Classification of Warning Lamps.
Five classes of warning lamps are established as follows:
Class A: High intensity, concentrated-beam lamp
Class B: Moderate intensity, wide-beam lamp
Class C: High intensity, wide-beam lamp . . .
Class E: Revolving, oscillating, or gaseous discharge lamp
§ 818. Type of Warning Lamps Used on Emergency Vehicles . . .
Warning lamps on emergency vehicles . . . shall be of the following types:
(a) Required Red Warning Lamps on Authorized Emergency Vehicles. The steady burning red warning lamp required to be visible to the front of an authorized emergency vehicle by Vehicle Code Section 25252 shall be a Class A, B or C warning lamp. . . .
( B) Permitted Additional Red Warning Lamps on Authorized Emergency Vehicles. The additional steady burning or flashing red warning lamp permitted by Vehicle Code Section 25252 shall be a Class A, B, C, or E warning lamp.
© Permitted Yellow Warning Lamps on Authorized Emergency Vehicles. The additional flashing yellow warning lamp permitted on authorized emergency vehicles by Vehicle Code Section 25259 shall be a Class B, C, or E warning lamp. . . .
(d) Permitted Blue Warning Lamps on Police Vehicles. The additional flashing or steady burning blue warning lamp permitted by Vehicle Code Section 25258( B) shall be Class B, C,
Sirens
27002. No vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren except that an authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren meeting requirements established by the department.
Sirens on Armored Cars
27003. An armored car may be equipped with a siren which may be used while resisting armed robbery. At all other times, the siren shall not be sounded. The authority to use a siren granted by this section does not constitute an armored car an authorized emergency vehicle, and all other provisions of this code applicable to drivers of vehicles apply to drivers of armored cars.
Sirens and Illegal Speed of Escorts
21057. Every police and traffic officer is hereby expressly prohibited from using a siren or driving at an illegal speed when serving as an escort of any vehicle, except when the escort or conveyance is furnished for the preservation of life or when expediting movements of supplies and personnel for any federal, state, or local governmental agency during a national emergency, or state of war emergency, or state of emergency, or local emergency as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code.
Evading a Peace Officer
2800.1. (a) Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle and with the intent to evade, willfully flees or otherwise attempts to elude a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year if all of the following conditions exist:
(1) The peace officer's motor vehicle is exhibiting at least one lighted red lamp visible from the front and the person either sees or reasonably should have seen the lamp.
(2) The peace officer's motor vehicle is sounding a siren as may be reasonably necessary.
(3) The peace officer's motor vehicle is distinctively marked.
(4) The peace officer's motor vehicle is operated by a peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, and that peace officer is wearing a distinctive uniform.
( B) Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle and with the intent to evade, willfully flees or otherwise attempts to elude a pursuing peace officer’s bicycle, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year if the following conditions exist:
(1) The peace officer's bicycle is distinctively marked.
(2) The peace officer's bicycle is operated by a peace officer, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), and that peace officer is wearing a distinctive uniform.
(3) The peace officer gives a verbal command to stop.
(4) The peace officer sounds a horn that produces a sound of at least 115 decibels.
(5) The peace officer gives a hand signal commanding the person to stop.
(6) The person is aware or reasonably should have been aware of the verbal command, horn, and hand signal, but refuses to comply with the command to stop.
Authorized Emergency Vehicle Permit
2416. (a) The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol may issue authorized emergency vehicle permits only for the following vehicles, and then only upon a finding in each case that the vehicle is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or
law enforcement or for the immediate preservation of life or property or for the apprehension of
law violators:
(1) Any vehicle maintained in whole or in part by the state, a county or a city and privately owned and operated by a marshal, deputy marshal, or person who is a member of, and who receives salary from, and is regularly employed by, a police department or sheriff's department, provided the state, county or city does not furnish to that person a publicly owned authorized emergency vehicle.
(2) Any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility, used primarily to accomplish emergency repairs to utility facilities or used primarily by railroad police officers, who are commissioned by the Governor, in the performance of their duties.
(3) Firefighting or rescue equipment designed and operated exclusively as such.
(4) Any vehicle operated by the chief, assistant chief, or one other uniformed person designated by the chief of a fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code or the Government Code or pursuant to special act of the Legislature.
(5) Any vehicle of an air pollution control district used to enforce provisions of
law relating to air pollution from motor vehicles.
(6) Any vehicle operated by the chief of any fire department established on any base of the armed forces of the United States.
(7) Any vehicle owned and operated by any fire company organized pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 14825) of the Health and Safety Code.
(8) Privately owned ambulances licensed pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 2500).
(9) Vehicles other than privately owned ambulances used by privately owned ambulance operators exclusively to transport medical supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel to the scene of an emergency when a request for medical supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel has been made by any person or public agency responsible for providing emergency medical transportation. These vehicles shall display a sign or lettering not less than two and one-half inches in height, in a color providing a sharp contrast to its background, on each side showing the name of the ambulance operator.
(10) Any vehicle owned and operated by an office or department of a city, county, or district which is designated by an ordinance adopted by the governing body of that local agency as a hazardous materials response team vehicle for response to hazardous materials emergencies.
( B) The commissioner may adopt and enforce regulations to implement this section.
© Violation of any regulation adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this section is a misdemeanor.
Chapter 4. Special Equipment -SIRENS
§ 1020. Scope.
This article applies to sirens for use on authorized emergency vehicles in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 27002.
§ 1021. Definitions.
(a) A "siren" is an audible warning device that produces the readily recognizable warning sound identified with emergency vehicles. An audible device, such as a vehicle theft alarm, that produces a sound with one or more of the following characteristics is not a siren:
(1) an unvarying sound.
(2) a varying sound that cycles at a rate faster than 400 cycles per minute.
(3) a discontinuous sound that repeats at rates lower than 90 cycles per minute or higher than 400 cycles per minute.
(4) a sound frequency (and any second harmonics) lower than 100 Hz or higher than 5,000 Hz.
( B) An "authorized emergency vehicle siren" is a device that meets the requirements of this article.
© An "electromechanical siren" consists of a stator and rotor driven by an electric motor.
(d) An "electronic siren" consists of an oscillator, amplifier, and speaker.
(e) A "mechanical siren" consists of a stator and rotor driven by a mechanical connection to a moving part of the vehicle or engine.
(f) "Manual" means a siren control that allows the operator to produce a wailing sound by alternately applying and releasing a momentary contact switch.
(g) "Wail" is a siren sound producing a slow, continuous automatic cycling of increasing and decreasing frequencies and sound levels.
(h) "Yelp" is a siren sound producing a rapid, continuous automatic cycling of increasing and decreasing frequencies and sound levels.
(i) "Hi-Lo" means a nonsiren sound alternating between a fixed high and a fixed low frequency. . . .
20
§ 1023. Identification Markings.
Sirens and components shall be marked as follows:
(a) Siren Markings. Each siren shall be permanently marked with the manufacturer's or vendor's name, initials, or lettered trademark and a model designation in letters and numerals at least 3 mm (0.12 in.) in height. . . .
(d) Control Markings. Electronic siren controls shall be marked to indicate each siren function by the words "Manual," "Wail," and "Yelp" spelled out or abbreviated. Markings for other nonpermitted functions, such as "Hi-Lo," may remain on the control panel provided the function is made inoperable on sirens manufactured after January 1, 1978.
(e) Permanence of Markings. Required identification markings shall be molded, etched, embossed, stamped, engraved, or printed with epoxy paint or screening ink on the device or on a metal label of substantial thickness permanently affixed to the device by welding or metal fasteners. Speaker driver markings may be of indelible ink or nonepoxy paint when protected by coverings or they may be stamped on a metal plate attached by a screw.
(f) Visibility of Markings. Required siren markings, except those on the speaker driver and on speakers mounted within warning lamp housings, shall be clearly visible when the siren is installed on a vehicle. Amplifier markings may be on the front, top, sides, or bottom of the case provided they are in a location where they are legible to a person inspecting the component without using mirrors or removing the component when it is installed in a vehicle. . . .
§ 1028. Performance Requirements.
(a) Siren Functions. Electronic sirens shall have a wail function and may also have manual and yelp functions. No other function is permitted on sirens sold after January 1, 1982, except for voice communication. . . .
§ 1029. Installation Requirements.
Sirens and speakers installed on authorized emergency vehicles shall be mounted as follows:
(a) Electromechanical and Mechanical Sirens. Class A electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside, between the grille and radiator, or under the hood. Class B electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside or between the grille and the radiator. . . .
( B) Electronic Sirens. Class A and B electronic sirens installed after January 1, 1976, shall be mounted outside or with the horn opening facing forward ahead of the radiator with a relatively open path for the sound to project forward. The horn axis shall be parallel to the road and vehicle centerline.
© Dual Speakers. Dual speakers for electronic sirens shall be connected in phase and mounted so that the speaker axis is parallel to the vehicle centerline or angled outward not more than 10 degrees to the sides.
(d) Speakers in Lightbars. Electronic siren speakers may be mounted facing forward behind a speaker grille in a lightbar.
(e) Transfer. A siren . . . meeting the requirements established by the department at the time it was first installed on an authorized emergency vehicle may be transferred between authorized emergency vehicles by the owner or sold by the owner for use on other authorized emergency vehicles.