8-1720. Lamps and lights on authorized emergency vehicles; alternately or simultaneously flashing head lamps. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), every authorized emergency vehicle, in addition to any other equipment required by this act, shall be equipped with signal lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, which shall be capable of displaying to the front two alternately flashing red lights located at the same level and to the rear two alternately flashing red lights located at the same level, or in lieu thereof, any such authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with at least one rotating or oscillating light, which shall be mounted as high as practicable on such vehicle and which shall display to the front and rear of such vehicle a flashing red light or alternate flashes of red and white lights or red and blue lights in combination. All lights required or authorized by this subsection shall have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight. Every authorized emergency vehicle may, but need not, be equipped with head lamps which alternately flash or simultaneously flash.
(b) A police vehicle when used as an authorized emergency vehicle may, but need not, be equipped with:
(1) Head lamps which alternately flash or simultaneously flash;
(2) flashing lights specified in subsection (a), but any flashing lights, used on a police vehicle, other than the flashing lights specified in K.S.A. 8-1722, and amendments thereto, rotating or oscillating lights or alternately flashing head lamps or simultaneously flashing head lamps, shall be red in color; or
(3) rotating or oscillating lights, which may display a flashing red light or alternate flashes of red and blue lights in combination.
History: L. 1974, ch. 33, § 8-1720; L. 1975, ch. 39, § 21; L. 1989, ch. 43, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 41, § 1; L. 2005, ch. 18, § 1; July 1.
Source or prior law:
8-597(c).
Cross References to Related Sections:
Prohibited use of certain lights on vehicles, see 8-1729.
Attorney General's Opinions:
Use of blue flashing lights on authorized emergency equipment. 83-176.
K.S.A. 8-1729 provides that vehicles may not display any color other than white or amber directly in front of center of vehicle, in some instances may prohibit "ground effect" or "auto neon" lights. 2003-6.
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Tow truck towing disabled vehicle held not emergency vehicle. Divine v. Groshong, 235 Kan. 127, 140, 679 P.2d 700 (1984).
2. Cited in holding driver operating emergency vehicle in compliance with K.S.A. 8-1506 commits no tort for injury to third parties by fleeing violator. Thornton v. Shore, 233 Kan. 737, 742, 666 P.2d 655 (1983).
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