Does anyone now where I can find information about if Emergency Lights are allowed on GV's. In the my units AOR we sometimes have about a 50-60 minute transit to launch a boat if the Case is in the northern part. Are emergency lights authorized and if so where can i find that information. I know that other units have had them and some still do. But i cannot locate anything that is in writing.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think you will get authorization for that.... Just something my 30 years of experience tells me.. Of course if you can convince someone you need them while towing a boat on a trailer, well.....

In the Port O'connor area I really can see that being a problem...

Wray...

Try MLEM Chapter 10 and the Motor Vehicle Manual.

Every driver will have to get a CEVO or EVOC certification. Your local police or EMS department should be able to help.

Lights and Sirens are authorized, you just have to check all the boxes.

Good luck.

An additional caveat is DHS requires the EVOC course for anyone operating a GOV with emergency lights and sirens.

FYI.

D-9 just came out with a policy that revoked all emergency lights on GV's. D-9 is going back in time, they are going to take our guns next!

quote:

Originally posted by CoccoC:
D-9 just came out with a policy that revoked all emergency lights on GV's. D-9 is going back in time, they are going to take our guns next!

LT;
How many injuries & accidents have happened while a Coastie was operating 'lights and sirens' in D9? Of those incidents, how many of those people could articulate a justification for operating 'lights and sirens' at the time? Regardless of the operation of 'lights and sirens,' were the vehicles operated in a safe and prudent manner? Does energizing lights and sirens auromaticaly expempt a driver from following traffic laws in all D9 states? What percent of units were abiding by the laws, regulations and policies regariding operation of an emergency vehicle? Have you read the numerous studies done throughout the country on the psychological effects to the driver operating a vehicle 'lights and sirens'?

All of these things would be great research for a JO prior to commenting or even forming an opinion on such a policy.

So a USCG coxswain can be trusted to take a 47' boat out to work a life threatening SAR case and other coxswains can be trusted to make cocaine seizures, carry M-16's, yet they can't be trusted to run with lights and sirens on a road? Something's wrong with that in my opinion.

Masterchief, you bring up some vaild concerns though with the reaction of other drivers. Many times, while I ran lights and siren in a USCS vehicle, drivers in front of me would freeze up or pull some pretty strange moves to get out of my way.

This is why almost all L/E or SAR agencies will put their drivers through training for emergency response driving.

My memory is lacking, need a little help. What's the USCG station off of Brunswick, GA? St. Simons Island?...Tybee Island maybe?

They have or had their station on the ocean side right on the beach while their boat house was located on the ICW side of the island. I remember seeing their vehicles with blue lights mounted on top.

I get the feeling this topic may challenge the length and level of debate as the "Concealed Weapons" topic.

Stay safe,

Don

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 21yrsUSCGUSCS,

We used to have the full set up on our GV at Sta Mobile/Dauphin Island. We all took the EVOC class and had strick guidelines of when to use or not use the lights. These did NOT exempt us from the laws, though. By law, it did not allow us to speed...basically it is to let others know an emergency vehicle is coming. Basically you are saying, "Could you PLEASE move over so I can come through?".

We used them several times to get to/from the island quicker than normal during a life threatening SAR case. In a majority of cases and situations, I do not see a need for a fully marked GV. If you need it on occasion, then get a police escort. They will do that for you, being DHS/USCG.

You also have to be careful about what kind of lights you put on the vehicle.

If you have a GSA vehicle, like most CG units, you can not put permantent lights on the vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by ironmandv33:
You also have to be careful about what kind of lights you put on the vehicle.

If you have a GSA vehicle, like most CG units, you can not put permantent lights on the vehicle.

Not entirely true. You can outfit a GSA GV with full emergency equipment, with permission.

One of the GVs at Station Annapolis had a blue light on it circa '90 but I was told it was removed due to people "running code" on parts runs.

Don, the old station was beachside on St. Simons and is now operated as a museum. The new station is near the Sidney Lanier (US 17) bridge on the Brunswick River.

quote:

Originally posted by duckcop:
Not entirely true. You can outfit a GSA GV with full emergency equipment, with permission.

This is true. I do know they are not fond of finding holes in their vehicles without permission though.

quote:

Originally posted by ironmandv33:

This is true. I do know they are not fond of finding holes in their vehicles without permission though.

Yea, I'm sure they won't like mine when they get it back.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:

quote:

Originally posted by CoccoC:
D-9 just came out with a policy that revoked all emergency lights on GV's. D-9 is going back in time, they are going to take our guns next!

LT;
How many injuries & accidents have happened while a Coastie was operating 'lights and sirens' in D9? Of those incidents, how many of those people could articulate a justification for operating 'lights and sirens' at the time? Regardless of the operation of 'lights and sirens,' were the vehicles operated in a safe and prudent manner? Does energizing lights and sirens auromaticaly expempt a driver from following traffic laws in all D9 states? What percent of units were abiding by the laws, regulations and policies regariding operation of an emergency vehicle? Have you read the numerous studies done throughout the country on the psychological effects to the driver operating a vehicle 'lights and sirens'?

All of these things would be great research for a JO prior to commenting or even forming an opinion on such a policy.

MC:

For the past 3 years that I have been in D-9, I have not seen a MISHAP message where the CG was involved in an accident while using lights and sirens. There is a policy on the "how to" use them correctly and training for such. I am also not going to say that there is not one, I am just not aware of any.

No, L&S does not mean that a driver is exempt from traffic laws. They provided the driver the authority to continue through traffic signs and signals after using "due care and caution" while in route to emergency situations.

If you have the time, attend a Emergency Vehicle Operation course with a law enforcement agency. They will provide you with manuals that will explain the regualations for emergency vehicles which includes everything from braking and steering to the current laws for EV's. It is quite a fun course. I have been thru 3 of them and currently working on EVO instructor!

Regards.

LT, been through the course, knew all of the answers (for three different states at least) to the question.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
LT, been through the course, knew all of the answers (for three different states at least) to the question.

MC, Then what is the issue? If you understand that, then you should know that if the vehicle is fully equipped with proper markings than it is that much easier to do you job when you need to.

The issue is, "what is the issue." I personally know both D and DCMC. This is a major step and they don't take or support major steps w/o reason. There must be reasons and I'll bet the issues I raised where high on the list of the decision makers. As an EVOC coordinator, wouldn't it be a wiser use of your time to get with the office that issued the order, find out what their reasoning was, figure out a way to resolve/mitigate their concerns, show in detail the risk/gain details of authorizing EVOC to the office that made the decision, etc, instead of posting a comment like "D-9 is going back in time, they are going to take our guns next! "

quote:

In the my units AOR we sometimes have about a 50-60 minute transit to launch a boat if the Case is in the northern part. Are emergency lights authorized and if so where can i find that information.

Based on the mishap reports I have seen, and the numerous safety standdowns, we as a whole CG have a tough time trailering boats without lights and sirens. I think someone running lights and sirens through an intersection with an F-350 club cab long bed, towing a 26 foot boat is probably not the safest thing we have ever done. Since most requirements to L&S is to still follow the speed limit, or at a max 15 over, how much time are you really saving over your 50-60 minute ride? Enough to risk the lives of everyone else? EVO in a car, ambulance, etc. is a lot different then us trailering a boat.

Well said. I believe you will also find many studies that demonstrate an actual physiological affect on the normal person that is cuased by L&S, which may hieghten the risk.

I may not be the expert on SAR planning and asset selection, but if you can demonstrate the urgency to run L&S for a 50-60 minute ride, you have clearly demonstarted the need to choose a A/C vs a trailerable boat. But hey, what do I know about SAR resource selection and planning?

also, if memory serves me correctly you will need to have the vehicle repainted if fading occurs from the deacls placed on the vehicle marking it and it's out of unit budget. you also must ensure you comply in the aspect of LE requirements.

All in all it's give or take, i've driven large five man cab fire engines with lights, sirens and airhorns blaring and they still don't get out of your way. it's kinda a catch 22 you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. i think it would be a good thing however it MUST have the correct supervision and how do you supervise the new SA or FA going for parts???