Amber Rotating Beacon Light

[Guest Chattanoogan]

Does anyone know if you have to have a permit to have one of these on your vehicle in Tennessee?

[kb4ns]

You need no permit.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Yellow /amber (orange-ish) is ok, its when you use red or blue...

[Guest TargetShooter84]

What about white?

Like amber/white or just white?

[bbeck]

You can buy amber or white with out showing anything. Red, blue or green you need to be public service.

I have ran multiples of both on different service trucks. Now just red and white.

Sent from my Droid X using Smoke Signals!

[kb4ns]

As far as white:

From TCA 55-9-402

No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any flashing red or white light or any combination of red or white lights that displays to the front of the vehicle except school buses, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, authorized law enforcement vehicles only when used in combination with a flashing blue light, and emergency vehicles used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201©, or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality.

Also worth noting, since there are many vehicles in this state in violation:

From (a)(1) No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems, such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle...

&

From ((1) No non-emergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights in tail light lamp, stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area...

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Thanks Jon. I'll tell my friend who has a yellow/clear strobe light mounted on his back window to replace the clear with yellow lens since clear falls inline with white.

[kb4ns]

Thanks Jon. I'll tell my friend who has a yellow/clear strobe light mounted on his back window to replace the clear with yellow lens since clear falls inline with white.

That TCA only prohibits red or white lights visible from the front of the vehicle. My guess is because many vehicles' turn signal/hazard lights are also the brake lights. If they prohibited flashing red light from the rear, many stock vehicles would be in violation (although preempted by the federal vehicle regulations). So, if it's in his back window, he's probably okay.

It's worth noting that most cops are very familiar with the desire to not be run over by all the idiots on the roadways. We pretty much ain't gonna mess with anyone as long as the lights aren't red or blue on non-emergency vehicles.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Thanks!

[Guest Chattanoogan]

Thanks for the info, Also, is there anything that regulates when it (yellow beacon) can and cannot be used.

Ive heard it can only be used while entering/leaving or being parked on the road....

I haul scrap metal on the side to make extra money, its nice to be highly visible when you have alot of weight pushing you down the road.

[56FordGuy]

I haul scrap metal on the side to make extra money, its nice to be highly visible when you have alot of weight pushing you down the road.

See? And I was just about to ask what you wanted it for. You beat me to it.

May I make a request? As a person whose job often has him on the side of a busy roadway, please don't use a strobe light if you're just cruising down the road. The more people see them around, the more desensitized they get to them. That means that folks make less and less of an effort to allow a safe operating space for those of us who are on the side of the interstate because we have to be.

If you have a large enough vehicle to be hauling the load you're hauling, you shouldn't need any extra warning lights. If you don't have a large enough vehicle, then you shouldn't be hauling that load. I'm not trying to just be a jerk, but it's a bit different scenario when you're crawling underneath a car less than 2' from 75+ MPH traffic, than when you're cruising down the road with some scrap metal.

[Patton]

You may bring attention to yourself if you use it to justify hauling a heavier load. I have written down at work the charge for excessive payload which we have used to cite vehicles many times that tend to stall on a hill in my patrol area. You are setting yourself up for a huge lawsuit and insurance cancellation if you were involved in a wreck due to excessive payload.

[Guest Chattanoogan]

I don't exceed the GVWR....but I don't like the people who tailgate me when I have a load, I figured a light would make them more aware of me and keep them away. I suppose if the average driver had common sense I wouldn't need to worry, too bad we can't shoot people for stupidity.

[kb4ns]

To my knowledge, there are no regulations concerning when they can be used. Kinda like your hazard flashers - common sense should pretty much dictate.

[Patton]

The only thing that comes close is "Unauthorized signs, signals, or markings" TCA 55-8-113 and it basically states any such device that would translate confusion to other motorist to believe altered movement of traffic. Yes, Very vague.

[kb4ns]

The only thing that comes close is "Unauthorized signs, signals, or markings" TCA 55-8-113 and it basically states any such device that would translate confusion to other motorist to believe altered movement of traffic. Yes, Very vague.

Nah, that's clearly referring to traffic control devices and other signs - for example, it makes it illegal for me to buy my own stop sign on eBay and stick it in the middle of I-40.