A 2857 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Authorizes certain emergency coordinators to operate emergency lights on vehicles.

This bill expands eligibility for volunteer emergency personnel to legally operate emergency warning lights on their personal vehicles during emergency responses. It specifically authorizes county emergency management coordinators, deputy coordinators, and volunteer fire/rescue members (including those in municipal volunteer organizations) to mount and use red emergency lights and sirens, as previously limited to fire company chiefs. Key provisions require obtaining identification cards from the Motor Vehicle Commission, mandate specific light placement (max two red lights on roof or windshield columns), and specify lights must only be used while responding to active emergency calls. The bill also clarifies that operators must still obey all traffic laws, with other drivers required to yield as they would for official emergency vehicles. This is a procedural update to existing vehicle lighting regulations, not a new policy.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Rumpf
Brian Rumpf
RRepublican
NJ
9