Emergency Lights

[2kXLTkid]

Hey, I'm a volunteer at the local fire department. We use explorers for first response and chief vehicles and I constantly see them coming and going. I could get my hands on one or two for parts but I'm wondering if they have any lighting differences besides the bar lights and strobes inside the headlights.

 

[Blee1099]

If I remember right, NY uses blue for 1st responders. You have a few options on the blue lights, you can get dash or grille mounted LED or standard strobe type lights or even a lightbar. For the headlight strobes, you can either install a set of Sho-Me/Whelen hide away strobes or you can get a wig wag flasher module. The LEDs will use less current to run them as compared to strobes which can easily kill a battery if the engine isn't running. If cost isn't an issue I'd recommend running LEDs.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Hey, I'm a volunteer at the local fire department. We use explorers for first response and chief vehicles and I constantly see them coming and going. I could get my hands on one or two for parts but I'm wondering if they have any lighting differences besides the bar lights and strobes inside the headlights.

I would think that all the lighting on the emergency veh.s is aftermarket. I dont trhink Ford does any installs of lights/flashers ect.
Usually a shop/business prepares the veh.s for a municipality.

 

[Charlie]

I would think that all the lighting on the emergency veh.s is aftermarket. I dont trhink Ford does any installs of lights/flashers ect.
Usually a shop/business prepares the veh.s for a municipality.

Yeah, the place that does it for all of the local cops/emergency vehicles here is "Rassbach Communications" or something like that. It is the Whelen dealer in town

 

[Donner]

Most states...

That's not legal unless you are government or a private firm where employees face hazardous situations (still requires government approval) If you install them yourself, you won't get a fix it ticket, your vehicle will be seized.

 

[Charlie]

That's not legal unless you are government or a private firm where employees face hazardous situations (still requires government approval) If you install them yourself, you won't get a fix it ticket, your vehicle will be seized.

Are you referring to strobes, or the color?

 

[Donner]

both

If your vehicle is in possession of lighting that mimics law enforcement or government, and you are stopped because of it... You will lose your vehicle.

 

[Donner]

The exception is the show car... but if driven in public, the same standards apply.

 

[Jason94sport]

The laws vary by state, & cops. Some will haul your ass to jail under impersonating a police office, others will impound your car & fine you, then others will just give you a ticket for having red or blue lights on your car.

To the OP, Ford did make some differences for Explorers to be used as commercial use. A heavy duty alternator, & an additional fuse block. As well as no center console & rubber flooring.
However most police departments I know had the Explorer outfitted either by a emergency/lighting co, or at the dealership's local tech staff.
I outfitting mine myself. I'm not longer responder though.
video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVYQaLARMLM

 

[Blee1099]

I just checked NY regulations.. According to the state's DOT/MVA site, you can only have one blue light front facing. Your definately limited then.. I would just stick with a dash mounted LED.

 

[muzzymaniac]

Here in NY you have to be a certain rank or years of service before volunteer fire can sport the blue light. I believe only Chief's can use red. This is what I remember from my friends telling me - one's a Lieutenant in the department. Dunno about the strobes etc but I doubt they're legal.

 

[Donner]

Bingo!

The laws vary by state, & cops. Some will haul your ass to jail under impersonating a police office, others will impound your car & fine you, then others will just give you a ticket for having red or blue lights on your car.

To the OP, Ford did make some differences for Explorers to be used as commercial use. A heavy duty alternator, & an additional fuse block. As well as no center console & rubber flooring.
However most police departments I know had the Explorer outfitted either by a emergency/lighting co, or at the dealership's local tech staff.
I outfitting mine myself. I'm not longer responder though.
video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVYQaLARMLM

There's also Homeland Security, and various other bureaus that would not be too happy about these types of mods... And if you live around a military facility or other sensitive site, watch out!

 

[JMan689]

If your vehicle is in possession of lighting that mimics law enforcement or government, and you are stopped because of it... You will lose your vehicle.

Wrong. You just get arrested for "Illegal use of blue light".

 

[2kXLTkid]

Well, I'd known about the whole regulations on lights. I was looking more to headlights, fog lights, and such; not LED's or Strobes. I had a previous Chevy Caprice with police lighting and was told to remove them due to the fact that one was red. Nice custom outfitted explorer though Jason.

 

[muzzymaniac]

I guess what you're asking isn't real clear then. I believe everyone here thought you were looking to add emergency lighting to your truck. No?

 

[Donner]

Correct me...

Wrong. You just get arrested for "Illegal use of blue light".

If this is outdated, please advise - thanks!

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0513

State of Illinois

 

[Donner]

Same...

I guess what you're asking isn't real clear then. I believe everyone here thought you were looking to add emergency lighting to your truck. No?

That's what I saw too, but now it's changed?? hmmm, maybe they can show an example of what they want. This one is cloudy...

 

[Blee1099]

You have to remember that each state is different. Having installed them professionally in a past life, I can tell you make sure you do it right and within all regulations.

 

[Donner]

That's true, but...

You have to remember that each state is different. Having installed them professionally in a past life, I can tell you make sure you do it right and within all regulations.

Since 9/11, everything has changed... what used to be just fun mods, now can be a threat. It's crazy...

 

[JMan689]

If this is outdated, please advise - thanks!

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0513

State of Illinois

Well they didn't seize my buddys Impala.