Connecticut Emergency Vehicle Light Laws: Permits, Colors & the 2024 Green-or-Blue Change

Key Takeaways

• Connecticut authorizes warning lights through permits, not by vehicle class alone. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q is titled "Permits for colored or flashing lights."

• In Connecticut, a flashing blue light on a passenger car indicates a volunteer firefighter, not law enforcement. § 14-96q(c) authorizes blue for active members of volunteer fire departments and organized civil preparedness auxiliary fire companies.

• The current text of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q(d) authorizes a flashing green or blue light for active members of a volunteer ambulance association. Guidance stating green only reflects a superseded version of the statute.

• Connecticut volunteer permits are issued by the chief executive officer of the department, company, or association on a form provided by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and may be revoked by that officer.

• Members of volunteer fire departments and volunteer EMTs in Connecticut may use flashing white headlamps when responding, subject to written authorization under § 14-96q.

• Tow and wrecker vehicles are not emergency vehicles under Connecticut law. They may display yellow or amber warning lights for visibility, which confers no right of way. 

Connecticut governs warning lights through a permit statute rather than a pure color statute. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q is titled "Permits for colored or flashing lights," and that title tells you how the state thinks about it. The color is downstream of the authorization.

There is also a change here that most published guides have not picked up. Subsection (d) used to authorize a green light for members of volunteer ambulance associations. The current text authorizes a flashing green or blue light. If you are working from a guide that says green only, it is out of date.

How the Connecticut Permit Structure Works

For the two largest volunteer categories, the permit does not come from the state. It comes from the chief executive officer of the department, company, or association, on a form provided by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The chief executive officer keeps the names and addresses of authorized members on file, and can revoke the authorization.

That is a meaningful distinction. A member's authority to run a light is tied to standing within the organization, and it ends when that standing ends. It is not a durable vehicle registration attribute.

Color By User Class Under § 14-96q

The blue-for-volunteer-firefighters rule is the one Connecticut is best known for, and it trips up out-of-state responders constantly. In most of the country, blue signals law enforcement. In Connecticut, a single flashing blue light in a passenger car most likely means a volunteer firefighter responding to a call.

The 2024 Update: Green or Blue for POV Ambulance Members

Earlier versions of subsection (d) read as a green light authorization. The current text authorizes "a flashing green or blue light or lights" for an active member of a volunteer ambulance association or company holding a permit from the chief executive officer of that association.

The statute also requires the association to keep a filing that designates the registration number of the motor vehicle the light will be used on. That is a more specific record-keeping requirement than the volunteer fire provision, and it is worth confirming with your association before you install.

Practically, this widens equipment options considerably. A member who previously needed to source green LED lightheads specifically now has the far larger blue inventory available as well.

Flashing White Head Lamps

Connecticut allows a vehicle operated by a member of a volunteer fire department or company, or a volunteer emergency medical technician, to use flashing white head lamps when on the way to the scene of a fire or medical emergency. The statute conditions this on written authorization.

This is one of the more commonly misconfigured items in a Connecticut POV build. A headlight flasher module is inexpensive, but the authorization requirement is not optional, and the flash should be disabled when the vehicle is not responding.

What A Connecticut Permit Does Not Do

A permitted blue or green light is a courtesy and visibility device. It does not convert a personally owned vehicle into an authorized emergency vehicle, and it does not grant right of way. Responders using them remain fully subject to traffic law, speed limits, and signal control.

Tow and wrecker vehicles are explicitly not emergency vehicles under Connecticut law. They may run yellow or amber warning lights while working, which is a visibility authorization only.

Equipment That Fits The Connecticut Rules

For volunteer fire members, a single blue dash or window mount light is the most common POV setup, with hide away LEDs for a cleaner install on a personal vehicle.

For volunteer ambulance members now covered by the green or blue language, both our green and purple LED range and the broader surface and grille mount range are options.

Tow operators should look at tow lightbars and traffic advisor arrow sticks. Connecticut is a short drive from our Westerly shop, so professional installation is straightforward for fleets in the eastern half of the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can volunteer firefighters use blue lights in Connecticut?

Yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q(c) authorizes a flashing blue light for an active member of a volunteer fire department or company who has been issued a permit by the chief executive officer of that department, on a form provided by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

Can Connecticut volunteer ambulance members use blue lights?

The current text of § 14-96q(d) authorizes a flashing green or blue light for an active member of a volunteer ambulance association or company holding a permit from the chief executive officer of that association. Older guides that say green only reflect a prior version of the statute.

Are flashing white headlights legal in Connecticut?

A vehicle operated by a member of a volunteer fire department or company, or a volunteer EMT, may use flashing white headlamps when on the way to the scene of a fire or medical emergency, subject to written authorization.

Are tow trucks emergency vehicles in Connecticut?

No. Tow and wrecker vehicles are not classified as emergency vehicles under Connecticut law. They may display yellow or amber warning lights while working, which provides visibility but no right of way.

Last Updated & Disclaimer

Last reviewed: August 2026. This page summarizes Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-96q and related provisions for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Statutes are amended and agency requirements change. Confirm current requirements with the official sources linked above, your department or agency, and the relevant state motor vehicle authority before purchasing or installing warning equipment.