Tex. Transp. Code § 547.702 · Subchapter L. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUSES, AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell:
(1) of a type approved by the department; and
(2) that emits a sound audible under normal conditions at a distance of at least 500 feet.
(b) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle shall use the siren, whistle, or bell when necessary to warn other vehicle operators or pedestrians of the approach of the emergency vehicle.
(c) Except as provided by this section, an authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with signal lamps that:
(1) are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable;
(2) display four alternately flashing red lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located on the rear at the same level; and
(3) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight.
(c-1) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with signal lamps that display alternating or flashing white lights that comply with the requirements of Subsections (c)(1) and (3).
(d) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire alarm or a medical emergency may, but is not required to, be equipped with signal lamps that comply with the requirements of Subsection (c).
(e) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire alarm or a medical emergency may be equipped with a signal lamp that is temporarily attached to the vehicle roof and flashes a red light visible at a distance of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight.
(f) A police vehicle may, but is not required to, be equipped with signal lamps that comply with Subsection (c).
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 592 (H.B. 3125), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.547.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 18a8b918850aa0966cd55aeaa112ee68e754e71b8074b5b621a8408d8cd31110
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
Cited by 10 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Transp. Code § 547.702. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Transportation Code
- Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156VEHICLE APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 545.157PASSING CERTAIN VEHICLES.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 545.204STREETCAR APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 546.003AUDIBLE OR VISUAL SIGNALS REQUIRED.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 546.004EXCEPTIONS TO SIGNAL REQUIREMENT.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 546.007CLOSURE OF ROAD OR HIGHWAY BY FIREFIGHTER.Printed as Sections 547.305 and 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 547.305RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS.Printed as Section 547.701 or 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 547.501AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICES.Printed as Section 547.702
- Tex. Transp. Code § 547.751ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZED FOR MEDICAL EXAMINER VEHICLES.Printed as Section 547.702(c)
- Tex. Transp. Code § 547.752ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZED FOR VEHICLES OPERATED BY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.Printed as Section 547.702(c)
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.