Security Patrol Vehicle Emergency Lights

A quick video showcasing the emergency lights on a security vehicle that is operated by a security guard or officer and emergency medical technician (EMT) in a private community. The vehicle is upfitted and equipped with a full-size lightbar as well as emergency lights in the side-view mirrors, grille, and fog lights.

[@albertl.9146]

I did neighborhood patrol in California on bicycles: green and amber lights on both front and rear ends, red lights at back (but got away with two reds at front), and white headlights at front of bikes. In the months of November and December, we add flashing Christmas lights wrapped on the frame of the bikes. No blue lights to avoid being mistaken as law enforcement, except if Christmas lights have blue. Once I was found very helpful to block the road with my highly visibly-lighted bike when one evening a homeless elderly pedestrian collapsed in the middle of the road due to a heart attack. I was almost like a first responder using my bike to protect the scene and using a rainbow LED light saber mounted on the frame of my bike to direct traffic while wearing a reflective vest before a police cruiser arrived, followed by a fire truck and ambulance five minutes later. They all thanked me and said I can go. Because of my creativity with the bicycle lights, cops pulled over to me three times and told me it was so cool and random drivers shouted "Bike Party!!! Rolling Christmas Tree!"

[@dasandman14]

lol That’s awesome. It’s good that you get in the spirit.

[@slender169101]

In California private security can use any lights that are not red and blue. But there are some security companies who have been exempt from the state statutes on their properties such as tribal land, federal institutions so on and so fourth

[@dasandman14]

That makes sense. I have heard of some security departments with red and blue lights in private communities in California. Leisure Village is an example: www.leisurevillage.org/about

[@careavis]

Purple being a combination of blue and red which makes sense as security are the first responders to get help from EMS and Police.

[@stopteamintervention]

Looks Good.

[@careavis]

I think purple is the universal color for security now since 2020 they made a thin purple line flag to recognize security professionals and their supporters.

[@dasandman14]

I’ve only seen purple lights used by funeral escorts

[@dasandman14]

I haven’t seen any security agencies using purple lights. I have only seen funeral escorts using them. Do you have any examples?

[@beakfish7319]

In Washington amber and white is common, red to the rear is ok, and sometimes ive seen green used as well.

[@dasandman14]

Nice. Red to the rear makes sense because it blends in with the brake lights.

[@TheLifeofTrevonHarris]

Here in Alabama I use green and white for the front and green and amber for the rear

[@dasandman14]

Very nice

[@cpsspatrol]

In New Mexico, the strobe light statute for security patrol units are as follows, any color facing the front and sides besides red can be used. The only time red can be used is facing toward the rear of the vehicle and should be incorporated into the red tail light housings. I've seen security in my area use blue, blue/white, amber, amber/white so far. My agency strictly uses all amber due to the fact that we have a community patrol division which is similar to the Shomrim patrols in New York and New Jersey.

[@dasandman14]

Very cool. It’s surprising that so many states allow blue lights on security vehicles.

[@cpsspatrol]

@@dasandman14 indeed. I also forgot to mention, New Mexico is an awkward state, we not only have security vehicles running any color but red, but I also seen a tow truck running all blues, construction running blue/white toward the front with red toward the rear, road crews running blue/amber toward the front, and red/blue toward the rear. It's definitely confusing here.

[@dasandman14]

@@cpsspatrol Wow. It does sound confusing. It would be nice if it were more standardized.

[@sylent6]

That’s very very unusual because 1020 years ago that would never be considered but considering now we are moving into the or I should say back into the private police age

[@cullen2106]

Stay safe

[@dasandman14]

Thank you. You as well.

[@Will-wv1gc]

Here in Oklahoma it’s anything is game except red and blue. My company did have purple amber and white but are making the switch to all clear with the exception of the amber directional.

[@dasandman14]

Nice. It is strange to hear about purple lights being used for security because they are typically used by funeral homes.

[@Will-wv1gc]

@@dasandman14 yes it’s different for sure but we are trying to be different than the usual that all the companies do. Most do amber/green here and my boss hates both lol. The purple definitely brings questions and the all white is blinding. My boss has his ‘16 Charger decked with all white and it looks awesome in steady burn at night.

[@Will-wv1gc]

@@dasandman14 also very few companies have purple lights available you have to resort to eBay cheap China lights for purple which is why the move to white.

[@dasandman14]

White lights are definitely classic, but they stand out well.

[@billydefrancesco2376]

My company use Federal signal Valor light package. We use Blue/Green

[@TheWaffleHimself]

Here in Virginia its a bit wierd. Security is technically only allowed to use amber, but you can do whatever colors you want on a vehiclr in general as long as your on private property, so technically we could have red and blue, green, amber, white, red, purple, etc. I think for legality tho everyone in va should stick with amber and green (greens pushing it but nobody here uses green so you could probably get away with it)

[@dasandman14]

But don’t you guys have Special Conservators of the Peace? I heard they can have red lights.

[@TheWaffleHimself]

@dasandman14 armed security in virginia are SCOPs, and no they are not allowed to use red lights. Only red lights allowed is 2 little break lights on the back of the lightbar to signify the rear of the vehicle.

[@TheWaffleHimself]

@dasandman14 by the way, SCOPs are just civilians with law enforcement level arrest powers. There are 2 ways you can become a SCOP in virginia, 1 is to become an armed security officer where the status is given to you by your armed security license, or 2, it can be ordered by the courts to award you SCOP power. However SCOPs are not considered emergency responders therefor are not permitted to use emergency color lighting.

[@dasandman14]

@@TheWaffleHimself But what about places like Colonial Williamsburg? They have red lights as shown below: www.flickr.com/photos/mbernero/8329687604

[@TheWaffleHimself]

@dasandman14 I have no idea, all I know is when you look up thr code for security vehicles VA law states only amber is permitted. They probably have some sort of exemption in their locality

[@jamesflaherty4621]

We have green blue and amber

[@dasandman14]

That’s neat. How do they allow blue?

[@jamesflaherty4621]

@@dasandman14 private property. Also ran by a retired swat officer for Illinois. And we also help do crowd and traffic control during big out door events.

[@dasandman14]

@@jamesflaherty4621 Very nice. It’s interesting how you could basically run any color of lights on private property. It is hard to tell what color LEDs are until they are lit anyway.

[@billydefrancesco2376]

We use Blue/Green

[@JL-ic1pm]

Oklahoma is amber or green. Road construction, road side assistance services or towing you can use red and blue on the rear. Amber and white on the front. I predict the day will come when only white are allowed on the front and amber and green to the rear for security as many companies are using look alike police car graphics.

[@dasandman14]

Good point. It only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch.

[@commanderhall848]

Here in florida security uses amber and white or amber and green or green white

[@dasandman14]

Lieutenant Hall What color do you prefer because I noticed that you previously had green lights, but you said that the mall uses amber lights?

[@commanderhall848]

@@dasandman14 personally on my own car I have green and white

[@dasandman14]

Lieutenant Hall I agree. Green is more distinct and helps to differentiate between security vehicles and plow trucks or tow trucks.

[@commanderhall848]

@@dasandman14 exactly, green really sticks out more compared to the yellow as far as security goes, some even use green and amber combo

[@dasandman14]

Lieutenant Hall Yes, I have seen the green and amber combo on KZbin videos and I am not sure how I feel about it. Green and white seems to stand out better.

[@MaxwellJSmith-sq1xc]

Maine: Amber and Green!

[@dasandman14]

Nice! Thank you for sharing!

[@detarak_oonson1119]

Here in MN we have...amber. Or maybe amber/white of you wanna push it. It's terrible. Most companies that operate only on private property aren't regulated, though, so they use whatever they want. Green, white, red, blue, as long as it's on private property that can do whatever.

[@detarak_oonson1119]

I guess by state statute , you can have amber/white to the front, and amber/red to the back, as long as the red flash together, like hazards. Oh, and you can only have "two strobes" to the front and rear.

[@detarak_oonson1119]

Did I mention that we cant have basic car colors like white, black, etc?

[@dasandman14]

Dietrich P. Interesting. Then, how is JBM Patrol allowed to have red lights and they are based out of Minnesota? Please see the photo on their below website: jbmpatrol.com/emergency-services.php

[@xCashHerosx]

@@detarak_oonson1119 Because they also operate in a different state, so it's their universal color It's weird really, there are loopholes but at the same time, they are a big company..not As big as securitas or G4S, but still big and can kinda get away with it. And they can't just flip it on just because.

[@jennamiller3114]

@@dasandman14 they can run reds on private property.

[@vicentemendoza1668]

In Texas we’re not allowed to have blue lights for us security only green Amber white

[@dasandman14]

I thought Texas allowed blue lights on security vehicles. Did the law change?

[@vicentemendoza1668]

@@dasandman14 yes sir as of September 1 2018 section 547.305 of the transportation is amended to limit security patrol vehicles to green Amber or white lights (not my words this is from the TEXAS DPS website)

[@dasandman14]

@@vicentemendoza1668 That’s interesting. How come they took blue lights away from security?

[@vicentemendoza1668]

@@dasandman14 because people would often confuse them with law enforcement and or impersonating a law enforcement officer

[@dasandman14]

@@vicentemendoza1668 That makes sense

[@sebastianprotel]

Oh very cool can you do a full walk around the inside and out?

[@dasandman14]

McSquizzy Gaming Thank you. Unfortunately, I am unable to do a full walk around due to confidentiality reasons.

[@sebastianprotel]

Ok! No problem thanks for getting back to me!! I'm in the works for starting a security agency and we are using amber and green

[@dasandman14]

McSquizzy Gaming Very nice. Best of luck with your new company. Let me know how it goes.

[@principleintelligencellc4539]

@@sebastianprotel what city and state?

[@ssiprotection9479]

Here is how things work in the DC area. Dc. security guards can have yellow lights, while special police personnel can have blue and white and sirens. There are a few agencies who have red and blue. We run blue and white. Va. regular security officers can use Amber and white. special conservators of the peace, which is the Virginia special police statute, are allowed to run red and white Md. Security officers can run Amber or green or any combination thereof, and a special police officers can run red and blue

[@dasandman14]

SSI Protection Thank you for sharing. It is interesting how many differences there are between states that are so close in proximity to one another.

[@commanderhall848]

Finally the lights lol

[@jeremyswan1446]

Red lights you're lucky, I work in Houston and Texas changed its laws to allow the following Green/amber Green/white amber/white or solid as well, Im trying to get it changed to Blue/white tx is a blue light state for everything but security.

[@dasandman14]

Jeremy Swan That’s interesting. I thought Texas allowed blue lights for security vehicles because I saw some photos of them online. Did they change the law recently?

[@jeremyswan1446]

@@dasandman14 yes about 2 years ago 2018 i think 2019 was the switch over year if i remember alot feel its a slap on the face when dot and pilot cars get to run blue/amber red all day long

[@dasandman14]

Jeremy Swan What a shame. I suspect that it was a few bad apple security guards who abused the blue lights and caused them to be taken away from everyone else. It only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone.

[@jeremyswan1446]

@@dasandman14 yep i agree im also pushing for more training we only have 48 hours (week) course to get armed certified i like the way Tennessee and i think sc does it

[@dasandman14]

Jeremy Swan Yeah, good training is so important. Most places only do online training, but classroom and hands-on training are the best ways to learn.

[@MrDBag-kd8yt]

I'm confused... Is it legal for this guy to go over the speed limit, go through red lights, and pull vehicles over like actual police officers?

[@dasandman14]

Good question. If you listened to the video, it is a private community, which means that the roads are private roads, not public roads.

[@MrDBag-kd8yt]

@@dasandman14 interesting, so do you have the legal authority to detain people on traffic stops? I'm curious as a Canadian. They're extremely strict with that in Canada. Your either a peace officer or not, and only the police have the legal authority to detain people. I honestly wouldn't pull over and stop for red lights. Of course I would pull over and allow them to pass. I'm just curious how it works for you guys.

[@dasandman14]

@@MrDBag-kd8yt Private communities require all of their residents to sign contracts in order to live there. As a result, the residents agree to abide by all of the rules of the community, such as the community’s speed limits. Our job is to enforce those rules.

[@djluckycharmz9534]

Probably not on the roads. But maybe in neighborhoods or private properties

[@fernandosmith9658]

Lord have mercy we have a soon-to-be police impersonator😂😂😂😂 asking pre questions

[@cullen2106]

So from now on don’t get arrested I don’t get put in jail or prison and my name is Cullen James Scott