Whelen California Model Lights and Lightbars

[@GCHG2014]

Very impressive video. Now just do one about the CHP set ups and why its so complex...

[@nealgold8442]

Thanks for a great history lesson in the oddity of CA code 3 standards. You did a great job!

[@PTRRanger951]

Being a CA boy I appreciate this video. I remember way back in the original site days, there were a few members that had POVs, like Hugh, that had CA steady burn on their setups even though they were in completely different parts of the country. I was a deputy in another state and would actually re program my bars on every vehicle I had issued to me to have a steady burn red and two. They would be set up like typical setups in most states were the second level of lighting would still be the entire vehicle, and level 3 would be white lighting added, only change. So I would rewire stuff and reprogram them to have only the steady burn red and blue on level 2 ( only I also had to have one set of flashing red and blue, since flashing red was what people had to yield to ), and then level 3 would add all the rest of the front lighting and white. We also bordered CA and to get to another end of our county have to drive into CA so I wanted it anyway. I would also slow the patterns down. A lot of agencies in the state used steady burn as well.

[@alvon911]

I’m in Ohio, and I’ve been on two volunteer fire departments. I thought I was the only one to have had a steady-burn red on my POV! The EMS agency I work for now has a Ford PI Utility and I am donating a red spotlight bulb for it. I’ve always had a soft spot for the California light.

[@johnarat9618]

Does California allow lights and sirens in POVs? I heard no, from someone on Reddit, but I want to hear it from someone else.

[@PTRRanger951]

@@johnarat9618 no. There is an entire process for privately owned vehicles to have emergency lighting, which are generally only ambulances and armored vehicles.

[@johnarat9618]

@@PTRRanger951 Dammit. Part F of CVC Section 165 says "Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol." To me, it kinda looked like POVs could count, so long as the top boss man of the CHP gave you a permit. I guess I'm shitty at legal interpretations. 🤷

[@PTRRanger951]

@@johnarat9618 it says that any vehicle which a permit has be issued, counts as an emergency vehicle. But other sections specify what vehicles can be issued a permit. The first sections specifically says that a permit can only be issued for the following vehicles, and then ONLY AFTER finding they do require it. Meaning just because the vehicle fits the requirement, it actually has to be used for it as well. Not just be able to have it. This is CVC 2416 (a) The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol may issue authorized emergency vehicle permits only for the following vehicles, and then only upon a finding in each case that the vehicle is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement or for the immediate preservation of life or property or for the apprehension of law violators: (1) Any vehicle maintained in whole or in part by the state, a county or a city and privately owned and operated by a marshal, deputy marshal, or person who is a member of, and who receives salary from, and is regularly employed by, a police department or sheriff's department, provided the state, county or city does not furnish to that person a publicly owned authorized emergency vehicle. (2) Any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility, used primarily to accomplish emergency repairs to utility facilities or used primarily by railroad police officers, who are commissioned by the Governor, in the performance of their duties. (3) Firefighting or rescue equipment designed and operated exclusively as such. (4) Any vehicle operated by the chief, assistant chief, or one other uniformed person designated by the chief of a fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code or the Government Code or pursuant to special act of the Legislature. (5) Any vehicle of an air pollution control district used to enforce provisions of law relating to air pollution from motor vehicles. (6) Any vehicle operated by the chief of any fire department established on any base of the armed forces of the United States. (7) Any vehicle owned and operated by any fire company organized pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 14825) of the Health and Safety Code. (8) Privately owned ambulances licensed pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 2500). (9) Vehicles other than privately owned ambulances used by privately owned ambulance operators exclusively to transport medical supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel to the scene of an emergency when a request for medical supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel has been made by any person or public agency responsible for providing emergency medical transportation. These vehicles shall display a sign or lettering not less than two and one-half inches in height, in a color providing a sharp contrast to its background, on each side showing the name of the ambulance operator. (10) Any vehicle owned and operated by an office or department of a city, county, or district which is designated by an ordinance adopted by the governing body of that local agency as a hazardous materials response team vehicle for response to hazardous materials emergencies. (b) The commissioner may adopt and enforce regulations to implement this section. (c) Violation of any regulation adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this section is a misdemeanor. Ca. Veh. Code § 2416

[@chpman2013]

Growing up in CA, I never once thought about why CA emergency have forward facing, steady burning red lights and rear facing, flashing amber lights. I just thought that's how it is here...and I gotta say, even though it's for Title 13 compliance, it makes CA emergency very distinguishable. Especially the CHP, with their usage of forward steady red lights.

[@Jono.P]

Can you do a video getting into the studies of why steady burn red is safer? Would love to hear all about them

[@BabyBoomersDoomer]

I like the la special! Solid red in front yellow blue flash drivers rear. Thank you for the knowledge ❤

[@Sammydx1]

Backdraft insert. Great movie

[@paulmatakovich9096]

I had to explain the California light bar to my ops manager at AMR in Pittsburgh when I transferred there. His next question was who in the hell thought that up.

[@jesterflight8593]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ianyarbrough9474]

great stuff I never knew!!!!!

[@davidclark6297]

Who manufactured the par 46 warning lights on the Adam-12 police car? What are those fixtures or housings called? Barrel ligjts?

[@nealgold8442]

They were made by a Los Angeles company called S&M, then taken over by Trio Sales and they were marked as the T-2. Originally they were wired with two independent flashed so there was a truly random amber flash pattern to the rear. This was done for two reasons, if one lamp or flasher died there would still be one working. The other was ease of installation. No need to run a wire from one side to the other. The reason for the change in 1968 was due to Jack Webb’s making of Adam-12. Jack liked the look of the alternating flasher so he had the first Adam-12 vehicle wired that way. From that point on and to this very day LAPD still runs alternating flashing amber to the rear. As a purist and a retired LEO from S. CA I love the tradition and hope it stays that way.

[@SkittleKicksPlays]

@@nealgold8442 And true wig-wag at that time was not common either. It was asyncronis. So perhaps Jack's suggestion for his show prompted the standard.

[@vincentparent2851]

I'm a New Yorker. And volunteer firefighter. All emergency vehicles are red white lights. Well over last few years counties and towns are mixing red and blue up front and getting people for not pulling over because no one knows why those colors are trying to pull people over

[@SkittleKicksPlays]

It would not be NYC without candy cane light bars.

[@SPMech1]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@signal12hvac]

nice vid