C-24.2, r. 25.1 - Flashing Green Light Regulation

Updated to 1 January 2024

This document has official status.

chapter C-24.2, r. 25.1

Flashing Green Light Regulation

Highway Safety Code

(chapter C-24.2, s. 621, 1st par., subpar. 5.2).

DIVISION I OBTENTION, RENEWAL AND REVOCATION OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO USE A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT

O.C. 85-2021, Div. I.

1. A municipal authority authorizes a firefighter who is a member of the fire safety service established by the municipal authority and who applies to the municipal authority to use a flashing green light on a road vehicle other than an emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call from a fire safety service, where

(1)  the municipal authority has adopted a resolution providing for the use of the flashing green light by firefighters of that service;

(2)  the firefighter has completed the training at the École nationale des pompiers du Québec on the rules for the use of a flashing green light;

(3)  the firefighter holds a valid driver’s licence and the firefighter’s driving record, included with the application, shows that the firefighter has not been the subject, in the 2 years preceding the application, of a sanction under section 180, 185 or 191.2 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2);

(4)  the firefighter’s employment record shows that the firefighter complies with the protocols and guidelines of the fire safety service of which the firefighter is a member;

(5)  (paragraph revoked).

O.C. 85-2021, s. 1; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 1.

2. The authorization to use a flashing green light is valid until 15 September of the year following the second year from the date on which it has been granted.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 2; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 2.

3. Where the municipal authority authorizes a firefighter to use a flashing green light, the Société issues to the firefighter the authorization certificate provided for in Schedule 1.

For the purposes of the first paragraph, the authorization certificate must include at least one means of communication to contact the municipal authority in order to validate the firefighter’s authorization.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 3; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 3.

4. The authorization to use a flashing green light is renewed by the municipal authority, for a 2-year period, if the firefighter applies for it and if the conditions set in subparagraphs 1, 3 and 4 of section 1 are met.

Where the municipal authority renews the authorization, it issues the authorization certificate provided for in Schedule 1.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 4; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 4.

5. The authorization to use a flashing green light may be revoked by the municipal authority in the following cases:

(1)  the municipal authority has passed a resolution that no longer provides for the use of a flashing green light by the firefighters of the fire safety service established by the municipal authority;

(2)  the firefighter’s employment record shows that the firefighter does not comply with the protocols and guidelines of the fire safety service;

(3)  the firefighter is no longer a member of the fire safety service; or

(4)  the firefighter’s driver’s licence is no longer valid.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 5; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 5.

DIVISION II TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND METHOD FOR INSTALLATION OF A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE OF MORE THAN ONE FLASHING GREEN LIGHT

O.C. 85-2021, Div. II; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 6.

6. All flashing green lights must meet one of the following criteria:

(1)  be composed of one or more light emitting diode (LED) modules with a flash rate between 1 Hz and 4 Hz; or

(2)  comply with SAE Standard J845 dated February 2019 or SAE Standard J595 dated August 2021, or subsequent versions published by SAE International.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 6; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 7.

7. The flashing green light used by a firefighter must be installed on the inside of the windshield, in the area covered by the motion of the windshield wipers and outside the tinted area letting in less than 70% of light. Its maximum size, excluding the attachment system, must be 260 mm wide, 76 mm high and 185 mm deep.

The light must be equipped with a light-shield that reduces the glare affecting the driver due to the reflection of the light. It must be placed so as not to obstruct the driver’s view, interfere with driving manoeuvers, prevent the operation of vehicle equipment or reduce its efficiency and in a manner that does not present a risk of injury in case of an accident.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 7; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 8.

8. The driver of a tow truck equipped with flashing or rotating amber lights in accordance with section 227 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2) may, when the lights are activated and the tow truck is required by an emergency service, use one or more flashing green lights, which may be installed inside or outside the tow truck. A maximum of 8 flashing green lights may be installed on the tow truck. In addition, the number of flashing green lights installed so as to be visible from the front, the rear or one of the 2 sides of the tow truck cannot be more than 3.

For the purposes of the first paragraph, the technical standards and the method for the installation of a flashing green light are as follows:

(1)  the light may not be a rotating light or emulate the appearance of a rotating light;

(2)  if only one light is visible from the front, the rear or one of the 2 sides of the tow truck, its maximum size, excluding the attachment system, must be 260 mm wide, 76 mm high and 185 mm deep;

(3)  if 2 or 3 lights are visible from the front, the rear or one of the 2 sides of the tow truck, the maximum size of each light, excluding the attachment system, must be 158 mm wide, 61 mm high and 185 mm deep;

(4)  the total luminous area of the lenses of any flashing green light installed so as to be visible from the front, the rear or one of the 2 sides of the tow truck must, in each case, be less than that of the flashing or rotating amber lights installed on the tow truck and that are visible, as applicable, from the front, the rear or one of the 2 sides of the tow truck.

If a flashing green light is installed inside the tow truck, it must comply with the technical standards and method for installation prescribed by the second paragraph of section 7.

O.C. 85-2021, s. 8; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 9.

9. (Omitted).

O.C. 85-2021, s. 9; O.C. 1696-2023, s. 10.

SCHEDULE 1

(ss. 3 and 4)

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION TO USE A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT

  

O.C. 1696-2023, s. 11.

TRANSITIONAL

2023

(O.C. 1696-2023) SECTION 12. If the period of validity of the firefighter’s certificate of authorization issued by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec under section 226.2 of the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2), as it reads before 21 December 2023, ends on a date other than 15 September of the year of its expiry, the new certificate issued as a renewal by the municipal authority is valid until 15 September of the year following the second year from the date on which it was issued.

If the municipal authority issues a new certificate of authorization while the certificate of authorization issued by the Société is still valid, the new certificate is valid until 15 September of the year following the second year from the date on which it was issued.

REFERENCES

O.C. 85-2021, 2021 G.O. 2, 588

O.C. 1696-2023, 2023 G.O. 2, 3139