Let's discuss: blue lights in California

[California Red 11]

So, there I was, on MTS Line #11 here in San Diego, going westish on Adams Ave, near a park, IIRC. We pass a box ambulance on a ford van chassis. It is primarily white, but with some orange striping, and a big circular logo, I think with the medic star logo within. No clue what company it would have been.  And the light bars were those old thin ones. Not sure who makes/made them. But it was red-blue-red-middle-red-blue-red. 

 

Other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary about this unit. At least, maybe, in Arizona. 

 

Has anybody seen this unit rolling around San Diego? Did the laws on warning devices get changed recently? I had just never, in California, seen blue on a medic or fire engine (except once, Southern Inyo FPD had taken delivery of a vehicle from NV, and never changed the lights). Though many states have gone that direction in the past, what, ten years (MN, OR, NM, maybe).

Edited September 28, 2015 by California Red

[Rescue51 44]

The laws may have changed, don't know, but I thought blue lights were only for law enforcement in California.  I would be in full support of allowing fire/medics to use a combo of red/blue/amber/white.  Blue lights are more effective at night.  The combo of the different colors can get driver's attention if the all reds are masked by other red light which are everywhere (traffic lights, brake lights).    I also thought in California an emergency vehicle must have an amber light (flashing?) in the rear.  I noticed some agencies no longer have rear ambers, like some of the Santee FD rigs.

[E0001 62]

Rear amber lights has never been a law in the State of California. That is a popular misconception. It is common to see, but not a requirement. The only required emergency is lighting is a steady burning forward facing red light. The rest is up to the agency.

[RicardoBerg 8]

I remember when the LAFD used to have amber only beacon lights on their crowns from the 70's as their emergency lights.