AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE; MABAS H.B. 4301 & 4302:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bills 4301 and 4302 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Brian BeGole (H.B. 4301)
Representative Mike McFall (H.B. 4302)
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Veterans and Emergency Services
CONTENT
House Bill 4301 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Allow a vehicle that was owned by the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) and operated during an interlocal emergency pursuant to an interlocal agreement to be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.
-- Prescribe a civil fine of up to $100 for violating the Code's prohibition against unauthorized use of flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.
House Bill 4302 would amend Chapter 3 (Operator's and Chauffeur's License) of the Michigan Vehicle Code to exempt a MABAS employee or member who operated an authorized emergency vehicle and met driver training standards published under the Firefighters Training Council Act from the Code's requirement to obtain specific vehicle group designations before operating a commercial motor vehicle.
The bills are tie-barred. House Bill 4301 is explained in further detail below.
House Bill 4301
Section 698 of the Code prohibits the use of flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights on vehicles with certain exceptions, such as for use by authorized emergency vehicles. "Authorized emergency vehicle" means any of the following:
-- Vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, ambulances, privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer or paid fire fighters, or volunteer members of an emergency rescue unit if authorized by the chief of an organized fire department, a county sheriff, or the director of the department of state police, or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer or paid members of a life support agency licensed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs if authorized by the life support agency.
-- During certain emergencies, a vehicle owned and operated by a federally-recognized nonprofit charitable organization that is used exclusively for assistance during that emergency.
-- For certain purposes, a road service vehicle giving a visual signal by means of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating red or amber light.
The bill would include in the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" a vehicle that was owned by the MABAS and operated during an interlocal emergency pursuant to an interlocal
agreement under the Urban Cooperation Act.1 The bill also would allow an authorized emergency vehicle owned by the MABAS and operated as part of an emergency response to be equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red, white, amber, or green lights.
(The MABAS is a statewide mutual aid agreement through which fire departments, emergency medical services, and other emergency operations assist each other in large-scale emergencies and natural disasters.2)
Additionally, the bill would define "road service vehicle" as a vehicle that is clearly marked and readily recognizable as a vehicle used to assist disabled vehicles.
Finally, the bill would prescribe a civil fine of up to $100 for a violation of Section 698.
MCL 257.2 & 257.698 (H.B. 4301) Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
House Bill 4301
The bill could have a positive fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would impose new civil fines up to a maximum of $100. Revenue collected from civil fines is used to support local libraries and county law libraries. The amount of revenue for local libraries is indeterminate and dependent on the actual number of violations.
House Bill 4302
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
[1] The Urban Cooperation Act generally allows public agencies in the State to exercise jointly any authority or privilege that the agencies each have.
[2] "About MABAS", MABAS. Retrieved on 12-2-2025.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.