(a) A motor vehicle shall not be operated upon a highway of this State equipped with a siren or signal lamp colored other than amber unless a permit authorizing this equipment, issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, is carried in the vehicle. A permit may be transferred following the same procedure and subject to the same time limits as set forth in section 321 of this title. The Commissioner may adopt additional rules as may be required to govern the acquisition of permits and the use pertaining to sirens and colored signal lamps.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, when responding to emergencies, law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, fire vehicles, or vehicles owned or leased by, or provided to, volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members which are registered or licensed by another state or province may use sirens and signal lamps in Vermont, and a permit shall not be required for such use, as long as the vehicle is properly permitted in its home state or province. (Amended 1967, No. 265 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1985, No. 85, § 6; 2001, No. 106 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2009, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 39; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. June 1, 2010.)