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SB 962

Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Archuleta

Parole officers may display blue warning lights on emergency vehicles after a four-hour training, expanding current authority to include parole officers.

In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
#emergencyvehicles #bluewarninglights
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Bill Summary · SB 962

Summary of SB 962 (2025-2026) – California

Title

Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights. Also known as the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act.

Primary purpose and intent

  • To authorize parole officers to display blue warning lights on their emergency vehicles, provided they complete a specified four-hour training course on the operation of emergency vehicles.
  • The bill makes technical, non-substantive amendments to existing law governing blue warning lights for certain peace officers.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 25258 of the Vehicle Code is amended to:

    • Confirm that emergency vehicles operated by certain peace officers may display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear.
    • Extend this authority to parole officers (in addition to the already existing authority for police officers and probation officers).
    • Require training for parole and probation officers before operating a blue warning light:
    • Probation officers: must complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles, certified by the Standards and Training for Corrections Division of the Board of State and Community Corrections.
    • Parole officers: must complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles, certified by the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training (CPOST).
    • State that the addition of blue warning lights for parole officers does not expand authority for high-speed pursuits or change existing training requirements for pursuits.
    • Clarify that, except as provided for blue warning lights, no device shall emit illumination or radiation designed to control official traffic signals.

  • Officially named the act the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act.

Who would be affected

  • Parole officers: newly authorized to display blue warning lights on emergency vehicles, contingent on completing the specified training.
  • Probation officers: already authorized to use blue warning lights; subject to the existing four-hour training requirement (as stated in the bill).
  • Other listed peace officers (e.g., police officers, California National Guard members in certain contexts): continue to have current authority to use blue warning lights.

Training and qualifications

  • Four-hour classroom training for:
    • Probation officers operating a blue warning light (certified by the Standards and Training for Corrections Division of BSCC).
    • Parole officers operating a blue warning light (certified by CPOST).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Action history indicates committee hearings and amendments occurring through early 2026, with a scheduled hearing activity noted in April 2026.
  • The bill text was amended to reflect the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act designation.
  • No new state appropriations are requested (Fiscal Committee: YES/NO field indicates no appropriation).

Additional notes

  • The bill is described as making technical, nonsubstantive changes to existing provisions, focusing on extending blue warning light authority to parole officers with training.
  • The bill clarifies that blue warning light authority does not expand high-speed pursuit authority or alter related pursuit training requirements.

If you want, I can provide a plain-language quick-read version or compare this bill to current statute to highlight exact differences.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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