Trucker slapped with citation for ‘festive’ holiday big rig lighting

The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) doled out a citation instead of Christmas cheer after spotting a semi truck dressed up in lights for the holiday season.

On November 26, 2024, KHP Trooper Ben Gardner took to social media to explain why a recent semi truck traffic stop ended in a citation:

Imagine driving down the road and seeing red or blue lights approaching from behind or coming toward you. Naturally, you might slow down and pull to the right, thinking it’s an emergency vehicle. This split-second reaction could create confusion and even lead to a dangerous traffic crash.

That’s exactly why Trooper Mai stopped a semi earlier today that was lit up with festive holiday lights, including red and blue lighting displayed to the front. While the display was interesting and joyful, these colors are reserved for emergency vehicles and can’t be used on public roadways. The driver was cited for unauthorized additional lighting to ensure safety on our highways.

While we appreciate the holiday cheer, let’s keep the roads safe for everyone. Save the lights for your home or tree.

Imagine driving down the road and seeing red or blue lights approaching from behind or coming toward you. Naturally, you might slow down and pull to the right, thinking it’s an emergency vehicle. This split-second reaction could create confusion and even lead to a dangerous… pic.twitter.com/gFKIYsRM0Q

— Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) November 27, 2024