(a) A person commits the crime of unlawful possession or use of a traffic preemption device if the person possesses or uses a traffic preemption device and that person is not, at the time of the possession or use, operating an emergency vehicle.

(b) This section does not apply to

(1) an employee of the state or a municipality who, at the time of the possession or use of a traffic preemption device, is authorized to install, repair, or maintain traffic preemption devices and only uses a device in the process of installing, repairing, and maintaining the devices; or

(2) a person operating a motor vehicle involved in highway maintenance or public transit that has been authorized by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities or by the municipal assembly or council, as appropriate, to possess or use a traffic preemption device.

(c) In this section,

(1) “emergency vehicle” means a police, fire, or emergency medical service vehicle that only uses a traffic preemption device when responding to a fire or other emergency or when transporting a patient to a hospital or clinic or for transfer to another emergency vehicle;

(2) “traffic preemption device” means a system that uses infrared light or other technology on a motor vehicle to transmit a signal to a receiver connected to a traffic light or other traffic control device for the purpose of giving the vehicle transmitting the signal the right-of-way by changing the traffic light or control device.

(d) Unlawful possession or use of a traffic preemption device is a class A misdemeanor.