Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 10.21 EMERGENCY VEHICLES
10.21.010 Operation of authorized emergency vehicle.
A. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when
responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual suspected
violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire
alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the
conditions herein stated.
B. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle
may:
1. Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this
act;
2. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only
after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
3. Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he does not
endanger life or property;
4. Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or
turning in specified directions.
C. The exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency
vehicle shall apply only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion
sounds audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably
necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp
displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a
distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle, except that an
authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle need not be equipped
with or display a red light visible from in front of the vehicle.
D. The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of
an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the
safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the
consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others. (Ord. 210
§ 33, 1957)