RE: 911:: Emergency Vehicles & Law

[Guest guest]

Oooops sorry I didn't see that already addressed this.

Thanks

Lead Operator

Clinton County Iowa Communications

[Guest guest]

911:: Emergency Vehicles & Law

> >>> Just as a police, fire or EMS vehicle is allowed to drive beyond

> the speed limit when running code, <<

>

> This statement is such a myth.<

>

That is true in Michigan also. Our county specifically has the

" distinction " of having charged a volunteer fireman after he was responding

to a scene and struck a veh which resulted in the death of the driver. I'm

not 100% positive on what he was charged with or convicted of but I know

that they were looking at his speed in a 25mph zone and looking at the

whether he had his emergency lights and siren activated. Had this been a

big city I'm not sure much would have been made of this, that's just my own

opinion though.

Roscommon County (MI) Central Dispatch

[Guest guest]

--SNIP--

That is true in Michigan also. Our county specifically has the

" distinction " of having charged a volunteer fireman after he was responding

to a scene and struck a veh which resulted in the death of the driver. I'm

not 100% positive on what he was charged with or convicted of but I know

that they were looking at his speed in a 25mph zone and looking at the

whether he had his emergency lights and siren activated. Had this been a

big city I'm not sure much would have been made of this, that's just my own

opinion though.

--UNSNIP--

It's all a matter of perspective, you may due such things as exceed the

speed limit, travel wrong way on one way street, etc. as long as you do not

endanger life or property with reckless disregard. I know several fire

departments that have enacted policies that only allow their personnel to

exceed the speed limit by only 10 MPH. I've been involved in a motor

vehicle accident while driving an emergency vehicle and it's no fun.

Granted, nine times out of ten, you have done everything right, and somebody

is just being a typical (i.e.: idiot / blind / etc) driver, but you will

still probably be cited for some violation, (fail to yield, etc.), and so

will they; (fail to yield to emergency vehicle.)

Ayres

Director

==============================================

Laclede County Office of Emergency Management

Laclede County Government Center

200 North

Lebanon, MO 65536

Phone:

Fax:

Pager:

[Guest guest]

>as long as you do not

endanger life or property with reckless disregard.<

That's the key.

You're allowed *some* latitude on traffic laws, but you and

your department still bear responsibility for your actions.

When I see fire/police/ems vehicles going lights

and siren, blowing stop signs, doing some very dangerous

things... when I *know* they're on a non-emergency

call.... I shudder...

What are they thinking?

They're not.

Weintraut