§ 11:26. Authorized emergency vehicles.

(a)

The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not when 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 title:

(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 stated speed limit, but not by more than ten (10) miles per hour; except that this shall not apply to police vehicles when in pursuit of other vehicles or in other emergencies, so long as the driver 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 the 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 (1) lighted emergency light displaying a flashing red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, except that an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle need not be equipped with or display a red or blue light visible from the 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 other persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.

(City Code 1951, Title 11, § 26)

State law reference

Similar provisions, R.S. 32:24.

Cross reference

Private ambulances generally, § 10:101 et seq.