§ 54-61. 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, whether pursued for a traffic offense or some other offense, 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. The driver of an emergency vehicle may:

(1)

Park or stand a vehicle notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter;

(2)

Proceed past a red or stop signal, or stop sign, but only after slowing down therefor as may be necessary for safe operation;

(3)

Exceed the basic maximum or posted speed limit;

(4)

Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

(b)

The exemptions granted in subsection (a) of this section 54-61 shall apply as follows:

(1)

The exemptions granted in paragraphs (2) through (4) of subsection (a) of this section shall apply only when an authorized emergency vehicle is making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of section 54-72; except that an authorized emergency vehicle being operated as a police vehicle while in actual pursuit of a suspected violator of any provision of this chapter 54 or of any provision of the state motor vehicle code need not display or make use of audible and visual signals so long as such pursuit is being made to obtain verification of or evidence of the guilt of the suspected violator.

(2)

The exemption granted in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall apply only when an authorized emergency vehicle is making use of visual signals meeting the requirements of section 54-72; except that an authorized emergency vehicle need not display or make use of visual signals so long as the vehicle is out of the lane of traffic and the use of such visual signals would cause an obstruction to the normal flow of traffic. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an emergency vehicle to make use of audible signals when such vehicle is not moving.

(3)

In addition to the other requirements of this subsection (b), the exemptions granted in subsection (a) shall apply to privately owned emergency vehicles only when such vehicles are operated by a person licensed to do so by the manager of safety pursuant to section 17-29 and when such vehicles permanently display the identification insignia issued to and for such authorized emergency vehicles by the manager of safety pursuant to subsection (d) of this section 54-61.

(c)

The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of persons and property.

(d)

The manager of safety shall issue, upon payment of a sum of two dollars ($2.00), to every authorized emergency vehicle, other than vehicles of the fire and police departments, ambulances and other emergency vehicles of municipal departments and governmental agencies, an identification insignia made of metal or other substance at the discretion of the manager of safety, bearing the phrase `Private Emergency Vehicle,' upon application by the owner thereof describing the vehicle by make, model, year of manufacture, state license number for the current year, motor and chassis number, the emergency use to be made of the vehicle, the location and description of the place or places from which it is intended to operate and such other information as the manager shall find reasonably necessary, when in the manager's discretion the manager shall find that the vehicle will be used as an authorized emergency vehicle. When so issued, the identification insignia shall be displayed on the vehicle for which the same is issued, in such position as to be plainly visible from the rear. Use of the identification insignia on any vehicle other than that for which the same is issued, is prohibited.

(Code 1950, § 503.7; Ord. No. 267-88, § 1, 5-2-88)

State law reference

Similar provisions, C.R.S. 1973, 42-4-106.

Cross reference

Emergency vehicles generally, Ch. 17.