[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1214

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblymen AUGUSTINE and BAGGER

An Act concerning the operation of authorized emergency vehicles and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. As used in this act, "emergency operation" means the operation, or parking, of an authorized emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is engaged in transporting a sick or injured person, transporting prisoners under emergent conditions, pursing an actual or suspected violator of the law or responding to, or working or assisting at the scene of an accident, disaster, police call, alarm or fire, actual or potential release of hazardous materials or other emergency. Emergency operation shall not include returning from such service.

    2. a. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when involved in an emergency operation, may:

    (1) Stop, stand or park irrespective of the provisions of this Title;

    (2) Proceed past a steady red signal, a flashing red signal or a stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;

    (3) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he does not recklessly endanger life or property;

    (4) Disregard laws or ordinances governing directions of movements or turning in specified directions.

    b. Except for an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle, the exemption herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when audible signals are sounded from that vehicle while in motion by bell, horn, siren, electronic device or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp so that in any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet from such vehicle, at least one red light is displayed and visible.

    c. Any authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle may exceed the maximum speed limits for the purpose of calibrating the vehicle speedometer.

    d. The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from any 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.

    ¹[e. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, an ambulance operated in the course of an emergency shall not be prohibited from using any highway; provided, however, that an authority or municipality having jurisdiction over any such highway may specifically prohibit travel thereon by ambulances if such authority shall deem such travel to be extremely hazardous and would endanger patients thereby transported.]¹

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Grants certain privileges to drivers of authorized emergency vehicles.