§ 6.06.520. Same—Designation.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, authorized emergency vehicles are vehicles publicly owned and operated in the performance of the duty of:

(1)

A police or fire department;

(2)

A sheriff's office;

(3)

The state highway patrol;

(4)

A public ambulance agency;

(5)

A public lifeguard or lifesaving agency.

(b)

A vehicle publicly maintained in whole or in part by the state, or by a city or county, and privately owned, and operated by a regularly salaried member of a police department, sheriff's office or traffic law enforcement department, is an authorized emergency vehicle under the following conditions:

(1)

When such vehicle has such a permit from the state department of motor vehicles;

(2)

Where such person operates such vehicle so owned by him in responding to emergency calls or fire alarms or highway patrol duty or operates such vehicle in the pursuit of actual or suspected violators of the law; and

(3)

When the state, county or city does not furnish to such officer a publicly-owned vehicle for the purposes stated in subsection (2).

(c)

When a vehicle is operated as an authorized emergency vehicle it shall display a flashing red light and an audible siren which have been approved by the state department of motor vehicles.

(d)

The following are not emergency vehicles and shall not be permitted to operate as such:

(1)

Tow cars;

(2)

Public utility vehicles;

(3)

Vehicles used in merchant patrols;

(4)

Vehicles used in private escort service;

(5)

Privately-owned vehicles of volunteer firemen;

(6)

Privately-owned vehicles of reserve members of a police department or a sheriff's office; and

(7)

Vehicles of private detectives.

(Ord. No. 6392, § 1, 2-10-16)

Editor's note

Formerly § 6.06.040