PRINTER'S NO. 1929
No. 1559 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON (BY REQUEST), OCTOBER 11, 1983
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, OCTOBER 11, 1983
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for use of audible signals by
3 police vehicles.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 3105 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 3105. Drivers of emergency vehicles.
9 (a) General rule.--The driver of an emergency vehicle, when
10 responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an
11 actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to
12 but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the
13 privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the
14 conditions stated in this section.
15 (b) Exercise of special privileges.--The driver of an
16 emergency vehicle may:
17 (1) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of
18 this part.
1 (2) Proceed past a red signal indication or stop sign,
2 but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe
3 operation, except as provided in subsection (d).
4 (3) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the
5 driver does not endanger life or property, except as provided
6 in subsection (d).
7 (4) Disregard regulations governing direction of
8 movement or turning in specified directions.
9 (c) Audible and visual signals required.--The privileges
10 granted in this section to an emergency vehicle shall apply only
11 when the vehicle is making use of an audible signal and visual
12 signals meeting the requirements and standards set forth in
13 regulations adopted by the department, except that an emergency
14 vehicle operated as a police vehicle need not be equipped with
15 or display the visual signals nor do audible signals need to be
16 used when a police vehicle is exercising the special privileges
17 of subsection (b).
18 (d) Ambulances and blood-delivery vehicles.--The driver of
19 an ambulance or blood-delivery vehicle shall comply with maximum
20 speed limits, red signal indications and stop signs. After
21 ascertaining that the ambulance or blood-delivery vehicle will
22 be given the right-of-way, the driver may proceed through a red
23 signal indication or stop sign.
24 (e) Exercise of care.--This section does not relieve the
25 driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due
26 regard for the safety of all persons.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
G1L75RZ/19830H1559B1929 - 2 -