Bill Text: CT SB00430 | 2014 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Operation Of Emergency Vehicles.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2014-06-13 - Signed by the Governor [SB00430 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00430-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 430
AN ACT CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of section 14-283 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):
(a) ["Emergency vehicle", as] As used in this section, "emergency vehicle" means any ambulance or vehicle operated by a member of an emergency medical service organization responding to an emergency call, any vehicle used by a fire department or by any officer of a fire department while on the way to a fire or while responding to an emergency call but not while returning from a fire or emergency call, any state or local police vehicle operated by a police officer or inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles answering an emergency call or in the pursuit of fleeing law violators or any Department of Correction vehicle operated by a Department of Correction officer while in the course of such officer's employment and while responding to an emergency call.
(b) (1) The operator of any emergency vehicle may [(1)] (A) park or stand such vehicle, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter, [(2)] (B) except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, proceed past any red light or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down or stopping to the extent necessary for the safe operation of such vehicle, [(3)] (C) exceed the posted speed limits or other speed limits imposed by or pursuant to section 14-218a or 14-219 as long as such operator does not endanger life or property by so doing, and [(4)] (D) disregard statutes, ordinances or regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specific directions.
(2) The operator of any emergency vehicle shall immediately bring such vehicle to a stop not less than ten feet from the front when approaching and not less than ten feet from the rear when overtaking or following any registered school bus on any highway or private road or in any parking area or on any school property when such school bus is displaying flashing red signal lights and such operator may then proceed as long as he or she does not endanger life or property by so doing.
(c) The exemptions [herein] granted in this section shall apply only when an emergency vehicle is making use of an audible warning signal device, including but not limited to a siren, whistle or bell which meets the requirements of subsection (f) of section 14-80, and visible flashing or revolving lights which meet the requirements of sections 14-96p and 14-96q, and to any state or local police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible warning signal device only.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the operator of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property.
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 14-279 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):
(a) The operator of any vehicle [,] or motor vehicle, [or] including an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, shall immediately bring such vehicle to a stop not less than ten feet from the front when approaching and not less than ten feet from the rear when overtaking or following any registered school bus on any highway or private road or in any parking area or on any school property when such bus is displaying flashing red signal lights, except at the specific direction of a traffic officer. Vehicles so stopped for a school bus shall not proceed until such school bus no longer displays flashing red signal lights, except that a stopped authorized emergency vehicle may proceed as long as such authorized emergency vehicle is operated pursuant to section 14-283, as amended by this act. At the intersection of two or more highways vehicular turns toward a school bus receiving or discharging passengers are prohibited. The operator of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a different roadway.