Ohio Admin. Code 3335-21-12 - Emergency and public safety vehicles

(A) Privileges of drivers. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire or other emergency alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this chapter, but subject to the conditions herein stated. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle may:

(1) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter;

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

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

(4) Disregard rules governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

(B) Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency or public safety vehicles. The exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle shall apply only when the driver of any such vehicle, while in motion, sounds an audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle, as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying authorized emergency light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle, except that an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle operated as a police vehicle need not be equipped with or display an authorized emergency light visible from in front of the vehicle.

(C) Driver's responsibility. The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using a street or roadway, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others.

(D) Vehicles approaching emergency vehicles.

(1) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of this chapter and/or state law, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right edge or curb of the street or roadway, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, hospital and campus security officer or traffic control officer.

(2) Paragraph (D)(1) of this chapter rule shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or roadway.

(E) Following emergency or public safety vehicles. The driver of a vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle or a public safety vehicle on official business, shall not follow an emergency vehicle or a public safety vehicle, traveling in response to a fire alarm, closer than five hundred feet, or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where the fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm, unless directed to do so by a law enforcement officer, traffic control officer, hospital and campus security officer or firefighter.

Replaces: 3335-21-16

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3335-21-12

Effective: 9/23/2012
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 111/15
Rule Amplifies: 3335.08
Prior Effective Dates: 3/13/78, 11/19/78, 8/2/82, 7/1/03