Sorry about not getting back to you it has been very busy for us. Since we are a small department of 37 things happen that can affect us all due to a small town that we are in. I will be looking into this item tomorrow.
CHAPTER 546. OPERATION OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN
OTHER VEHICLES
SUBCHAPTER A. AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES
§ 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an
authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:
(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision
of this subtitle;
(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;
(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided
by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the
operator does not endanger life or property; and
(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.
§ 546.002. WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE. (a) In this
section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a
funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles
2.12(1)-(4), (8), and (22), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:
(1) responding to an emergency call;
(2) pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the
law;
(3) responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;
(4) directing or diverting traffic for public safety
purposes; or
(5) conducting a police escort.
§ 546.003. AUDIBLE OR VISUAL SIGNALS REQUIRED. Except
as provided by Section 546.004, the operator of an authorized
emergency vehicle engaging in conduct permitted by Section 546.001
shall use, at the discretion of the operator in accordance with
policies of the department or the local government that employs the
operator, audible or visual signals that meet the pertinent
requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.
§ 546.004. EXCEPTIONS TO SIGNAL REQUIREMENT. (a) A
volunteer fire fighter who operates a private vehicle as an
authorized emergency vehicle may engage in conduct permitted by
Section 546.001 only when the fire fighter is using visual signals
meeting the pertinent requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.
(b) An authorized emergency vehicle that is operated as a
police vehicle is not required to be equipped with or display a red
light visible from the front of the vehicle.
(c) A police officer may operate an authorized emergency
vehicle for a law enforcement purpose without using the audible or
visual signals required by Section 546.003 if the officer is:
(1) responding to an emergency call or pursuing a
suspected violator of the law with probable cause to believe that:
(A) knowledge of the presence of the officer will
cause the suspect to:
(i) destroy or lose evidence of a suspected
felony;
(ii) end a suspected continuing felony
before the officer has obtained sufficient evidence to establish
grounds for arrest; or
(iii) evade apprehension or identification
of the suspect or the suspect's vehicle; or
(B) because of traffic conditions on a multilaned
roadway, vehicles moving in response to the audible or visual
signals may:
(i) increase the potential for a collision;
or
(ii) unreasonably extend the duration of
the pursuit; or
(2) complying with a written regulation relating to
the use of audible or visible signals adopted by the local
government that employs the officer or by the department.
§ 546.005. DUTY OF CARE. This chapter does not relieve
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from:
(1) the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate
regard for the safety of all persons; or
(2) the consequences of reckless disregard for the
safety of others.
§ 546.006. DESIGNATED EMERGENCY VEHICLE DURING DECLARED
DISASTERS. (a) From recommendations made under Section
418.013(c), Government Code, the department shall designate which
vehicles may be operated by which designated organizations as
emergency vehicles during declared disasters.
(b) A vehicle designated under Subsection (a) may be
operated by a designated organization as if the vehicle were an
authorized emergency vehicle under this subtitle if:
(1) the governor declares a state of disaster under
Section 418.014, Government Code;
(2) the department requests assistance from the
designated organization; and
(3) the vehicle is operated by the designated
organization or a member of the designated organization in response
to the state of disaster.
(c) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258, § 5.02, eff.
September 1, 2007.
SUBCHAPTER B. OPERATION OF CERTAIN FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
§ 546.021. MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATIONS. (a) Two or more
businesses whose activities require the maintenance of
fire-fighting equipment may form a mutual aid organization in which
the member businesses agree to assist each other during an
emergency by supplying fire-fighting equipment or services.
(b) The presiding officer or director of an organization
formed under this section shall deliver a list to the county fire
marshal, or to the commissioners court of a county if the county
does not have a fire marshal, in each county in which a member
business is located. The list must contain the name of the
registered owner and license plate number of each motor vehicle
that each member intends to use in supplying fire-fighting
equipment or services.
(c) If the county fire marshal or commissioners court
determines that the operation of the vehicles on the list is in the
public interest and not a threat to public safety, the marshal or
court shall approve the list.
(d) On approval of the list by the county fire marshal or
commissioners court, a person operating a listed motor vehicle in
response to a call for emergency fire-fighting assistance from a
member has the rights and restrictions placed by this subtitle on
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(e) A county is not liable for damage to a person or property
caused by a person approved by the county under this section to
operate a motor vehicle for emergency fire-fighting assistance.
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Sorry about not getting back to you it has been very busy for us. Since we are a small department of 37 things happen that can affect us all due to a small town that we are in. I will be looking into this item tomorrow.
Dale
I will see what we have and get back to you.
What kind of PASS devices are you looking for?
Dale
CHAPTER 546. OPERATION OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN
OTHER VEHICLES
SUBCHAPTER A. AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES
§ 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an
authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:
(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision
of this subtitle;
(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;
(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided
by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the
operator does not endanger life or property; and
(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 546.002. WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE. (a) In this
section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a
funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles
2.12(1)-(4), (8), and (22), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:
(1) responding to an emergency call;
(2) pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the
law;
(3) responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;
(4) directing or diverting traffic for public safety
purposes; or
(5) conducting a police escort.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 66, § 1, eff. May 16, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 834, § 1, eff. June 17, 2005.
§ 546.003. AUDIBLE OR VISUAL SIGNALS REQUIRED. Except
as provided by Section 546.004, the operator of an authorized
emergency vehicle engaging in conduct permitted by Section 546.001
shall use, at the discretion of the operator in accordance with
policies of the department or the local government that employs the
operator, audible or visual signals that meet the pertinent
requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 546.004. EXCEPTIONS TO SIGNAL REQUIREMENT. (a) A
volunteer fire fighter who operates a private vehicle as an
authorized emergency vehicle may engage in conduct permitted by
Section 546.001 only when the fire fighter is using visual signals
meeting the pertinent requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702.
(b) An authorized emergency vehicle that is operated as a
police vehicle is not required to be equipped with or display a red
light visible from the front of the vehicle.
(c) A police officer may operate an authorized emergency
vehicle for a law enforcement purpose without using the audible or
visual signals required by Section 546.003 if the officer is:
(1) responding to an emergency call or pursuing a
suspected violator of the law with probable cause to believe that:
(A) knowledge of the presence of the officer will
cause the suspect to:
(i) destroy or lose evidence of a suspected
felony;
(ii) end a suspected continuing felony
before the officer has obtained sufficient evidence to establish
grounds for arrest; or
(iii) evade apprehension or identification
of the suspect or the suspect's vehicle; or
(B) because of traffic conditions on a multilaned
roadway, vehicles moving in response to the audible or visual
signals may:
(i) increase the potential for a collision;
or
(ii) unreasonably extend the duration of
the pursuit; or
(2) complying with a written regulation relating to
the use of audible or visible signals adopted by the local
government that employs the officer or by the department.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 546.005. DUTY OF CARE. This chapter does not relieve
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from:
(1) the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate
regard for the safety of all persons; or
(2) the consequences of reckless disregard for the
safety of others.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 546.006. DESIGNATED EMERGENCY VEHICLE DURING DECLARED
DISASTERS. (a) From recommendations made under Section
418.013(c), Government Code, the department shall designate which
vehicles may be operated by which designated organizations as
emergency vehicles during declared disasters.
(b) A vehicle designated under Subsection (a) may be
operated by a designated organization as if the vehicle were an
authorized emergency vehicle under this subtitle if:
(1) the governor declares a state of disaster under
Section 418.014, Government Code;
(2) the department requests assistance from the
designated organization; and
(3) the vehicle is operated by the designated
organization or a member of the designated organization in response
to the state of disaster.
(c) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258, § 5.02, eff.
September 1, 2007.
SUBCHAPTER B. OPERATION OF CERTAIN FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
§ 546.021. MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATIONS. (a) Two or more
businesses whose activities require the maintenance of
fire-fighting equipment may form a mutual aid organization in which
the member businesses agree to assist each other during an
emergency by supplying fire-fighting equipment or services.
(b) The presiding officer or director of an organization
formed under this section shall deliver a list to the county fire
marshal, or to the commissioners court of a county if the county
does not have a fire marshal, in each county in which a member
business is located. The list must contain the name of the
registered owner and license plate number of each motor vehicle
that each member intends to use in supplying fire-fighting
equipment or services.
(c) If the county fire marshal or commissioners court
determines that the operation of the vehicles on the list is in the
public interest and not a threat to public safety, the marshal or
court shall approve the list.
(d) On approval of the list by the county fire marshal or
commissioners court, a person operating a listed motor vehicle in
response to a call for emergency fire-fighting assistance from a
member has the rights and restrictions placed by this subtitle on
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(e) A county is not liable for damage to a person or property
caused by a person approved by the county under this section to
operate a motor vehicle for emergency fire-fighting assistance.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
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