AB 308

Current law generally requires a vehicle facing a red traffic signal to stop before

entering an intersection and remain stopped until the signal turns green and

requires a vehicle approaching a stop sign to stop before entering the intersection

and yield the right-of-way to other vehicles that have entered the intersection or are

approaching on a highway not controlled by a stop sign or traffic signal. The leading

vehicle in a funeral procession must comply with these stopping requirements for

traffic control signals and stop signs, but when the leading vehicle has complied with

these requirements and proceeded through an intersection, all other vehicles in the

funeral procession that have their headlights on may proceed without stopping,

regardless of the sign or signal.

Under current law, when an authorized emergency vehicle is responding to an

emergency call or in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, the operator

is exempt from traffic restrictions relating to parking if the vehicle's warning lights

are activated. The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle is also exempt from

traffic restrictions relating to speed, traffic signals, and direction of travel if the

vehicle's warning lights and siren are activated. Even when an authorized

emergency vehicle is operated with the vehicle's warning lights and siren activated,

the operator must drive with due regard under the circumstances for the safety of

all persons.

This bill allows a police vehicle, with warning lights activated, to escort any

vehicle or procession of vehicles. With each escorted vehicle or procession of vehicles,

there must be at least one police vehicle escort leading the vehicle or procession and

at least one police vehicle escort at the rear of the vehicle or procession. The escorting

police vehicles and escorted special event vehicles are not required to stop at red

traffic signals or stop signs but must obey all other traffic laws. These privileges

apply to the operator of a police vehicle only if the law enforcement agency employing

the operator has provided written guidelines for its officers and employees regarding

the escorting of vehicles. The escorting police vehicles and escorted vehicles must

yield the right-of-way to any other authorized emergency vehicle with its siren

activated. All other vehicles must yield the right-of-way to the escorting police

vehicles and escorted vehicles and may not drive between them. A person who fails

to yield the right-of-way to the escorting police vehicles and escorted vehicles or

drives between these vehicles, or who operates an escorting police vehicle or escorted

vehicle and fails to yield the right-of-way to another authorized emergency vehicle,

may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $50 for the first offense

and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the second or subsequent offense within

a year.