§ 71.29. Fire apparatus and ambulances; right-of-way; following too closely; driving over unprotected hose; exceptions

(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

Ambulance. The term is defined in § 70.01.

Fire apparatus. Means and includes any fire truck, engine, hose truck or other vehicle used and operated by the Fire Department of the city, in answering any fire or other alarm or in fighting and extinguishing fire or controlling other public dangers.

Other public danger. Any emergency which the governing authorities or Fire Chief of the city shall direct the Fire Department and apparatus to reach and attend.

Streets. Any street, alley, avenue or other public way within the city.

(B) Right-of-way. Except as hereinafter provided, any person engaged in operating a motor vehicle upon the streets of the city shall immediately upon the sounding of the fire alarm of the city move his or her vehicle to the right-hand curb of the street and there remain stopped until the fire apparatus or ambulance shall have passed or it has been determined that such apparatus will not pass along the street on which the vehicle is being operated.

(C) Following fire apparatus and ambulance prohibited.

(1) The driver of any vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where the fire apparatus has stopped to answer a fire alarm.

(2) No driver of a vehicle, except on official business, may follow closer than 500 feet behind an ambulance when the flashing red lights of the ambulance are operating. No driver of a vehicle may drive or park his or her vehicle at a place where an ambulance has been summoned for an emergency call in a manner calculated to interfere with the arrival or departure of the ambulance.

(D) Driving over unprotected hose. No driver of a vehicle shall drive over an unprotected hose of a Fire Department when laid down on any street or private driveway, which hose is to be used at any fire or alarm of fire, without the consent of the Fire Department official in command.

(E) Exceptions.

(1) Volunteer firefighters, police and ambulance personnel shall be exempted from this section while responding to an emergency; provided, they are in private vehicles clearly indicated by signs, emergency flashing lights, or other clearly visible indicators of their volunteer or ambulance personnel status.

(2) Nothing in this section shall relieve the volunteer firefighter, police or ambulance personnel from observing all other traffic laws, ordinances, rules or regulations contained herein, or imposed by law.

(Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156) (Ord. 58, passed 9-21-37)

(Tex. Transp. Code § 545.407)

(Tex. Transp. Code § 545.408)

('84 Code, §§ 20-161, 20-162, 20-163, 20-164)

refcross

Penalty, § 70.99.