§ 118-207. Authorized emergency vehicles.

(a)

The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions stated in this section.

(b)

Such driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:

(1)

Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter when on duty as such;

(2)

Disregard, if necessary, regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

(c)

The exemptions granted to the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this section 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 reasonable, if necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle, except that an authorized emergency vehicle, operated as a police vehicle, need not be equipped with or display a red light visible as described in this subsection.

(d)

The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall the provisions of this section protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his reckless disregard of the safety of others.

(Code 1971, § 27-122)

State law reference

Authority to exceed speed limits, MCA 1972, § 63-3-517; authority to proceed past traffic control signs and signals, MCA 1972, § 63-3-315; other drivers to yield right-of-way, MCA 1972, § 63-3-809.