Sirens/windy roads/at night

[Taylor13]

Police/fire here usually don't use their sirens here at night, unless it's a lot of traffic, or they're coming up to a red light.

Do cops with windy roads usually use sirens at night when they get a call? It's a weird question, but my friend moved to a place with windy roads and she wants to know.. and so do I.

This is all related to being at night, nothing about the day.

[CruiserClass]

Depends. I use mine less at night, especially near residential areas. Not much traffic, speeds are lower, lights can be seen further away, and there's no need to wake everyone with the noise.

[Unit453]

Our general orders state that if our lights are on and we're actively running priority, our sirens better be on too.

[mtxpro752]

If our lights are on sirens are too, no matter time of day.

[JCT]

lights and sirens, by state law.

[JKralC104]

Not using lights and sirens no matter what the circumstances when you are violating a traffic law WILL screw you if something happens.

[IBTP711]

Gotta have the sirens too the only time i will shut mine off is if the dispatcher cant understand me because im being covered by my siren. But it goes back on as soon as im done transmitting.

[mooseyard]

We are required to run lights and sirens also, unless there is a special circumstance, that I won't get into on a public forum. Not waking up people in the middle of the night is not one of the reasons.

[wearsastetson]

Depends. I use mine less at night, especially near residential areas. Not much traffic, speeds are lower, lights can be seen further away, and there's no need to wake everyone with the noise.

Ditto
Lots of people overdrive their headlights and I've seen whats left of cruiser vs angus at speed froma night call. If there are intersections or other areas that need cleared, I know where they are and activate before. There are a lot of calls that typically come in at night where I purposly don't use my siren

[mikeymedic]

I will run lights but no sirens at night on the mountain passes. I will use a siren only when there is traffic just for warning.

[fleetguy]

Code 3 means LIGHTS and SIRENS. My code runs are reviewed on in-car video by my supervisors and IA, I will not get called to the curb because I did not use my emergency equipment while responding code 3.

[SgtCHP]

In California, sirens are required to be sounded as reasonably necessary to be in compliance with section 21055 of the Vehicle Code and case law. A siren being sounded in such a manner, coupled with the display of at least one steady burning red lamp to the front, visible for 1000 feet in normal atmospheric conditions, may be exempt from the rules of the road.

So, in the mountains with no cross traffic, in the desert with no traffic, on the freeway with no traffic, in residential areas in the early AM with no traffic, you may not need to sound the siren!

Exemption of Authorized Emergency Vehicles
21055. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21350), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 21650), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 21800), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 21950), Chapter 6 (commencing with 22100), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 22348), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 22450), Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500), and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of this division, and Article 3 (commencing with Section 38305) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 38312) of Chapter 5 of Division 16.5, under all of the following conditions:

(a) If the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call or while engaged in rescue operations or is being used in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or is responding to, but not returning from, a fire alarm, except that fire department vehicles are exempt whether directly responding to an emergency call or operated from one place to another as rendered desirable or necessary by reason of an emergency call and operated to the scene of the emergency or operated from one fire station to another or to some other location by reason of the emergency call.

(b) If the driver of the vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians.

A siren shall not be sounded by an authorized emergency vehicle except when required under this section.

Amended Ch. 1017, Stats. 1977. Effective September 23, 1977 by terms of an urgency clause.

[11b101abn]

Lights and siren are required in GA to be considered an emergency vehicle.

In any case, barring tactical consideratins, the use of both is smarter than only using one.