Defination of Emergency Veh. in Fla....

[BLSBoy]

OK, while reading up on the laws that apply to me as a Volunteer FF, it says under emergency vehicle, that we are considered one in our POV, while going to a call, displaying red lights, blah blah blah. BUT, it says we are NOT allowed a siren or audible device that emits a harsh or unreasonable sound.

WTF?

We can speed, go through red lights/stop signs, go against the flow of traffic, (ALL with due regard), but not audibly warn the motoring public?
This sounds like a HUGE liability waiting to happen.

As a Vol. FF in Jersey, I was allowed an electric airhorn. Would that be a harsh or unreasonable audible warning device in Fla?

Thanks for playing!

[SgtScott31]

I have read this in the o.com forums and firehouse forums. It doesn't make sense to me for any state to allow emergency equipment on a vehicle without a siren. It's not worth risking an accident in my opinion. Responding without anything is better than responding with lights w/o a siren.

[BLSBoy]

Sgt. Scott...
up here (in jersey) we at least get an electronic airhorn, which is a big step.
I would like to use that in Fla, since the station is only 2 miles from my house, but am not sure on the legalities of it.

[CGIS1]

Sgt. Scott...
up here (in jersey) we at least get an electronic airhorn, which is a big step.
I would like to use that in Fla, since the station is only 2 miles from my house, but am not sure on the legalities of it.

I would probably talk to the local Fl highway patrol office. It doesn't make sence to me to have lights with some type of audible warning, but maybe they view it differently.

[Blueribbon]

FSS 316.003 Definitions. (1) AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES.-Vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), plice vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments, public service corporations, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Transportation as are designated or authorized by their respective department or the chief of police of an incorporated city or any sheriff of any of the various counties.

No where in the definition do I read POV of a Volunteer FF... So, in Florida the red lights displayed by VFD POV's are restricted in FSS 316.2398, which states in effect that up to two red flashing may be displayed if authorized by the department's chief in writing and may only be displayed while actually enroute to an emergency.

The law does not provide for traffic law exemptions for these individuals and I have stopped more than one for agressive driving (100+ MPH in a 55 Zone...in the rain).

[twoseventysix]

Florida law does not authorize volunteer firefighters to exceed the speed limit and to run red lights. They can be stopped and cited for any traffic offense that they have committed.

[StudChris]

Speeding, going through redlights, and going against the flow of traffic = Reckless Driving, even for Volunteer FFs.

[LeanG]

OK, while reading up on the laws that apply to me as a Volunteer FF, it says under emergency vehicle, that we are considered one in our POV, while going to a call, displaying red lights, blah blah blah. BUT, it says we are NOT allowed a siren or audible device that emits a harsh or unreasonable sound.

WTF?

We can speed, go through red lights/stop signs, go against the flow of traffic, (ALL with due regard), but not audibly warn the motoring public?
This sounds like a HUGE liability waiting to happen.

As a Vol. FF in Jersey, I was allowed an electric airhorn. Would that be a harsh or unreasonable audible warning device in Fla?

Thanks for playing!

Sorry, but FL law doesn't allow for sirens on POV's, despite allowing for flashing red lights. The law doesn't protect you, so all liability will fall on you. Go against the flow of traffic? Buddy, not even I do that...

[BLSBoy]

(5) AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES.--

(a)1. 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 a fire alarm, but not upon returning from a fire;

2. A medical staff physician or technician of a medical facility licensed by the state when responding to an emergency in the line of duty in his or her privately owned vehicle, using red lights as authorized in s. 316.2398; or

3. The driver of an authorized law enforcement vehicle, when conducting a nonemergency escort, to warn the public of an approaching motorcade;

may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions herein stated.

(b) The driver of a vehicle specified in paragraph (a), except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may:

1. Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter;

2. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;

3. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property;

4. Disregard regulations governing direction or movement or turning in specified directions, so long as the driver does not endanger life or property.

(c) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle specified in paragraph (a) from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; ss. 1, 7, ch. 76-31; s. 2, ch. 77-456; s. 1, ch. 80-176; s. 1, ch. 88-74; s. 301, ch. 95-148; s. 14, ch. 97-256; s. 15, ch. 97-300; s. 87, ch. 99-13; s. 93, ch. 99-248.

Note.--Former s. 316.051.

This is where I pulled that info from. So the doc/tech who is going to the hospital has the rights and privliges of an emergency vehicle, but not the FFs?

Please, do not mistake me for an uberwacker. My #1 priority is arriving ALIVE. If that means missing the call, so be it.

100mph + anywhere is job security. I am not looking to go flying down A1a like a maniac, just get to the station in a safe, expedious manner.

LeanG...the agians flow of traffic comment was for one way streets (not like we have any!)
I do not have a death wish!

Although it seems some of my partners do....

[LeanG]

This is where I pulled that info from. So the doc/tech who is going to the hospital has the rights and privliges of an emergency vehicle, but not the FFs?

Please, do not mistake me for an uberwacker. My #1 priority is arriving ALIVE. If that means missing the call, so be it.

100mph + anywhere is job security. I am not looking to go flying down A1a like a maniac, just get to the station in a safe, expedious manner.

LeanG...the agians flow of traffic comment was for one way streets (not like we have any!)
I do not have a death wish!

Although it seems some of my partners do....

I understand that. I didn't really believe you went flying down the wrong side of the roadway at crazy speeds. On another note, I should've quoted the statute that you should've referred to. This is how I came to my conclusion.

316.271 Horns and warning devices.--

(1) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet.

(2) No horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.

(3) The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn, but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

(4) No vehicle shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle, any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section.

(5) It is permissible but not required that any vehicle be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.

(6) Every authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 feet and of a type approved by the department, but such siren, whistle, or bell shall not be used except when the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which event the driver of the vehicle shall sound the siren, whistle, or bell when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.

(7) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a trolley may be equipped with a bell, and the bell is not required to be used only as a warning device. As used in this subsection, the term "trolley" includes any bus which resembles a streetcar, which is powered by overhead electric wires or is self-propelled, and which is used primarily as a public conveyance.

(8) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

You have to read the law to the letter. It is not up to us, as private citizens to interpret the law as we see fit. That's why I said all liability would fall on you. It's not worth it.

[Blueribbon]

The below copied and pasted from the myflorida.com web site... government - legislature section

******
316.003 Definitions.--The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where the context otherwise requires:

(1) AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES.--Vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments, public service corporations operated by private corporations, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, and the Department of Transportation as are designated or authorized by their respective department or the chief of police of an incorporated city or any sheriff of any of the various counties.

*****
316.2398 Display or use of red warning signals; motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or medical staff.--

(1) A privately owned vehicle belonging to an active firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer firefighting company or association, while en route to the fire station for the purpose of proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency or while en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency in the line of duty as an active firefighter member of a regularly organized firefighting company or association, or a privately owned vehicle belonging to a medical staff physician or technician of a medical facility licensed by the state, while responding to an emergency in the line of duty, may display or use red warning signals visible from the front and from the rear of such vehicle, subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

(a) No more than two red warning signals may be displayed.

(b) No inscription of any kind may appear across the face of the lens of the red warning signal.

(c) In order for an active volunteer firefighter to display such red warning signals on his or her vehicle, the volunteer firefighter must first secure a written permit from the chief executive officers of the firefighting organization to use the red warning signals, and this permit must be carried by the volunteer firefighter at all times while the red warning signals are displayed.

(2) It is unlawful for any person who is not an active firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer firefighting company or association or a physician or technician of the medical staff of a medical facility licensed by the state to display on any motor vehicle owned by him or her, at any time, any red warning signals as described in subsection (1).

(3) It is unlawful for an active volunteer firefighter to operate any red warning signals as authorized in subsection (1), except while en route to the fire station for the purpose of proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency, or while at or en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency, in the line of duty.

(4) It is unlawful for a physician or technician of the medical staff of a medical facility to operate any red warning signals as authorized in subsection (1), except when responding to an emergency in the line of duty.

(5) A violation of this section is a nonmoving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318. In addition, any volunteer firefighter shall be dismissed from membership in the firefighting organization by the chief executive officers thereof.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 1, ch. 77-454; s. 3, ch. 80-176; s. 2, ch. 87-157; s. 324, ch. 95-148; s. 31, ch. 96-350; s. 1, ch. 2003-165.

Note.--Former s. 316.292.

****

The statute still does not designate your POV as an "Authorized Emergency Vehicle." If it did, then you would be required to have a siren, bell or whistle as bolded in LeanG's post.

[SJR1709]

If memory serves me correctly when I was going through the academy here in FL, the CMS ciriculum stated as far as sirens that it must be able to be heard from 500ft I believe. Yeah when you run code and all you can go through lights and all, but you better stop first and becareful. You go lights and sirens the whole way, so the horns/sirens are a must to alert driver's that an emergency vehicle is approaching. It's also a good idea though to use a different horn/siren than others are using because it helps drivers differentiate that there are other vehicles coming.