CHAPTER 350

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.1-226 of the Code of Virginia relating
to police officers and other persons exempt under certain circumstances
from certain rules of the road in the operation of a motor vehicle; and
conditions under which exemptions granted. S142)

Approved April 1, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Phone That § 46.1-226 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
0

§ “16. 1-226. (a) The operator of any publicly owned vehicle
operated by or under the direction of a police officer in the chase or
apprehension of violators of the law or persons charged with or suspected
of any such violation, and the operator of any vehicle used for the purpose
of fighting fire or a vehicle owned by a political subdivision of the Com-
monwealth for rescue purposes when traveling in response to a fire alarm
or respirator call, and the operator of any ambulance or rescue or life
saving vehicle, whether such vehicle is publicly owned or operated by a
non-profit corporation or association when such vehicle is being used in the
performance of public services, and when such vehicle is operated under
emergency conditions may, without subjecting himself to criminal prosecu-
on:

(1) Proceed past red signal, light, stop sign or device indicating
moving traffic shall stop if the speed and movement of the vehicle is
reduced and controlled so that it can pass a signal, light or device with due
regard to the safety of persons and property.

(2) Park or stand notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter.

(3) Disregard regulations governing a direction of movement of
vehicles turning in specified directions so long as the operator does not
endanger life or property.

(4) Pass or overtake, with due regard to the safety of persons and
property, another vehicle at any intersection.

b) These exemptions, hereinbefore granted to such a moving
vehicle, shall apply only when the operator of such vehicle displays a flash-
ing, blinking or alternating red light and sounds a siren, bell, or exhaust
whistle, as may be reasonably necessary, and, only when there is in force
and effect for such vehicle standard automobile liability insurance covering
injury or death to any person in the sum of at least * fifty thousand dollars
because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and,
subject to the limit for one person, to a limit of three hundred thousand
dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any
one accident, and to a limit of five thousand dollars because of injury to
or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Such exemptions
shall not, however, protect the operator of any such vehicle from criminal
prosecution for conduct constituting reckless disregard of the safety of
persons and property. Nothing in this section shall be construed to release
the operator of any such vehicle from civil liability for failure to use
reasonable care in such operation.