CHAPTER 89

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.1-225, 46.1-226, 46.1-267 and 46.1-285,
as amended, of the Code of Virginia, relating to the use of emergency,
warning and identification lights and audible signals.

(S 127]

Approved February 28, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46.1-225, 46.1-226, 46.1-267 and 46.1-285, as amended, of the
Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.1-225. (a) Upon the approach of any * vehicle * listed in para-
graph (a) of § 46.1-226 giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle,
or air horn designed to give automatically intermittent signals, the driver
of every other vehicle shall immediately drive the same to a position
as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge or curb, clear of any
intersection of highways, and shall stop and remain in such position
unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer until * such
vehicle shall have passed. This provision shall not operate to relieve the
driver of * any such vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard
for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor shall it protect the
driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise
of such right-of-way.

(b) Violation of this section shall constitute failure to yield the
right-of-way.

§ 46.1-226. (a) The operator of (1) any * police vehicle
operated by or under the direction of a police officer in the chase or ap-
prehension of violators of the law or persons charged with or suspected
of any such violation, * (2) any vehicle used for the purpose of fighting
fire, including publicly owned State forest warden vehicles not to exceed
two hundred in number, when traveling in response to a fire alarm or
emergency call, * (8) any vehicle owned by a political subdivision of
the Commonwealth for rescue purposes when traveling in response to a
fire alarm or * an emergency call, * or (4) any ambulance or rescue
or life saving vehicle designed or utilized for the principal purposes of
supplying resuscitation or emergency relief where human life is en-
dangered, whether such vehicle is publicly owned or operated by a nonpro-
fit 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 pros-
ecution:

(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 vehi-
cle, shall apply only when the operator of such vehicle displays a flashing,
blinking or alternating red light and sounds a siren, * exhaust whistle,
or air horn designed to give automatically intermittent signals, 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.

§ 46.1-267. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed
two fog lamps, one passing lamp, one driving lamp, two side lamps of not
more than six candle power; interior light of not more than fifteen candle
power; vacant or destination signs on vehicles operated as public carriers,
and signal lamps.

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Only those vehicles listed in paragraph (a) of § 46.1-226 and para-
graph (a) of § 46.1-267 and school buses may be equipped with flashing,
blinking or alternating red emergency lights of a type approved by the
Superintendent.

Vehicles used for the principal purpose of towing disabled vehicles
or in constructing, maintaining and repairing highways or utilities on or
along public highways may be equipped with flashing, blinking or alter-
nating amber warning lights of a type approved by the Superintendent.
(a) A member of any fire department, volunteer fire company or volunteer
rescue squad may equip one vehicle owned by him with a flashing or steady-
burning red light of a type approved by the Superintendent, for use by him
only in answering emergency calls. * Any person violating the provision
of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(bo) Blue lights, steady or flashing, of a type approved by the Super-
intendent shall be reserved for civil defense vehicles, publicly or privately
owned.

***No motor vehicle shall be operated on any highway which is
equipped with any lighting device other than lamps required or permitted
in this article or required or * approved by the Superintendent.

§ 46.1-285. Every police vehicle and * vehicle used for the pur-
pose of fighting fire and every ambulance or rescue vehicle used for emer-
gency calls shall be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle or air horn
designed to give automatically intermittent signals of a type not prohibited
by the Superintendent. Publicly owned vehicles used by a State forest
warden, not to exceed two hundred in number in the Commonwealth,
may also be so equipped.***