(a) No person shall, without proper authorization from a fire official, cling to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board, or swing upon any Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device thereon, or manipulate or tamper with, or attempt to manipulate or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes, pumps, or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of, any Fire Department emergency vehicle.
(b) No person shall damage, deface, or attempt, or conspire to damage or deface any Fire Department emergency vehicle at any time, or injure or attempt to injure or conspire to injure Fire Department personnel while performing departmental duties.
(c) The driver of any emergency vehicle shall not sound the siren thereon or have the front red lights on or disobey any existing traffic regulation, except when such vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when responding to, but not upon returning from a fire and/or emergency call. Tactical strategies such as, but not restricted to, ''move ups" do not constitute an emergency call.
(d) The driver of an emergency vehicle may:
(1) Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of existing traffic regulations;
(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or other sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limit so long as he does not endanger life or property;
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions;
(5) The exemptions herein granted to an emergency vehicle 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 reasonably 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.
(e) No person shall obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct or restrict the access to any fire hydrant, or any Fire Department connection for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including fire hydrants and fire department connections that are located on public or private streets and access lanes or on public or private streets and access lanes, or on private property.
(f) If, upon the expiration of the time mentioned in a notice of violation such obstructions or encroachments are not removed, the Fire Official shall proceed to remove the same. Costs incurred in the performance of necessary work shall be paid by the City Fiscal Officer on certificate of the Fire Official and with the approval of the chief administrative official; and the legal authority of the City shall institute appropriate action for the recovery of such costs.
(Ord. 0-25-14. Passed 6-16-14.)
(Ord. 0-25-14. Passed 6-16-14.)