(A) The driver of an emergency vehicle, as defined in G.S. §§ 20-145 and 20-156, when responding to an emergency call, or when in the pursuit of an actual suspected violator of the law, or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions herein stated.
(B) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle 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 prima facie speed limits, so long as he or she does not endanger life or property; and
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement, or turning, in specified directions.
(C) As provided in G.S. § 20-156(b), the driver of a vehicle upon the highway shall yield the right-of-way to Police and Fire Department vehicles, and public and private ambulances, vehicles used by an organ procurement organization, or agency, for the recovery or transportation of human tissues and organs for transplantation, or a vehicle operated by a transplant coordinator who is an employee of an organ procurement organization, or agency, when the transplant coordinator is responding to a call to recover, or transport, human tissues or organs for transplantation, and to rescue squad emergency service vehicles, and vehicles operated by County Fire Marshals and civil preparedness coordinators when the operators of said vehicles are giving a warning signal by appropriate light and by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle audible under normal conditions from a distance not less than 1,000 feet. When appropriate warning signals are being given, as provided in this subsection, an emergency vehicle may proceed through an intersection, or other place when the emergency vehicle is facing a stop sign, a yield sign, or a traffic light which is emitting a flashing strobe signal or a beam of steady, or flashing, red light.
(D) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle 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.
(Code 1976, § 7.32)
Cross-reference:
Fire Department, §§ 10-201 et seq.; Police Department, §§ 18-201 et seq.
Statutory reference:
Local control of speed limits, G.S. § 20-169; when speed limit not applicable, G.S. § 20-145; right-of-way exception, G.S. § 20-156(b).