(A) It shall be the duty of the officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police, to enforce all street traffic laws of this City and all of the State Vehicle Laws applicable to street traffic in this City. Officers of the Police Department are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in the event of a fire, or other emergency, or to expedite traffic, or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.
(B) Officers of the Fire Department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic threat, or in the immediate vicinity. No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer or fire department official. Every person propelling any push cart or riding an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this Article applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions. of this Article which by their very nature can have no application.
(C) No person upon roller skates or riding in, or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and when so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street as authorized by Ordinance of this City. The provisions of this Article shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, County, or City, and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this Article, except as otherwise permitted in this Article or by State Statute.
(D) The provisions of this Article regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles as defined in this Article, except as follows:
(E) A driver when operating any such vehicle in an emergency, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may:
(1) Park or stand notwithstanding the provision of this Article.
(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 does not endanger life or property.
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions so long as he does not endanger life or property.
(F) These exemptions hereinbefore granted in reference to the movement of an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the driver of said vehicle sounds a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to others. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his reckless disregard of the safety of others.
(G) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle, and when the driver is giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right hand edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer. This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
(H) The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of $25.00 or more, shall immediately by the quickest means of communication, either verbally or written, give notice of such accident to the Police Department, if such accident occurs within this City.
(Prior Code, Art. 18, § 18.4)