The fire trucks and other emergency apparatus and vehicles of the city police and fire departments, and the personal cars of members of the fire department, shall have the right of way over all other vehicles of every kind in the city when such equipment and vehicles are displaying the necessary identification and are responding to an emergency within the operational jurisdiction of the fire department. It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any vehicle to drive or operate the same ahead of any of the aforementioned vehicles at a distance less than five hundred feet (500') or to follow the same at a distance closer than five hundred feet (500'). Violation of this section shall be a class C misdemeanor and upon conviction, subject to penalty as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. (Ord. 2002-5, 2-5-2002; amd. 2003 Code)