Another LEO question and I promise the last...

[WCB]

for a while...
I ain't bitchin, ain't even worried about it but someone brought it up a few days ago.
If you are at a red light and an emergency vehicle approaches from the rear, are you supposed to "run" the red light or is it their responsibility to get around you?
If I pull out and cause a wreck, is it my fault? I'm sure it would be. If I "run" the red light "could" I be given a ticket?
Please, no opinions (I'm sure that will work ), just fact/law...

Disclaimer: I'm just asking the question and not slamming law enforcement at all!!

[Browning2008]

How about an opinion from someone that drives a firetruck?

[Charles]

Not positive but I think most emergency vehicles these days have the capability to change red lights to green.

Even if it is legal and you run it, you may get caught by the red light camera, which I highly doubt you would be able to get out of that ticket.

I'm curious to know the real answer too.

[tvc184]

for a while...
I ain't bitchin, ain't even worried about it but someone brought it up a few days ago.
If you are at a red light and an emergency vehicle approaches from the rear, are you supposed to "run" the red light or is it their responsibility to get around you?
If I pull out and cause a wreck, is it my fault? I'm sure it would be. If I "run" the red light "could" I be given a ticket?
Please, no opinions (I'm sure that will work ), just fact/law...

Disclaimer: I'm just asking the question and not slamming law enforcement at all!!

Run the red light on your own? No. Now if the cop motions or directs you to do anything, you are required to do it by law. It is called obeying a lawful order.

At fault if you cause an accident? Yes.

Sit still and let him find a way around or pull over to the right if it can be done safely. If you are in the right hand lane, safely take a right on red and get out of the way if you can.

Beyond anything else, the worth thing that people do is pull to the left instead of the right.

And why are you always slamming law enforcement?

[SmTx]

Every time I've ever been at a red light with emergency vehicles coming I've stayed put and they've gone around. The times Ive seen it the moving traffic stopped and the emergency vehicle navigated through all of us.

[flyby]

run the red light on your own? No. Now if the cop motions or directs you to do anything, you are required to do it by law. It is called obeying a lawful order.

At fault if you cause an accident? Yes.

Sit still and let him find a way around or pull over to the right if it can be done safely. If you are in the right hand lane, safely take a right on red and get out of the way if you can.

Beyond anything else, the worth thing that people do is pull to the left instead of the right.

And why are you always slamming law enforcement? :d

/\ /\ /\ /\

[tvc184]

Not positive but I think most emergency vehicles these days have the capability to change red lights to green.

Even if it is legal and you run it, you may get caught by the red light camera, which I highly doubt you would be able to get out of that ticket.

I'm curious to know the real answer too.

I've been on patrol for 27 years and do not know of any red light changers. I've heard rumors of such from people that accuse us of changing red lights for various reasons.

[tvc184]

How about an opinion from someone that drives a firetruck?

Who cares about water chunkers or what they think?

Just kidding obviously. I love the firefighters. Anytime that we need to get on a roof to check for a burglar, they bring us a ladder and even hold it for us.

[Browning2008]

I've been on patrol for 27 years and do not know of any red light changers. I've heard rumors of such from people that accuse us of changing red lights for various reasons.

Houston Fire Dept. does have red light changers. When approaching a red light it will turn all others red but the direction that the fire truck is coming from.

[Charles]

I've been on patrol for 27 years and do not know of any red light changers. I've heard rumors of such from people that accuse us of changing red lights for various reasons.

Good to know. I was told by a fireman that they had a strobe on their truck that could change the light. I don't know

[Browning2008]

Who cares about water chunkers or what they think?

Just kidding obviously. I love the firefighters. Anytime that we need to get on a roof to check for a burglar, they bring us a ladder and even hold it for us.

It's ok, I had a to chase down a suspect while the SO followed behind in the car cause he couldn't keep up

[WCB]

Who cares about water chunkers or what they think?

Just kidding obviously. I love the firefighters. Anytime that we need to get on a roof to check for a burglar, they bring us a ladder and even hold it for us.

Now that's dang funny right there!!
And I ain't "slamming" law enforcement dang it!! Seriously, just wondering what to do if in the middle or left lane and a "fire truck" or a lowly LEO happens to wonder by??? Do I hold pat or slam it to the floor???

[Browning2008]

Now that's dang funny right there!!
And I ain't "slamming" law enforcement dang it!! Seriously, just wondering what to do if in the middle or left lane and a "fire truck" or a lowly LEO happens to wonder by??? Do I hold pat or slam it to the floor???

Speaking from a firefighters side.... Stay put we will go around, unless you can move to the right. Another thing... please dont ever pull over on the top of a hill you would not believe how many people think that is the best place to pull over.

[tvc184]

Don't move it if cannot be done safely and an emergency vehicle behind you gives you no authority to violate laws or commit unsafe acts can will result in your being sued.

But again, officers have the right to direct traffic and that includes violating existing laws such as during an accident scene, officers can direct people the wrong way on a one way street, disregarding red lights, going the wrong way during hurricane evacuations, etc. If an officer directs you through an intersection, that is a lawful order.

[hweissert]

I've been on patrol for 27 years and do not know of any red light changers. I've heard rumors of such from people that accuse us of changing red lights for various reasons.

Opticoms? Yes they have been around for years....We have them on the fire trucks and ambulances. And, for the post about them, they do change all lights to red besides the direction the emergency vehicle is traveling.

Oh, and remember what cops and firemen have in common...They both want to be firemen(or water chunkers) LOL