H.B. 20 Enrolled

             1     

EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATOR DUTY OF CARE

             2     
REVISIONS

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Brad L. Dee

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to the duty of care
             11      for certain emergency vehicle operators.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides definitions;
             15          .    provides that the operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle owes no duty
             16      of care to a person who is:
             17              .    a suspect in the commission of a crime and evading, fleeing, or otherwise
             18      attempting to elude the operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle; or
             19              .    in a motor vehicle with the suspect, unless it is proven by a preponderance of
             20      the evidence that the person's presence in the motor vehicle was involuntary and
             21      the person's participation in evading, fleeing, or attempting to elude was
             22      involuntary;
             23          .    provides that an operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle may be held
             24      liable for a fleeing suspect's injuries in certain circumstances;
             25          .    provides that if an operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle complies
             26      with certain requirements while operating the marked authorized emergency
             27      vehicle, the operator shall be deemed to have met the operator's duty to act as a
             28      reasonably prudent emergency vehicle operator under the circumstances; and
             29          .    makes technical corrections.


             30      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             31          None
             32      Other Special Clauses:
             33          None
             34      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             35      AMENDS:
             36           41-6a-212 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             37     
             38      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             39          Section 1. Section 41-6a-212 is amended to read:
             40           41-6a-212. Emergency vehicles -- Policy regarding vehicle pursuits --
             41      Applicability of traffic law to highway work vehicles -- Exemptions.
             42          (1) As used in this section, "marked authorized emergency vehicle" means an
             43      authorized emergency vehicle that:
             44          (a) has emergency lights that comply with Section 41-6a-1601 affixed to the top of the
             45      vehicle; or
             46          (b) is displaying an identification mark designating the vehicle as the property of an
             47      entity that is authorized to operate emergency vehicles in a conspicuous place on both sides of
             48      the vehicle.
             49          [(1)] (2) Subject to Subsections [(2)] (3) through [(5)] (6), the operator of an authorized
             50      emergency vehicle may exercise the privileges granted under this section when:
             51          (a) responding to an emergency call;
             52          (b) in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law; or
             53          (c) responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm.
             54          [(2)] (3) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
             55          (a) park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter;
             56          (b) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may
             57      be necessary for safe operation;


             58          (c) exceed the maximum speed limits, unless prohibited by a local highway authority
             59      under Section 41-6a-208 ; or
             60          (d) disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified
             61      directions.
             62          [(3)] (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection [(3)] (4)(b), privileges granted under this
             63      section to the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, who is not involved in a vehicle
             64      pursuit, apply only when:
             65          (i) the operator of the vehicle sounds an audible signal under Section 41-6a-1625 ; or
             66          (ii) uses a visual signal with emergency lights in accordance with rules made under
             67      Section 41-6a-1601 , which is visible from in front of the vehicle.
             68          (b) An operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may exceed the maximum speed
             69      limit when engaged in normal patrolling activities with the purpose of identifying and
             70      apprehending violators.
             71          [(4)] (5) Privileges granted under this section to the operator of an authorized
             72      emergency vehicle involved in any vehicle pursuit apply only when:
             73          (a) the operator of the vehicle:
             74          (i) sounds an audible signal under Section 41-6a-1625 ; and
             75          (ii) uses a visual signal with emergency lights in accordance with rules made under
             76      Section 41-6a-1601 , which is visible from in front of the vehicle;
             77          (b) the public agency employing the operator of the vehicle has, in effect, a written
             78      policy which describes the manner and circumstances in which any vehicle pursuit should be
             79      conducted and terminated;
             80          (c) the operator of the vehicle has been trained in accordance with the written policy
             81      described in Subsection [(4)] (5)(b); and
             82          (d) the pursuit policy of the public agency is in conformance with standards established
             83      under Subsection [(5)] (6).
             84          [(5)] (6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
             85      Act, the Department of Public Safety shall make rules providing minimum standards for all


             86      emergency pursuit policies that are adopted by public agencies authorized to operate
             87      emergency pursuit vehicles.
             88          [(6) The] (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), the privileges granted under
             89      this section do not relieve the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle of the duty to act as
             90      a reasonably prudent emergency vehicle operator [in like] under the circumstances.
             91          (b) The operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle owes no duty of care under
             92      this Subsection (7) to a person who is:
             93          (i) (A) a suspect in the commission of a crime; and
             94          (B) evading, fleeing, or otherwise attempting to elude the operator of a marked
             95      authorized emergency vehicle; or
             96          (ii) in a motor vehicle with the suspect described in Subsection (7)(b)(i), unless it is
             97      proven by a preponderance of the evidence that:
             98          (A) the person's presence in the vehicle was involuntary; and
             99          (B) the person's participation in evading, fleeing, or attempting to elude was
             100      involuntary.
             101          (c) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(b), an operator of a marked authorized
             102      emergency vehicle may be held liable for a fleeing suspect's injuries if the operator of a marked
             103      authorized emergency vehicle had actual intent to cause harm to the fleeing suspect in an act
             104      that was unrelated to the legitimate object of the arrest.
             105          (ii) "Actual intent" under this Subsection (7)(c) means a malicious motive to cause
             106      injury, not merely an intent to do the act resulting in the injury.
             107          (d) If an operator of a marked authorized emergency vehicle complies with the
             108      requirements described in Subsections (5) and (6) while operating the marked authorized
             109      emergency vehicle, the operator shall be deemed to have met the operator's duty to act as a
             110      reasonably prudent emergency vehicle operator under the circumstances.
             111          [(7)] (8) Except for Sections 41-6a-210 , 41-6a-502 , and 41-6a-528 , this chapter does
             112      not apply to persons, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work on
             113      the surface of a highway.


             114     


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