H. B. 4381

(By Delegates R. M. Thompson and Perry)

[Introduced February 4, 2002 ; referred to the

Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend article fourteen, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section nine-a, relating to authorized emergency vehicles generally; requiring motor vehicle drivers to take certain precautions when approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying emergency signals; requiring drivers to slow down and obey signals of emergency personnel; and providing penalties for violations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article fourteen, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section nine-a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS RULES.

§17C-14-9a. Approaching authorized emergency vehicles; penalties.
(a) The driver of any vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, blue, or red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights, shall:
(1) Proceed with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle and reduce speed to a safe level for road conditions; or
(2) Proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed not to exceed fifteen miles per hour on any non-divided highway or street and twenty-five miles per hour on any divided highway depending on road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe;
(3) Obey directions from any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, or any person who is helping to direct traffic around any emergency scene, at the direction of any official or agency having jurisdiction at the emergency scene.
(b) (l) Any person who violates any subsection of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or confined in the county or regional jail not more than six months, or both fined and imprisoned.
(2) If violation of this section results in property damage in addition to any other penalty imposed, driving privileges of the persons causing the property damage shall be suspended for ninety days.
(3) If violation of this section results in injury to another person in addition to any other penalty imposed, the driving privileges of the person causing the injury shall be suspended for six months.
(4) If violation of this section results in the death of another person in addition to any other penalty imposed, the driving privileges of the person causing the death shall be suspended for two years.
(5) Any person who violates any provision of this section and while doing so also violates section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall, in addition to the penalties set out in section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c and this section, be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or confined in the county or regional jail for a period not more than six months, or both fined and imprisoned.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require motor vehicle drivers to take precautions when approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying emergency signals. The bill requires drivers to slow down and obey signals of emergency personnel and it provides penalties for violations.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.