Arizona Laws 28-775. Authorized emergency vehicles; approaching; following fire apparatus; passing stationary vehicles; violation; civil penalties; defensive driving schools; driver license examinations
A. Except when otherwise directed by a police officer, on the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle that is equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a red or red and blue light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle and that is giving an audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle or bell, the driver of another vehicle shall:
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 28-775
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Authorized emergency vehicle: means any of the following:
(a) A fire department vehicle. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Department: means the department of transportation acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Drive: means to operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Driver: means a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way if a part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Intersection: means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling on different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. See Arizona Laws 28-601
- Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Police officer: means an officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or make arrests for violations of traffic rules or other offenses. See Arizona Laws 28-601
- Right-of-way: when used within the context of the regulation of the movement of traffic on a highway means the privilege of the immediate use of the highway. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Roadway: means that portion of a highway that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. See Arizona Laws 28-601
- Traffic: means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using a highway for purposes of travel. See Arizona Laws 28-601
- Traffic survival school: means a school that is licensed pursuant to chapter 8, article 7. See Arizona Laws 28-101
1. Yield the right-of-way.
2. Immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection.
3. Stop and remain in the position prescribed in paragraph 2 of this subsection until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
B. An authorized emergency vehicle being operated with activated emergency lights and siren is exempt from the requirements of this section.
C. The driver of a vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than five hundred feet or drive into or park the vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
D. When a police vehicle is giving a visual signal with at least one lighted red or red and blue light or lens and is giving an audible signal by siren, the driver of another vehicle:
1. Shall not approach or drive parallel to the police vehicle.
2. Shall maintain a distance of at least three hundred feet behind any police vehicle involved in an emergency until the police vehicle moves to the lane closest to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway.
E. If a person who drives a vehicle approaches a stationary vehicle and the stationary vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing lights or is displaying warning lights, the person shall do either of the following:
1. If on a highway having at least four lanes with at least two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with due caution and if possible, with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle.
2. If changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions.
F. A person who violates subsection E of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $275, except that the person is subject to:
1. A civil penalty of $500 for a second violation within a period of five years.
2. A civil penalty of $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation within a period of five years.
G. This section does not 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. Defensive driving school courses that are offered by defensive driving schools operated pursuant to chapter 8, article 7 of this title, traffic survival school and any driver education program approved by the department shall include educational information relating to subsections D and E of this section. The department shall include information relating to subsections D and E of this section in any of the department’s examination, information or education material.
I. The department shall educate the public about this section periodically throughout the year and maintain information about this section on the department’s website.