321.231 Authorized emergency vehicles and police bicycles.
1. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected perpetrator of a felony or in response to an incident dangerous to the public or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section.
2. The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle, may:
a. Park or stand an authorized emergency vehicle, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter.
b. Disregard laws or regulations governing direction of movement for the minimum distance necessary before an alternative route that conforms to the traffic laws and regulations is available.
3. The driver of a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer riding a police bicycle in the line of duty, may do any of the following:
a. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
b. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property.
4. The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency vehicle under subsection 2 and to a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as provided in subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle is making use of an audible signaling device meeting the requirements of section 321.433 or a visual signaling device, except that use of an audible or visual signaling device shall not be required when exercising the exemption granted under subsection 3, paragraph “b”, when the vehicle is operated by a peace officer pursuing a suspected violator of the speed restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of such suspected violator.
5. The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or the rider of a police bicycle from the duty to drive or ride with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver or rider from the consequences of the driver’s or rider’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.
[C39, §5017.04, 5017.05, 5023.12; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §321.231, 321.232, 321.296; C77, 79, 81, §321.231]
97 Acts, ch 71, §1; 98 Acts, ch 1080, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1100, §46; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §118; 2018 Acts, ch 1022, §2
Referred to in §613.17, 805.8A(11)(a)
For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8A, subsection 11
Subsections 3 and 4 amended
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