No insurer shall fail to renew any private automobile insurance policy of a peace officer, member of the California Highway Patrol, or firefighter, with respect to his or her operation of a private motor vehicle, for the reason that the insured has been involved in an accident while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code or in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) or (f) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, in the performance of his or her duty during the hours of his or her employment. As used in this section, “peace officer” means every person defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 and Section 830.6 of the Penal Code, and “firefighter” means every person defined in Section 50925 of the Government Code.
In the case of a volunteer firefighter, this section applies to the regular employer of the volunteer firefighter to the extent that the involvement of the volunteer firefighter in the accident shall not be cause for the employer’s insurer’s decision to renew the employer’s insurance policy as it applies to the employee covered by this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1098, Sec. 5.5. Effective January 1, 1994.)