Emergency vehicles; right-of-way; reasonable care

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  • (a) The driver of a motor vehicle on a public street or highway shall yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle being operated in an emergency, and when the driver of such emergency vehicle is giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle or bell. This provision shall not operate to relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for the safety of all persons using the public streets or highways, nor shall it protect such driver of any emergency vehicle from the consequence of an arbitrary exercise of such right-of-way.

  • (b) For the purpose of this section “emergency vehicle” shall mean an ambulance, a police or fire service vehicle and vehicles of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, Virgin Islands Port Authority, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Office of Civil Defense, the marshals' division of the Superior Court and such other vehicles that may be so designated by the Police Commissioner when such vehicles are being used in cases of actual emergencies.

  • (c) Every authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with an alternately flashing light and a siren, exhaust whistle or bell capable of giving an audible signal. Police and Superior Court Marshal's vehicles shall be equipped with a blue light; Fire Department vehicles and ambulances with a red light; Civil Defense vehicles with a red/white light; and tow trucks, utility and all other emergency vehicles with an amber light. Other emergency vehicles shall be those designated and approved by the Police Commissioner.


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