CROSS REFERENCES
Special privileges — See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3105.
Right of way of emergency vehicles — See 75
Pa.C.S.A. § 3325.
Lights, sirens and warning devices — See 75
Pa.C.S.A. § 4571.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 1, passed 9-26-1973]
(a)
EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVER-IN-TRAINING — A person who has successfully
completed the Emergency Driver Training Course and is registered by
the Emergency Vehicle Driver Committee to operate an emergency vehicle
under the supervision of a Registered Driver.
(b)
EMERGENCY DRIVER TRAINING COURSE — A program established to
qualify, train and certify emergency vehicle drivers.
(c)
EMERGENCY LANE — On two lane roadways, the emergency lane shall
be the right hand lane in the direction the emergency vehicle is traveling.
On three lane roadways, the emergency lane shall be the center lane.
On roadways with four or more lanes, the emergency lane shall be the
closest thru lane to the center of the roadway in the direction the
emergency vehicle is traveling.
(d)
EMERGENCY VEHICLE — Any police vehicle, Fire Bureau vehicle,
rescue wagon, ambulance or the private vehicle of the Chief of any
fire department, Assistant Chief of any fire department or Fire Marshal
responding to an emergency.
(e)
EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVER — A person who is registered and authorized
by the Emergency Vehicle Driver Committee to operate an emergency
vehicle.
(f)
EMERGENCY CONTROL BEACON — A white flashing light mounted adjacent
to the traffic signal. Traffic signal installations equipped with
emergency preemption equipment are provided with a safety indication
(a fail-safe indication) to notify the driver of any emergency vehicle
approaching the intersection that his emergency equipment has preempted
the traffic signal.
(g)
REGISTERED EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVER — A person registered by
the Emergency Vehicle Driver Committee who has successfully completed
the Emergency Vehicle Driver Training Course and six months of supervised
behind the wheel training; or any Veteran Emergency Vehicle Driver
with six months of behind the wheel driving experience. Six months
of experience must have occurred prior to the date of final passage
of this article (September 26, 1973).
(h)
EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVER COMMITTEE — A group comprised of seven
members appointed by the Mayor and Council whose purpose is to carefully
and objectively screen all applicants to the Emergency Driver Training
Course and to register and govern the drivers who have successfully
passed the provisions therein provided.
(i)
SIREN — A warning device of a type approved by the Secretary
of Revenue capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions
from a distance of not less than 200 feet.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 2, passed 2-26-1973]
(a)
An Emergency Vehicle Driver Committee is hereby created and established.
The word "Committee" when used in this article means the Emergency
Vehicle Driver Committee.
(b)
The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor
and approved by Council; four of whom shall be residents of the City
and three who shall be residents of the political subdivisions which
participate in the program. Any four members shall constitute a quorum.
The chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Mayor and
Council for the duration of his term.
(c)
Four members of the Committee shall be appointed to serve until the
first Monday of January, 1975 and three members shall be appointed
to serve until the first Monday of January, 1976 or until their successors
have been appointed. These successors shall be appointed on the expiration
of their respective terms to serve two years. Any appointment to fill
a casual vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
(d)
The Mayor shall appoint and Council shall approve a Secretary to
the Committee. The Secretary shall be appointed to serve until the
first Monday of January, 1975. Any appointment to fill a casual vacancy
shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term. The salary for
the Secretary shall be determined by the Mayor and Council. The office
of the Secretary shall be located in the City Municipal Building.
The duties of the Secretary shall include the clerical work as required
by the members of the Committee and liaison work between the Committee
and residents of the political subdivisions who participate in this
program.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 3, passed 9-26-1973]
Meetings of the Committee shall be held at least once a month
and at such other times as the committee may determine or upon call
of the Chairman. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure
and shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall keep records of
its examinations and other official actions. Every rule or regulation
adopted by the Committee shall be filed in the office of the Committee
and shall be a public record. All decisions by the Committee must
be carried by a simple majority.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 4, passed 9-26-1973]
The Committee shall:
(a)
Establish and supervise an Emergency Vehicle Driver Training Course
of instruction.
(b)
Furnish application forms to interested parties.
(c)
Review applications and based on their analysis either reject or
place applicants in the driver training course.
(d)
Based on the instructor's report, either reject applicant or elevate
applicant to Driver-in-Training status.
(e)
Based on supervisor's report, either reject, require additional training
or elevate to Driver status.
(f)
Issue registration cards (Driver-in-Training and Driver) and Driver
certificates.
(g)
Prepare annual roster of Drivers and Drivers-in-Training.
(h)
Review all accidents involving emergency vehicles.
(i)
Suspend or revoke a registered driver certificate and card for failure
of a Registered Driver to comply with the requirements of applicable
laws and ordinances, but only after warning and such reasonable time
for compliance as may be set by the Committee.
(j)
Prepare and keep on file at its office, such rules and regulations
which may be necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this
article.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 5, passed 9-26-1973]
(a)
The Committee shall, within a reasonable time after receipt of an
application as provided for herein, investigate as it deems necessary
in order to properly evaluate the application.
(b)
The Committee shall issue a registered driver certificate and card.
The card shall be valid for a period of two years unless earlier suspended,
revoked or terminated, when it finds that:
(1)
The applicant is not addicted to use of intoxicating liquors
or narcotics and is morally fit for the position.
(2)
The applicant is able to speak, read and write the English language.
(3)
The applicant has been found free from physical defects or diseases
that might impair the ability to drive an emergency vehicle.
(4)
Each applicant for a registered driver certificate, has successfully
completed the Emergency Driver Training Course and has successfully
completed six months of supervised behind the wheel driving or is
a Veteran Emergency Vehicle Driver with six months of behind the wheel
experience.
(5)
Provided that no one shall be licensed unless he holds a currently
valid driver's license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(c)
A registered driver certificate and card issued hereunder shall not
be assignable or transferable and must be carried at all times.
(d)
No official entry made upon a registered driver certificate and card
be defaced, removed or obliterated.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 6, passed 9-26-1973]
(a)
The Committee may, and is hereby authorized to, suspend or revoke
a registered driver certificate and card issued hereunder for failure
of a Registered Driver to comply and to maintain compliance with,
or for his violation of, any applicable provisions, standards or requirements
of this article or of regulations promulgated hereunder; or of any
other applicable laws or ordinances or regulations promulgated hereunder,
but only after warning and such reasonable time for compliance as
may be set by the Committee. Within 30 days after suspension, a Registered
Driver shall be afforded a hearing, after reasonable notice. The Committee
or its authorized agent, shall within seven days after conclusion
of such hearing, issue a written decision (which shall include written
findings) as to the suspension. Such written decision shall be promptly
transmitted to the Registered Driver to whom it refers.
(b)
Upon suspension, revocation or termination of a registered driver
certificate and card hereunder, operations as such shall cease with
all emergency vehicles and no person shall employ or permit such individual
to drive any emergency vehicle.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 513.07, Obedience to traffic
laws, ordinances and regulations, adopted by Ord.
No. 98-1973, passed 9-26-1973, was repealed by Ord. No. 50-2021, passed 9-1-2021.
[Ord. 98-1973 § 8, passed 9-26-1973]
All present drivers of emergency vehicles shall become registered
within 12 months from the final passage and approval by the Mayor,
of this article (October 1, 1973).
[Ord. 98-1973 § 9, passed 9-26-1973]
All drivers of emergency vehicles shall use their seat belts
when the vehicle is in motion.
[Ord. 103-1981 § 1, passed 12-16-1981]
No person shall operate, use or interfere with the operation
of the emergency control beacons heretofore established in the City
for any purpose whatsoever, nor shall any person construct or possess
any device capable of operating emergency control beacons, unless
he is an emergency vehicle driver or is operating an emergency vehicle,
as those terms are defined in this article, or, unless he is otherwise
expressly authorized to use such beacons by the emergency vehicle
driver committee heretofore established.
Whoever violates any provision of this Traffic Code, for which
no penalty is otherwise provided, is guilty of a summary offense and
shall be fined not more than $25.
