Vermont § 1015 - Authorized emergency vehicles

§ 1015. Authorized emergency vehicles

• (a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call
  or when responding to, but not returning from, a fire alarm and a law enforcement
  officer operating an authorized emergency vehicle in fresh pursuit of a suspected
  violator of the law: (1) may park or stand contrary to the provisions of this chapter; (2) may proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as
  may be necessary for safe operation; (3) shall come to a full stop when approaching a school bus that is flashing red lights
  and may proceed only when the flashing red lights are extinguished; (4) may exceed the maximum speed limits; and (5) may disregard ordinances governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions. (b) The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency vehicle apply only when the vehicle
  is making use of audible or visual signals meeting the requirements of this title. (c) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle
  from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons nor shall such
  provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard
  for the safety of others. (d) The operator of a school bus, upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle
  as described in subsection (a) of this section, shall take action immediately to get
  school-children out of the public highway and to a safe place and shall thereafter
  extinguish the flashing red lights. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 1981, No. 97, §§ 1, 2; 2025, No. 18, § 42, eff. May 13, 2025.)