Emergency Vehicle Operation

Policy: Emergency Vehicle Operation

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date: November 26, 2011

Reviewed Date: March 24, 2026

Revised Date: March 24, 2026

 

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for operating a police vehicle in emergency situations

Policy:

Emergency vehicle operation can be hazardous given the operation of warning devices and the exceeding of normal vehicle speeds.  It is the responsibility of the agency to assist officers in the safe performance of their duties in emergency driving situations.  To fulfill these obligations, it will be the policy of this agency to regulate the manner in which emergency driving is performed. 

It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Police Department that emergency driving will always be performed with due regard for the safety of officers, citizens and suspects.  It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Police Department that safety belts will be worn at all times while any University vehicle is in motion.

Definitions:

  1. All-Terrain Vehicle- a motor driven vehicle of less than 650 pounds designed to be driven on three or more low- pressure tires as defined in Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 340.01(2g).
  2. Authorized Emergency Vehicle- an agency vehicle equipped with operable emergency equipment as designated by state law.
  3. Emergency Driving- the operation of a police vehicle in response to a report of a life-threatening situation, serious incident, or crime in progress.
  4. Emergency Warning Devices- devices placed in/on each department emergency vehicle that emits audible or visual signals in order to warn others that an emergency situation and response are in progress.
  5. Great Bodily Harm- bodily injury, which creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or any serious bodily injury.
  6. Justification for the Use of Deadly Force- behavior that presents an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to the officer or others.
  7. Roadway- that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the shoulder.
  8. Trailing- simply following along behind the violator while giving both visual and audible indication that the violator should stop.

Procedures:

  1. Use of Authorized Emergency Police Equipment
    1. Officers will use red and blue, emergency lights and sirens whenever engaged in emergency driving with the exception of gathering evidence of speeding violations or silent responses to felony in progress calls as authorized in state statutes and this policy.
    2. Emergency lighting alone may be used to initiate and complete a simple traffic stop. However, the siren will be engaged if the target vehicle fails to respond, increases speed or otherwise fails to obey the initial signal to pull to the side of the road. 
    3. Alternating headlights, 4-way hazard warning lights and the yellow flashing lights located on some overhead light bars may be used in conjunction with, but not in lieu of, authorized emergency lighting or equipment.
    4. "Take-down" spotlights, side "alley" lights and hand-held flashlights/ spotlights may be used by officers at their discretion for visibility purposes, but should not be used so as to blind or obstruct the vision of other motorists.
    5. Officers may activate emergency warning devices in other situations to assist in handling any perceived emergency or hazardous situation.  Emergency warning devices shall be deactivated as soon as possible.
  2. Authorized Emergency Vehicle Exemptions to Traffic Laws
    1. Wis. Stat. §346.03, permits authorized emergency vehicles to disregard certain traffic regulations when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
      1. Officers may stop, stand or park irrespective of parking regulations if the police vehicle's emergency lighting is in operation.
      2. Officers may proceed past a red stoplight or stop sign when the police vehicle's emergency lighting and siren are in operation and after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. Officers may also exceed the speed limit and may disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions when the police vehicle's emergency lighting and siren are in operation.
    2. Officers may exceed the speed limit without using emergency lighting and siren when:
      1. Obtaining evidence of speeding.
      2. When the officer is responding to a call which the officer reasonably believes involves a felony in progress and the officer reasonably believes knowledge of the officer’s presence may:
        1. Endanger the safety of a victim or other person; or
        2. Cause the suspect to evade apprehension; or
        3. Cause the suspected violator to destroy evidence of a suspected felony or may otherwise result in the loss of evidence of a suspected felony; or
        4. Cause the suspected violator to cease the commission of a suspected felony before the officer obtains sufficient evidence to establish grounds for an arrest.
    3. The exemptions granted by statute and outlined above do not relieve officers from the duty to operate departmental vehicles with due regard for the safety of all persons.
    4. University Police vehicles operating on campus pedestrian malls and walkways will operate with extreme caution, taking into consideration time of day and pedestrian traffic.
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