Policy Text
Procedure Number: E8
Issued: 2/20
CODE 3 EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS
AUTHORITY
California Code Sections:
California Penal Code Sections 830.5, 13519.8
California Vehicle Code Sections 14602.1, 17004, 17004.7, 21055, 21056, 21057, 21806,
21807
Government Code Section 8558
Related Probation Officer Policies:
IV21 Emergency Aid Requests Protocol
IV23 Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol
IV27 Peace Officer Authority
IV32 Department (County) Vehicles
IV33 Safety, Uncooperative Clientele, and Threats
Related Probation Officer Procedures:
E7 Use of the Portable and Hand Held Radio
E9 Transportation of Offenders
F2 Use of Force
INTRODUCTION
Probation officers must take all necessary care to drive as safely as possible at all times. Officers
who take the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) promote safe driving practices and
establish good defensive driving tactics. EVOC teaches safe driving while operating under less
than ideal situations. EVOC also discusses the legal liabilities when operating a vehicle,
particularly in an emergency response circumstance.
Many of the vehicles assigned to the field divisions are equipped with emergency lights and
sirens. The purpose of this procedure is to discuss the situations when probation officers can use
emergency lights and sirens on these vehicles. Emergency lights and sirens shall not be used by
a probation officer until the completion of EVOC. However, all probation department staff are
authorized to operate these vehicles in the course of duty; they simply cannot engage the
emergency lights and sirens without appropriate training.
LIABILITY
The use of emergency lights and sirens (and the accompanying exceptions to the ordinary driving
laws), during the response to emergency situations, exposes the public, probation officers, and
fleeing violators to the risk of damage to property, serious injury, or death. The use of
emergency lights and sirens during emergency response is authorized under Vehicle Code
Sections 21055 and 21806. However, pursuant to Vehicle Code Sections 21056 and 21807, an
officer is not relieved of the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of persons and property
while using emergency equipment. An emergency response that ends in injury to another
person, or damage to a vehicle or property, could subject the probation officer to civil and
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