Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL
GENERAL ORDER J-4.1 Effective Date:
30 May 07
Index as: Emergency Driving Procedures
Page 1 of 3
EMERGENCY DRIVING PROCEDURES
The purpose of this order is to establish De partmental policy and procedures for members
operating a police vehicle in emergency driving status (Code 3) and the responsibilities and
duties of officers. For the purpose of this orde r, the term "officer" shall include members,
rangers, and reserve officers. Th is order additionally provides sp ecific criteria and direction
for officers pertaining to emergency driving, in cluding Department Safety Belt regulations.
This order is intended to reduce potential hazar ds to the public and members engaged in
emergency driving. I. DEFINITIONS
A. Code 2 Status : A call or response not requiring red lights and siren. Units in
Code 2 status shall comply strictly with all traffic laws and regulations.
B. Code 3 Status: An emergency call re quiring an emergenc y driving response
in all practical
haste. A response in Code 3 stat us shall obey all rules of the
road, not exceed a speed of 20 m.p. h. over the posted speed limit, AND
require red lights visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and
pedestrians and sirens opera ting, as reasonably necessa ry, to give warning of
the approaching emergency vehicle in accordance with the provisions of
California Vehicle Code Sec tions 21055(a) & (b) and 21056.
II. POLICY A. A Code 3 response, is justified only when the necessity of immediate
apprehension or the emergency outweighs the level of danger created by the need for an emergenc y driving response.
B. Officers shall continuall y weigh the risk factors
1 of a collision against the
gravity of the offense or response whenev er the risk outweighs the benefits of
continuing in Code 3 status.
C. The provisions of this order comply w ith California Vehicle Code Sections
17001, 17004, 21055, 21056, 21806, 2180 7, 22350, 25102, 25252, 25258,
25259, and 27002.
1 Risk factors enumerated in DGO J-4, PURSUIT DRIVING, Part IV.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT J-4.1 Effective Date
30 May 07
Page 2 of 3
D. Employees shall never e ngage as the driver in a Code 3 response.
E. Officers shall drive Code 3 only when specifically instructed to do so by the
Communications Division or by a supe rvisor or commander, except as
specified below: 1. An officer who receives a dispatch ed Code 2 assignment may, on the
basis of field information not av ailable to the dispatcher, respond
Code 3, provided that the o fficer has knowledge of specific,
identifiable circumstances that warra nt a Code 3 response pursuant to
this order and that he/she imme diately informs the Communications
Division of the code upgrade.
2. An officer who receives field info rmation regarding an emergency
may initiate a Code 3 response, provided that the circumstances
warrant a Code 3 response and that he/she immediately informs the
Communications Division of the Code 3 action.
3. Officers may drive Code 3 in re sponse to a 940B call. Units shall
advise the Communicati ons Division of their Code 3 response, as
practical.
F. An officer who receives a dispatched Code 3 assi gnment may respond Code 2
on the basis of field information not av ailable to the dispatcher and shall
respond Code 2 if ordered by a supervisory or co mmand officer. In either
case, the responding officer shall immedi ately inform the dispatcher of the
code change.
G. Officers shall not respond Code 3 with a prisoner in the police vehicle.
III. SUPERVISOR AND COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Supervisors and commanders shall be mindful of radi o traffic at all times.
Upon being notified of a Code 3 response, the monitoring
supervisor/commander shall continually weigh the risk factors of a collision
against the gravity of the offense or response whenever the risk outweighs the
benefits of continuing in Code 3 status.
B. The supervisor or commander shall monitor the Code 3 response until the
situation has stabilized or terminated and shall assert control by directing the
actions of field personnel.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT J-4.1 Effective Date
30 May 07
Page 3 of 3 C. A monitoring supervisor or command er may modify the actions of the
dispatcher or the field unit engaged in a Code 3 response.
D. Supervisors and commander sh all pay particular, conti nuing attention to their
subordinates' driving habits to ensure that they drive safely and reasonably and follow the regulations contained in this order. Supervisors and commanders shall implement continuing measures to ensure that improper
driving behavior is recogni zed and corrected through non-disciplinary, or, if
necessary, disciplinary measures.
IV. USE OF SAFETY BELT
A. All members, employees and other pe rsons (except prisoners) operating or
riding in Departmental vehicles shall be required to wear an occupant safety
restraining device as prescribed by Ca lifornia Vehicle C ode Sections 27315,
27315.3, 27315.5,