Policy Text
Page 1 of 19 6/ 02.2 (REV 9/07)
Operation of Sheriff’s Vehic les Code-3 or in Pursuit
The purpose of this Order is to s et forth guidelines pertaining to the Code-3 and pursuit
operation of Sheriff’s vehicles. I. For purposes of this Order, t he following definitions are pr ovided:
A. Code-3: designates emergency assignments calling for all pr actical haste,
and authorizes officers to operat e the sheriff’s vehicle with red light and
siren activated at all times as a warning to other drivers an d pedestrians.
B. Pursuit: is an event involving one or more law enforcement officers
attempting to apprehend a suspect ed or actual violator of the law in a
motor vehicle while the driver i s using evasive tactics, such as high speed
driving, driving off a highway, turning suddenly or driving i n a legal
manner, but failing in all cases to yield to the officer’s si gnal to stop via red
light and siren. II. Code-3 Response
A. A code-3 response may be disp atched or unit-initiated when:
1. The situation involves immi nent potential for serious inju ry or death.
2. A crime of violence in progress can be prevented.
3. A serious public hazard exists. 4. When a felony has occurred and a code-3 response will enha nce
t h e l i k e l i h o o d o f a n a r r e s t . 5. When directed by a field supervisor. B. When initiating a code-3 response an officer shall:
1. Consider time, distance and route required to respond.
2. Immediately voice their re sponse (not MDT), except when th e air is
c l e a r e d f o r e m e r gency traffic for an on-scene officer.
Page 2 of 19 6/ 02.2 (REV 9/07) 3. Officers operating sheriff’ s vehicles code-3 may, based up on new
i n f o r m a t i o n o r c hanging circumstances, discontinue a code-3
r e s ponse at any time, and shall vo ice the change in response
s t a t u s . 4. Field supervisors shall m onitor code-3 responses and may, at any
t i m e , d i r e c t a s ubordinate officer to disc ontinue a code-3 response.
C. “Code-3 escort” (as under Ca lifornia Vehicle Code (CVC) § 2 1057) shall
not be provided by sheriff’s v ehicles. Officers may transpor t an injured
person to a hospital if the m edical emergency is of such grav ity that there
is no time to await the dispatch and arrival of an ambulance.
D. Driving restrictions governing code-3 response: 1. Officers shall, at all times , drive defensively and with d ue
c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e s a f e t y o f p e r s o n s and property.
2. CVC § 21055 defines an aut horized emergency vehicle and
e x e m p t s t h e d r i v e r f r o m general rules of the road if:
a . T h e v e h i c l e i s b e i n g d r i v e n i n r e s ponse to an emergency call
o r w h i l e e n gaged in rescue operations o r is being used in the
i m m e d i a t e p u r s u i t o f a n a c t u a l o r s u s p e c t e d v i o l a t o r o f t h e
l a w , o r i s r e s ponding to a fire alarm, and
b . T h e d r i v e r o f the vehicle sounds a siren as may be
r e a s onably necessary and the vehicl e displays a lighted red
l a m p v i s i b l e f r o m t h e f r o n t a s a w a r n i n g t o o t h e r d r i v e r s a nd
pedestrians.
3. All personnel shall be fam iliar with and observe that port ion of CVC
§ 21056 which states that exemption from certain provisions of th e
c ode “does not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to drive
with due regard for the safety of all persons using the high way, nor
p r o t e c t h i m f r o m t h e c o n s equences of an arbitrar y exercise of the
p r i v i l e g e s g r a n t e d ” i n C V C § 2 1 0 5 5 . 4. The basic speed law shall be observed at all times. CVC § 223