Senate Bill No. 337–Senator O’Donnell

March 8, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions concerning use of siren by emergency vehicle. (BDR 43-860)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting the use of a siren by an emergency vehicle on a freeway; specifically authorizing an emergency vehicle to operate warning lamps without sounding the siren; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 484.607 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 484.607 1. Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway must

1-3 be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting

1-4 sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200

1-5 feet, but the horn or other warning device must not emit an unreasonably

1-6 loud or harsh sound or a whistle.

1-7 2. A person driving a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary

1-8 to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his horn, but shall not

1-9 otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.

1-10 3. A vehicle must not be equipped with, and a person shall not use

1-11 upon a vehicle, a siren, whistle or bell, except as otherwise provided in this

1-12 chapter.

1-13 4. It is permissible, but not required, to equip a vehicle with a theft

1-14 alarm which is arranged so that it cannot be used by the driver as an

1-15 ordinary warning signal.

1-16 5. An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren,

1-17 whistle or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions

1-18 from a distance of not less than 500 feet, but the siren must not be used

2-1 except when the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in

2-2 the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law [, in

2-3 which event] and must not be used on a freeway under any

2-4 circumstances. In lawful use, the driver of the vehicle shall sound the siren

2-5 when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of his approach. A

2-6 driver of an emergency vehicle may operate the vehicle’s warning lamps

2-7 without sounding the siren.

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