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| SPONSOR: | Godbey | DATE TYPED: | 03/09/01 | HB | 550 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Yield to Emergency Vehicles | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Gonzales | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
|
See Narrative |
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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Taxation and Revenue Department
Department of Public Safety
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 550 states that all authorized emergency vehicles must have a visible red light, as well as a siren in order for the drivers of other vehicles to be required to yield the right-of-way and drive to the right hand edge of the curb. Previously, police vehicles had been exempted from the requirement of having a red light and only had to have a siren operating.
Significant Issues
It may be easier to pull over to the right when a driver actually see a red light, as opposed to just hearing a siren.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
Police vehicles operated by the Department of Public Safety are equipped with emergency equipment that engages a red light when the siren is operating.
CONFLICT
Section 66-7-6(C) NMSA 1978 allows police vehicles, when operating as authorized emergency vehicles, to violate traffic regulations with a siren operating only.
JMG/nw