| (a) Duty to drive safely. Officers of the department have an obligation to the citizens and visitors of this state to protect lives and property. (1) This duty extends to the operation of departmental vehicles at all times, but is of special importance in all pursuit operations. The mission of apprehension cannot be accomplished if the patrol unit is involved in an accident. (2) There are times when it is not practicable to continue pursuit of a violator. The decision to abandon pursuit can only be made by the officer involved. When in the opinion of the officer continued pursuit will bring unwarranted danger to the public or to himself, pursuit will be abandoned. (b) Exceptions to traffic laws. There are exceptions granted to emergency vehicles for turning, parking, stopping, signaling, and speeding. These exceptions will only apply when an officer is responding to emergency or pursuit conditions. (1) The exception to turning across medians will only be allowed for the purposes of conducting necessary police functions. (2) None of the exceptions to the traffic laws relieve officers from the responsibility to drive with due regard for safety of all persons. The use of a siren or emergency lighting does not reduce the need for cautious defensive driving. (c) Use of median. The parking of departmental vehicles within the median strip is permitted in emergency situations. No traffic law violator will be directed to stop within the median strip except under extreme emergency conditions when it is vital that he be stopped at once and when stopping on the right-hand side is not feasible or practicable. |
