OR 136 Requires emergency vehicles returning from a fire alarm to comply with all City speed regulations AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 136
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
REQUIRING EMERGENCY VEHICLES RETURNING FROM A FIRE ALARM TO
COMPLY WITH ALL CITY SPEED REGULATIONS; MAKING IT UNLAWFUL
FOR AN AMBULANCE OPERATING AS AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE
TO EXCEED A SPEED OF TEN MILES PER HOUR GREATER THAN THE
AUTHORIZED POSTED SPEED LIMIT; PROVIDING THAT SPEED LIMITATION
SHALL NOT APPLY TO OTHER AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES OPERATING
WITHIN THE CITY WHERE THE DRIVER SOUNDS AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL BY
BELL, SIREN OR EXHAUST WHISTLE, OR WHEN EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST
ONE LIGHTED RED LIGHT; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT TO EXCEED THE
SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. SPEED OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Speed limitations set forth in the Ordinances of the
City and speed limitations established by the laws of the State
of Texas, which are applicable to general motor vehicles oper-
ating within the City, shall not apply to an authorized emergency
vehicle when responding to an emergency call, or when used in
the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or
when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm
and the driver thereof sounds audible signal by bell, siren
or exhaust whistle, or when such emergency vehicle is equipped
with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible
under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five
hundred feet to the front of such vehicle; except in no event
shall an ambulance operating as an authorized emergency vehicle
exceed a speed of ten miles per hour greater than the authorized
posted speed limits on the route of travel of such ambulance.
This provision shall not relieve the driver of an authorized
emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the
safety of all persons using the streets, nor shall it protect
the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of a reck-
less disregard of the safety of others.
SECTION 2. REPEALING CLAUSE.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent
or in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are here-
by repealed.
However, the repeal of existing ordinances by this
ordinance shall not affect or prevent the prosecution or the
punishment of any person for any act done or committed prior
to the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any
ordinance hereby repealed; and prosecution for such offenses
may be instituted and causes presently pending proceeded with
in all respects as if such prior ordinance or ordinances had
not been repealed.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
If any article, paragraph or sub-division, clause,
phrase or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged in-
valid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the
validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part or provision
thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid or uncon-
stitutional.
SECTION 4. PENALTY CLAUSE.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not to exceed the
sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense and each
and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a new
and separate offense.
SECTION 5. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
The fact that the present City regulations are in-
adequate to properly protect the public health, safety and
welfare, creates an urgency and an emergency and requires that
this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after
the publication of its caption as the law in such cases pro-
vides.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of
M~.¥OR
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTOR~:Y