In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to allow firefighters and fire police to direct traffic in an emergency in the Vehicle Code.

As background, currently Title 35 (Health and Safety) provides fire police the ability to direct and regulate traffic and keep crowds under control at or in the vicinity of any fire in which their fire company is in attendance. However, Title 75 (Vehicle Code) does not provide firefighters or fire police the ability to direct or control traffic in emergency situations. This has led to confusion as to what exactly applies for the direction and control of traffic by firefighters or fire police.

To that end, my legislation simply amends the Vehicle Code to allow firefighters and fire police the ability to direct traffic in an emergency situation, thus alleviating the confusion altogether. To be clear, Title 35 currently allows fire police to regulate traffic in the vicinity of a fire, but my legislation seeks to eliminate any confusion by also providing this ability within the Vehicle Code, where traffic and vehicle related language is found. Currently, in the Vehicle Code a railroad or street railway police officer may direct traffic in an emergency, but not a firefighter or fire police. My legislation simply offers to halt any confusion that may arise when a firefighter or fire police direct traffic in an emergency situation.

I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to allow firefighters and fire police to direct traffic in an emergency in the Vehicle Code.