In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to classify county correctional vehicles as emergency vehicles, which will permit them to use red lights and sirens as well as be exempt from certain traffic laws.

Currently, only those vehicles owned by a county correctional institution in a city of the first class are considered emergency vehicles. This legislation would simply extend that privilege to all county owned correctional vehicles no matter the type of municipality. Furthermore, these county correctional vehicles would be limited to acting as emergency vehicles only when responding to an emergency at a corrections institution, or when escorting a prisoner in an ambulance or similar. 

In addition to emergency response, this bill is needed to ensure that escort vehicles which provide security to surrounding communities are not separated from the prisoner/ambulance they are escorting. The emergency vehicle designation would not permit them to exceed the speed limit and would only permit them to drive through a stop sign or red-light after being given the right-of-way from other drivers.
 
I ask that you please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.