[Adopted 8-6-2009 byOrd. No. 7-16-2009B]
The Fire Official or his duly authorized representatives, as
may be in charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency involving
the protection of life and/or property are empowered to direct such
operations as may be necessary to extinguish or control any suspected
or reported fires, gas leaks, or other hazardous conditions or situations
or of taking any other action necessary in the reasonable performance
of their duty. The Fire Official may prohibit any person, vehicle
or object from approaching the scene and may remove or cause to be
removed from the scene any person, vehicle or object which may impede
or interfere with the operations of the Fire Department. The Fire
Official may remove or cause to be removed any person, vehicle or
object from hazardous areas. All persons ordered to leave a hazardous
area shall do so immediately and shall not reenter the area until
authorized to do so by the Fire Official.
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere
with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict the mobility
of, or block the path of travel of any Fire Department emergency vehicle
in any way, or to interfere with, attempt to interfere, conspire to
interfere with, obstruct or hamper any Fire Department operation.
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order or direction of the Fire Official or to interfere with
the compliance attempts of another individual.
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected
fire hose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, alleyway,
private drive or any other vehicular roadway without the consent of
the Fire Official in command of such operation.
Authorized emergency vehicles shall be restricted to those which
are defined and authorized under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
Upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle, giving
audible and visual signal, the operator of every other vehicle shall
immediately drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel
to the right-hand edge or curb of the street or roadway, clear of
any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until
the authorized emergency vehicle or vehicles shall have passed, unless
otherwise directed by the Fire Official or a police officer.
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other
than one on official business, to follow closer than 300 feet from
any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm, or to drive
nearer to, or park the vehicle within 200 feet of, where any fire
apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
A person shall not without proper authorization from the Fire
Official in charge of such Fire Department emergency equipment, cling
to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board, or swing upon any
Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or
at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device
thereon, or to manipulate or tamper with, or attempt to manipulate
or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps, or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of, any
Fire Department emergency vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface, or
attempt, or conspire to damage or deface any Fire Department emergency
vehicle at any time, or to injure, or attempt to injure or conspire
to injure Fire Department personnel while performing departmental
duties.
[Amended 2-18-2010 by 1-21-2010B]
A.
The driver of any emergency vehicle, as defined in this article,
shall not sound the siren thereon or have the front red lights on
or disobey any existing traffic regulation, except when such vehicle
is responding to an emergency call or when responding to, but not
upon returning from a fire. Tactical strategies such as, but not restricted
to, "move-ups," do not constitute an emergency call. The driver of
any emergency vehicle may park or stand irrespective of the provisions
of existing traffic regulations.
B.
The exemptions herein granted to an emergency vehicle shall apply
only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion sounds audible
signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary,
and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying
a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance
of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle.
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct
or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or Fire Department connection
for the pressurization of fire-suppression systems, including fire
hydrants and Fire Department connections that are located on public
or private streets and access lanes, or on private property.
