Pulled over from HOV lane

['86 Samurai]

What is the proper citizen protocol if signalled to be pulled over from a HOV lane? Wait up to several miles for a break in the double yellow, cross it with blinkers on and head to the right-hand shoulder, or if space permits, go to the left shoulder?

What's the legal view of crossing the double yellow? And of the options, are there any officer pet peeves (i.e. someone stopping in the left shoulder)?

[100+daily]

A red light behind you means: slow and pull to the RIGHT. If you are hoping for a verbal warning I wouldn't recommend pulling into the center divider.

[23112]

Heck yeah, quickly and safely get over to right! Based on what I've experienced, some people I've stopped would answer your question this way:

Citizen #1
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, drive slowly with your blinker on until the double yellows end--after all, you're a law-abiding driver (with the exception of you getting stopped for speed or solo in the HOV). Most of all, ignore the CHP unit behind you who's shouting himself hoarse through his loudspeaker, saying "Yes, genius, these lights are for you, START MOVING TO YOUR RIGHT!""

Citizen #2
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, don't worry about moving over to the right, simply come to a complete stop in the HOV lane and act confused when the CHP unit behind you who's shouting himself hoarse through his loudspeaker, saying "What is wrong with you? GO, GO, GO! PRESS THE GAS! MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET US KILLED!" Sign the ticket and the Priority Re-exam your officer hands you and assure him that you're a good driver and were just confused."

Citizen #3
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, immediately pull into the center divider and slam on your brakes. When the officer curses the day you were born for doing the most dangerous thing possible, sign the ticket and the Priority Re-exam he hands you and assure him that you're a good driver and were just confused."

FYI:

VC? 21655.8. Entering or Exiting Exclusive or Preferential Use Lanes

(b) Upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle displaying a red light or siren, as specified in Section 21806, a person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.

VC? 21806. Authorized Emergency Vehicles
Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following:
(2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.

[Capsicum]

You may also want to take your queue from the officer. See which blinker they have on and listen to their instructions via the PA. There are some sections in the SoCal area where the center divider is wider than the right shoulder and to get to the right you have to traverse five or six lanes. In these areas, there are some officers who prefer to cite in the center divider. However, 23112 listed what the law provides for.

[PXRanger]

Hope this helps..........

21806. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following:

(a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.

[CHPGuy]

Citizen #2
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, don't worry about moving over to the right, simply come to a complete stop in the HOV lane and act confused when the CHP unit behind you who's shouting himself hoarse through his loudspeaker, saying "What is wrong with you? GO, GO, GO! PRESS THE GAS! MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET US KILLED!" Sign the ticket and the Priority Re-exam your officer hands you and assure him that you're a good driver and were just confused."


That happened to me on a Ride-Along. Scared the holy crap out of the Officer and myself. Stop him, and low and behold, he is a 70 year old (4), that is partially deaf. Go figure?

['86 Samurai]

You may also want to take your queue from the officer. See which blinker they have on and listen to their instructions via the PA. There are some sections in the SoCal area where the center divider is wider than the right shoulder and to get to the right you have to traverse five or six lanes.
That was part of why I asked mentioning the center. In particular, there are some very generous center divider lanes on the new section of the 210.

[MotorInLA]

Judging from the creative things that people do when the red light and siren comes on behind them (not only in the HOV lane), there must have been a lot of people who slept thru the "Pull to the RIGHT and STOP" part of driver's ed... :confused:

This coupled with the concerned citizen's idea of pulling over where they feel it would be MORE SAFE (back side of the blind curve, center median, left turn lane, middle of #1 lane, etc) always makes it interesting to make enforcement stops. Then again, I guess if they all did what they were supposed to do, I wouldn't get to yell at people on the PA system on a daily basis. :biggrin:

[chico.medic]

A question for the officers: While driving code 3 what is your recommendation for the following scenario:

You are approaching an intersection. There is a left hand turn lane w/ a concrete center divide, two travel lanes, and a right hand turn lane. Opposite the center divide, there are two opposing travel lanes. If you are approaching and all lanes in your direction of travel are blocked by traffic waiting for the red, can you/ is it advisable (with due regard) to cross into opposing traffic prior to encountering the center divide and pass all of the traffic waiting @ the light in your direction of travel? :shock:ops: Does that make any sense? LOL.

[SB 405]

Sense? Someone else will have to answer that. But I can tell you I see that all the time down here in LA because a lot of areas are adding things such as planters with signs that say "WELCOME TO THE CITY OF-----" in the center of the roadway to make things "look nice"

[dw]

A question for the officers: While driving code 3 what is your recommendation for the following scenario:

You are approaching an intersection. There is a left hand turn lane w/ a concrete center divide, two travel lanes, and a right hand turn lane. Opposite the center divide, there are two opposing travel lanes. If you are approaching and all lanes in your direction of travel are blocked by traffic waiting for the red, can you/ is it advisable (with due regard) to cross into opposing traffic prior to encountering the center divide and pass all of the traffic waiting @ the light in your direction of travel? :shock:ops: Does that make any sense? LOL.

I usually see fire/medics doing this, and no -- I don't see any inherent problems as long as necessary caution is used. Personally, seems like I'm usually able to squeeze by on one side or another, but at busy intersections there may be no other option than to go wrong-way.

[SB 405]

I've been sitting at lights in the past when emergency vehicles come up behind me running code 3 and if your careful you can open a lane ( if your the only car blocking the way that is) by pulling in front of the car next to you.

[Mac]

A question for the officers: While driving code 3 what is your recommendation for the following scenario:

You are approaching an intersection. There is a left hand turn lane w/ a concrete center divide, two travel lanes, and a right hand turn lane. Opposite the center divide, there are two opposing travel lanes. If you are approaching and all lanes in your direction of travel are blocked by traffic waiting for the red, can you/ is it advisable (with due regard) to cross into opposing traffic prior to encountering the center divide and pass all of the traffic waiting @ the light in your direction of travel? :shock:ops: Does that make any sense? LOL.
CAN you? Sure....while rolling code-3, you're exempt from traffic laws, and CAN do just about anything that's physically possible (as long as you exercise due regard). Whether it's ADVISABLE to do so is a judgment call you'll have to make based upon each individual situation - even each individual intersection. Another thing I'd add is to weigh the risk vs. benefit in doing so.....you can't help if you don't get there, and some calls warrant a more expeditious response than others, even amongst those that warrant rolling code-3. Weigh your options, evaluate the situation and do what best suits the circumstances.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Heck yeah, quickly and safely get over to right! Based on what I've experienced, some people I've stopped would answer your question this way:

Citizen #1
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, drive slowly with your blinker on until the double yellows end--after all, you're a law-abiding driver (with the exception of you getting stopped for speed or solo in the HOV). Most of all, ignore the CHP unit behind you who's shouting himself hoarse through his loudspeaker, saying "Yes, genius, these lights are for you, START MOVING TO YOUR RIGHT!""

Citizen #2
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, don't worry about moving over to the right, simply come to a complete stop in the HOV lane and act confused when the CHP unit behind you who's shouting himself hoarse through his loudspeaker, saying "What is wrong with you? GO, GO, GO! PRESS THE GAS! MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET US KILLED!" Sign the ticket and the Priority Re-exam your officer hands you and assure him that you're a good driver and were just confused."

Citizen #3
"Even though the law requires you to immediately yield to the right, immediately pull into the center divider and slam on your brakes. When the officer curses the day you were born for doing the most dangerous thing possible, sign the ticket and the Priority Re-exam he hands you and assure him that you're a good driver and were just confused."The citizen quotes are kind of funny because it really happens...the first time I ever had seat time in a cruiser the driver was so confused they just stopped in the highway in the fast lane--and I'm glad to say I'm alive to talk about it.

[chico.medic]

Thanks DW & Mac, The only reason I ask is it seems to happen a lot. I know a few city cops have commented on it, and I was just feeling out an Officers perspective. I wish the call takers would spend an extra min. on the phone with the callers, use a little more discretion when sending us with lights and sirens.....we seem to respond code 3 for EVERYTHING.........."Ill male/female" (which usually translates to 'I'm out of my Vicodin and don?t have a way to get to the emergency room'), "nose bleed", "criminal violence, domestic dispute" (respond to staging, and pass the S.O. who is responding code 2), etc, etc, etc.......................

I wasn't looking for a black & white answer........more or less seeing how much that pi$$es you guys off.

Thanks again.

[G-Man]

Thanks DW & Mac, The only reason I ask is it seems to happen a lot. I know a few city cops have commented on it, and I was just feeling out an Officers perspective. I wish the call takers would spend an extra min. on the phone with the callers, use a little more discretion when sending us with lights and sirens.....we seem to respond code 3 for EVERYTHING.........."Ill male/female" (which usually translates to 'I'm out of my Vicodin and don?t have a way to get to the emergency room'), "nose bleed", "criminal violence, domestic dispute" (respond to staging, and pass the S.O. who is responding code 2), etc, etc, etc.......................

I wasn't looking for a black & white answer........more or less seeing how much that pi$$es you guys off.

Thanks again.


Remember you as the operator have discretion of whether or not it is warranted or safe. While working on the ambulance we responding code-3 to everything and there were time I shut off my lights and sirens and waited for the light to cycle because it was not safe. We had to make an eight minute response time, which is a really long time. If it is a small city (example any of the south bay cities in So. Cal ...Redondo Bch, Hawthorne, Manhattan Bch, etc.) you can make it anywhere in the city in 8 minutes going the speed limit and obeying every traffic law.

[bcjack]

chico...Just make sure your Opticom is working and you don't have to worry about that problem:biggrin:

[chico.medic]

chico...Just make sure your Opticom is working and you don't have to worry about that problem:biggrin:
OMG, how nice would that be!? I know the Bi-County Medic's have them in Yuba City and Marysville..........Not us...........Do they just work by the little square strobe? Or is it a sensor? I believe the traffic signal must be equipped with.....well....something. It'd be nice though.

[bcjack]

The vehicle has a coded white strobe in the light bar and the traffic signal has a receiver, usually mounted on the pole. The traffic signal controller box has all of the computer chip stuff (really small little circuit board) Each system has a "Special" strobe sequence that allows the signal light to "See' and respond only to those light bars that are flashing the correct code.

[countersteer]

The vehicle has a coded white strobe in the light bar and the traffic signal has a receiver, usually mounted on the pole. The traffic signal controller box has all of the computer chip stuff (really small little circuit board) Each system has a "Special" strobe sequence that allows the signal light to "See' and respond only to those light bars that are flashing the correct code.

...gee...I don't ever see that getting abused...:rolleyes:

[bcjack]

How does it get abused???? I might learn something...

[dw]

How does it get abused???? I might learn something...

I was wondering the same thing... They are, after all, illegal for use on private vehicles.

[CHPUSMC]

The vehicle has a coded white strobe in the light bar and the traffic signal has a receiver, usually mounted on the pole. The traffic signal controller box has all of the computer chip stuff (really small little circuit board) Each system has a "Special" strobe sequence that allows the signal light to "See' and respond only to those light bars that are flashing the correct code.

...gee...I don't ever see that getting abused...:rolleyes:


I was wondering the same thing... They are, after all, illegal for use on private vehicles.


I see it all the time, local PD wanting to get across town faster...not code 3 or responding to anything terrible importiant....just sometimes changing the light.

[Welpe]

I see it all the time, local PD wanting to get across town faster...not code 3 or responding to anything terrible importiant....just sometimes changing the light.

How do you know that just because Code 3 isn't authorized that they aren't on a call requiring an immediate response?

[CHPUSMC]

I see it all the time, local PD wanting to get across town faster...not code 3 or responding to anything terrible importiant....just sometimes changing the light.

How do you know that just because Code 3 isn't authorized that they aren't on a call requiring an immediate response?

I do have to add after the fact that I used to be a cadet with the department not to be named...some officers were not able to resist with the ability to make red green.

[SB 405]

I think the city buses here in LA also have some type of gizmo to change traffic signals to keep them on time and avoid the buses from stacking up.

[G-Man]

The buses in LA have a device that holds the green signal for a few more seconds, so they can get through. It won't shorten a signal if they are waiting. So I was told by an MTA employee.

[bcjack]

I'm missing something I guess. The only way to activate our Opticom is to turn on all of the overhead lights...Then it takes several seconds for the system to work. The only way I could change the signal in a "Abusive" way would be to turn on my overhead lights for 5 to 10 seconds. Not a very subtle way of changing the light to green to get through it. :confused:

[JA Stewart]

I try to pull over as many HOV violators as I can. Its a huge fine and hopefully people will learn patience in traffic instead of resorting into a form of road rage by trying to pass everyone when they believe a CHP is not around.

[SB 405]

I try to pull over as many HOV violators as I can. Its a huge fine and hopefully people will learn patience in traffic instead of resorting into a form of road rage by trying to pass everyone when they believe a CHP is not around.

Thank you....I hate it when I'm sitting in stop and go traffic and people are flyin' past me in the HOV lane with nobody in the car but the driver.

[bcjack]

It is a mechanical device...Don't put 100% trust in it!!!!!!!!

Traffic Light Failed in Fatal Crash Involving Iowa Fire Truck

Updated: 12-05-2006 04:31:33 PM

Story by kcci.com


The West Des Moines Police Department issued new details Monday about a fatal collision between a vehicle and fire truck.

The collision that happened last month killed 16-year-old Erika Schwager.

The Urbandale Police Department and the West Des Moines Police Department investigated the crash.

The information was given to the Polk County Attorney's Office.

Investigators found that Schwager was driving westbound on Westown Parkway at about 30 to 35 mph and the West Des Moines fire truck was headed northbound on Valley West Drive at no more than 35 mph, a news release said.

The fire truck's lights and sirens were activated and all vehicles nearby had stopped or slowed down, except Schwager's, the release said.

The investigation showed that Schwager had a green light and failed to yield to the fire truck even though the emergency vehicle had a red light.

"Erika did not yield to the emergency vehicle. The fire truck had its red lights and sirens activated," said Lt. Jeff Miller of the West Des Moines Police Department.

The fire truck also had a red light. A safety measure inside that fire truck called a pre-emptive device was supposed to change it to green, but it didn't, NewsChannel 8 reported.

"The fire truck had activated their pre-emptive device prior to the accident at 35th and Westown Parkway ... It had pre-empted some other lights leading up to it and for reasons unknown it didn't pre-empt that particular light," Miller said.

"Your pre-emptive button is right here we leave it on all the time and then it goes off automatically when you put it into park," said Brian O'Keefe of the Des Moines Fire Department. "So anytime you turn the emergency lights on the pre-empt device transmits a signal."

That signal is sent to a box on top of the truck, to another on a utility post and then the traffic light changes to green before the fire truck enters the intersection.

"So it just helps move the vehicles out of the way in an orderly fashion so we can proceed through the intersection and we're not obstructed or slowed down by vehicles," O'Keefe said.

Miller said the city plans to look into the pre-emptive device and the collision.

"The Schwager family wishes once again to express our appreciation for the support and encouragement we have received from so many people during this difficult time. The findings of the report does nothing to change our desire to pray for the well-being of all involved and to move on with our grieving process," the Schwager family said in a statement.

The Polk County attorney now has the police report, but no charges are expected to be filed.


Source: firehouse.com
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