Amended IN Assembly March 12, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 438Introduced by Assembly Member HadwickFebruary 06, 2025An act to amend Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 438, as amended, Hadwick. Authorized emergency vehicles.Existing law imposes specific requirements on drivers and pedestrians when an authorized emergency vehicle is sounding a siren and exhibiting its red lights. Existing law also exempts an authorized emergency vehicle or a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from certain requirements while the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Existing law defines an authorized emergency vehicle as, among other things, a publicly owned vehicle operated by any forestry or fire department of any public agency.This bill would expand the definition of authorized emergency vehicle for these purposes to include any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire. by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 165 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
Amended IN Assembly March 12, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 438Introduced by Assembly Member HadwickFebruary 06, 2025An act to amend Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 438, as amended, Hadwick. Authorized emergency vehicles.Existing law imposes specific requirements on drivers and pedestrians when an authorized emergency vehicle is sounding a siren and exhibiting its red lights. Existing law also exempts an authorized emergency vehicle or a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from certain requirements while the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Existing law defines an authorized emergency vehicle as, among other things, a publicly owned vehicle operated by any forestry or fire department of any public agency.This bill would expand the definition of authorized emergency vehicle for these purposes to include any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire. by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly March 12, 2025
Amended IN Assembly March 12, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 438
Introduced by Assembly Member HadwickFebruary 06, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Hadwick
February 06, 2025
An act to amend Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 438, as amended, Hadwick. Authorized emergency vehicles.
Existing law imposes specific requirements on drivers and pedestrians when an authorized emergency vehicle is sounding a siren and exhibiting its red lights. Existing law also exempts an authorized emergency vehicle or a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from certain requirements while the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Existing law defines an authorized emergency vehicle as, among other things, a publicly owned vehicle operated by any forestry or fire department of any public agency.This bill would expand the definition of authorized emergency vehicle for these purposes to include any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire. by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster.
Existing law imposes specific requirements on drivers and pedestrians when an authorized emergency vehicle is sounding a siren and exhibiting its red lights. Existing law also exempts an authorized emergency vehicle or a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from certain requirements while the vehicle is responding to an emergency. Existing law defines an authorized emergency vehicle as, among other things, a publicly owned vehicle operated by any forestry or fire department of any public agency.
This bill would expand the definition of authorized emergency vehicle for these purposes to include any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire. by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 165 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 165 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
SECTION 1. Section 165 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.
165. An authorized emergency vehicle is:
(a) Any publicly owned and operated ambulance, lifeguard, or lifesaving equipment or any privately owned or operated ambulance licensed by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls.
(b) Any publicly owned vehicle operated by the following persons, agencies, or organizations:
(1) Any federal, state, or local agency, department, or district employing peace officers as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, for use by those officers in the performance of their duties.
(2) Any forestry or fire department of any public agency or fire department organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code.
(c) Any vehicle owned by the state, or any bridge and highway district, and equipped and used either for fighting fires, or towing or servicing other vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment.
(d) Any state-owned vehicle used in responding to emergency fire, rescue, or communications calls and operated either by the Office of Emergency Services or by any public agency or industrial fire department to which the Office of Emergency Services has assigned the vehicle.
(e) (1) Any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls. For the purposes of this section and the provisions of Sections 2501 and 2510, a vehicle used in responding to emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle.
(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by any department or agency of the United States government when the vehicle is used in responding to emergency fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls or is actively engaged in law enforcement work.
(f) Any vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.
(g)Any vehicle owned or operated by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services or a similar emergency entity established by local ordinance only while that vehicle is used in responding to a wildfire.
(g) Any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, or hazardous materials spill.