2019 South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 32 - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 17 - Vehicle Lights And Flares
§ 32-17-42 Lights on emergency vehicles--Duty of driver--Authorization to use lights--Violation as misdemeanor.
32-17-42. Lights on emergency vehicles--Duty of driver--Authorization to use lights--Violation as misdemeanor. Any motor vehicle operated by a member of an organized fire department or organized search and rescue unit or by a person who is an ambulance driver, attendant, or emergency medical technician affiliated with a licensed ambulance service may be equipped with flashing blue lights displayed to the front or a blue rotating beacon light or strobe light or both to be visible 360 degrees. This provision does not relieve the driver of such a vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street nor does it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.
No person may use a light authorized in this section unless the person is actually en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency requiring the person's services and the person has been authorized in writing to so use a blue light. The authorization may be given by the chief of the fire department, coordinator of the search and rescue unit, or operator or ambulance service director of the ambulance service only to members of the department or service who are in good standing.
The unauthorized use of a blue light in violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 1968, ch 179; SL 1974, ch 219, § 22; SL 1978, ch 158, § 37; SL 1986, ch 258; SL 1993, ch 234, § 1; SL 2014, ch 150, § 1.
