2006 Minnesota Statutes

169.03 EMERGENCY VEHICLES; EXEMPTIONS; APPLICATION.
    Subdivision 1. Scope. The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles
upon the highways shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United
States, this state, or any county, city, town, district, or any other political subdivision of the state,
subject to such specific exemptions as are set forth in this chapter with reference to authorized
emergency vehicles.
    Subd. 2. Stops. The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to
an emergency call, upon approaching a red or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as
necessary for safety, but may proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal after sounding
siren and displaying red lights, except that a law enforcement vehicle responding to an emergency
call shall sound its siren or display at least one lighted red light to the front.
    Subd. 3. One-way roadway. The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle, when
responding to any emergency call, may enter against the run of traffic on any one-way street, or
highway where there is authorized division of traffic, to facilitate traveling to the area in which
an emergency has been reported; and the provisions of this section shall not affect any cause of
action arising prior to its passage.
    Subd. 4. Parking at emergency scene. An authorized emergency vehicle, when at the scene
of a reported emergency, may park or stand, notwithstanding any law or ordinance to the contrary.
    Subd. 5. Course of duty. No driver of any authorized emergency vehicle shall assume any
special privilege under this chapter except when such vehicle is operated in response to any
emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
    Subd. 6. Working on highway. (a) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons,
motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the highway, except as
provided in paragraphs (b) and (c).
(b) This chapter shall apply to those persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such
work, except that persons operating equipment owned, rented or hired by road authorities shall be
exempt from the width, height and length provisions of sections 169.80 and 169.81 and shall be
exempt from the weight limitations of this chapter while engaged in snow or ice removal and
while engaged in flood control operations on behalf of the state or a local governmental unit.
(c) Chapter 169A and section 169.444 apply to persons while actually engaged in work
upon the highway.
    Subd. 7. Streetcars. Streetcars, except where otherwise specifically provided, shall be
governed by the same rules as provided in this chapter for vehicles and motor vehicles, only
insofar as such rules apply to speed, stopped at through streets and railroad tracks, and obeying
signals of traffic-control devices and rights-of-way, driving under the influence of drugs or
intoxicating liquor, careless driving, and the stopping at the scene of an accident and giving the
information as required by this chapter, and following vehicles too closely, and shall be entitled
to the same rights and benefits of this chapter, as to warning, turning and stopping signals and
rights-of-way, as any vehicles or motor vehicle in the streets and highways of this state.
    Subd. 8. Transportation by animal. Every person riding an animal or driving any animal
drawing a vehicle upon a roadway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to
the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
    Subd. 9.[Renumbered 169.022]
History: (2720-155, 2720-156) 1937 c 464 s 5-7; 1945 c 383 s 1; 1949 c 521; 1957 c 130 s 1;
1959 c 66 s 1; 1973 c 28 s 1; 1974 c 23 s 1; 1974 c 350 s 1; 1978 c 739 s 6; 1981 c 321 s 3; 1985 c
248 s 70; 1987 c 63 s 1; 1999 c 241 art 9 s 41; 2000 c 478 art 2 s 7; 2001 c 24 s 1; 2002 c 319 s 1