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Committee supports bill to allow emergency-management vehicles limited opticon use (SB1249)
Summary
King County’s Legislative Committee gave consensus support to Senate Bill 1249, which would allow county emergency-management vehicles to use opticon devices (signal-preemption) while responding to declared emergencies; committee sought a narrow definition of eligible vehicles and responses.
King County staff briefed the committee Feb. 19 on Senate Bill 1249, a proposal the county’s office of emergency management requested that would allow county emergency-management vehicles to use opticon signal-preemption devices while responding to emergencies.
Committee members were told the bill’s language requires vehicles to be county vehicles and to be responding to an emergency. The committee sought clarification about the definition of “emergency.” County staff offered an example: if a tornado damages infrastructure and the sheriff’s office requests emergency-management personnel to respond (for example, to address a downed tree on a telephone pole), that would qualify as an emergency response for opticon use.
Committee members observed that the office of emergency management provides ongoing, often volunteer-based infrastructure support and agreed to support the bill without objection; staff will file witness slips in support.
