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Senate approves wider driving privileges for authorized emergency vehicles, excludes tow trucks
Summary
The Senate passed House File 26‑55 to allow all authorized emergency vehicles to run stoplights or exceed speed limits when done safely; a floor amendment clarifies the change does not apply to tow trucks and the bill passed unanimously on a 47‑0 roll call.
The Senate on the floor passed House File 26‑55, which expands when authorized emergency vehicles may disregard certain traffic laws. Senator Dickey (Senator from Jefferson) said the bill "allows for all authorized emergency vehicles to run a stoplight or a stop sign or to exceed the speed limit as long as it's done safely and does not recklessly endanger life or property."
Dickey introduced Senate Amendment 51‑12, which he described as a carve‑out: the change "does not apply to tow trucks." The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and Dickey then moved final passage. The secretary read the bill title before the Senate recorded a roll‑call vote: those voting aye, 47; nay, 0. The chair declared the bill passed and the title agreed to.
The measure modifies who qualifies as an "authorized emergency vehicle" under current statutory cross‑references (as read on the floor) and clarifies driving privileges while stressing the safety standard that actions must not "recklessly endanger life or property." The Senate granted unanimous consent to immediately message the bill to the House later in the session.
