OAR 737-100-0040: Emergency Vehicle Designation for ODOT Incident Response Vehicles

(1) The Transportation Safety Office of the Oregon Department of Transportation adopts these requirements regarding Emergency Vehicle designation for ODOT Emergency or Incident Response Vehicles. (2) Emergency Vehicle designation is assigned to the vehicle. Transportation Safety will consider issuance of an emergency vehicle designation to ODOT Emergency or Incident Response Vehicles upon receipt of a written request from the ODOT region manager or designee that details: (a) A complete description of the vehicle. This includes year model, make, body style, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), vehicle identification number, fleet identification number and the Oregon E-plate number; (b) How the vehicle will be used in emergency situations; (c) The region and district, staging location, name and working title of the individual that the vehicle is assigned to; and (d) The explicit need for this type of emergency vehicle in the area where it will be used. (3) ODOT Incident response vehicles shall be marked with external markings that identify the vehicle as an ODOT Emergency or Incident Response vehicle. (4) Designated emergency vehicles shall be equipped with warning lights and sirens as required by ORS 801.260 that: (a) Comply with Oregon law regarding types and usage, and with standards and requirements of Transportation Safety; and (b) Are used only in emergency situations and as allowed by Oregon law. (5) Designations that are approved shall be reviewed by Transportation Safety every two years to assure the vehicle and its usage still qualify for the designation. New data, as listed in section (2) of this rule, may be requested from the region manager or designee. (6) ODOT Emergency Vehicle designation may be cancelled when: (a) The vehicle has been sold or transferred; (b) The vehicle will no longer be used as an emergency vehicle or in the area specified in the request; (c) There is no longer a need, because adequate emergency services are now provided in the area. Need will be determined by the ODOT State Maintenance & Operations Engineer.