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<br />POLICE NEWS
<br />
<br />EMERGENCY
<br />VEHICLES
<br />
<br />In this issue I would like to discuss one
<br />of our traffic laws which is frequently vio-
<br />lated, for the most part, because it really
<br />isn't understood too well. That law is the
<br />one dealing with yielding the right-of-way
<br />to emergency vehicles. I will first set out,
<br />much to the disgust of the person who does
<br />the set-up for this newsletter, the statute
<br />as it is written and then talk about that
<br />part which applies to police/ambulance/fire
<br />versus motoring public.
<br />"MS 169.20 Right of Way Subdivision 5.
<br />EMERGENCY VEHICLE
<br />
<br />Upon the immediate approach of an author-
<br />ized emergency vehicle equipped with at least
<br />one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible
<br />under normal atmospheric conditions from a
<br />distance of 500 feet to the front of such
<br />vehicle and, except where otherwise not re-
<br />quired by law, when the driver is giving aua-
<br />ible signal by siren, the driver of each ot-
<br />her vehicle shall yield the right of way and
<br />shall immediately drive to a position paral-
<br />lel to and as close as possible to the right-
<br />hand edge or curb of the highway clear of
<br />any intersection, and shall stop and remain
<br />in this position until the authorized
<br />emergency vehicle has passed, except when
<br />otherwise directed by a police officer. The
<br />driver of an authorized emergency vehicle
<br />escorclng the movement of a vehicle or load
<br />which is oversize or overweight need not
<br />sound an audible signal by siren but shall
<br />exhibit the light required by this para-
<br />graph. The driver of each other vehicle then
<br />shall yield the right of way, as required by
<br />this paragraph, to the emergency vehicle
<br />escorting the vehicle or load which is over-
<br />size or overweighL"
<br />(The next paragraph is deleted since it
<br />applies to trolleys and we don't have many of
<br />them in Ramsey)
<br />"This subdivision shall not operate to re-
<br />lieve the driver of an authorized emergency
<br />vehicle from the duty to drive with due re-
<br />gard for the safety of persons using the
<br />highways."
<br />
<br />To the officer, fireman or ambulance
<br />driver the key part of this law is this,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />denly come out of a driveway on the left
<br />side or I may want to turn right shortly
<br />after going by your car and if you are
<br />moving this could get difficult.
<br />Another frequent happening is when a
<br />motorist stops right in the middle of
<br />the traffic lan~ as soon as he or she
<br />sees the reds! This creates a situation
<br />which is guarenteed to cause a reduction
<br />in life span due to officer stress, Please
<br />don't do that!
<br />Now I am perfectly willing to admit that we
<br />have our statistical share of nutsos who drive
<br />in such a fashion as to abuse the emergency
<br />vehicle right of way priviledge (the third
<br />paragraph of Subd. #5 covers those types.) but
<br />the vast majority of us will give you as much
<br />notice as possible that weare coming, using
<br />our sirens, reds, headlights and, at night,
<br />our spotlights. But remember, modern cars are
<br />better insulated and have loud fans, stereos,
<br />air conditioners, kids, etc. so get into a
<br />habit of watching your rear view mirror to see
<br />what is behind you. It keeps you better aware
<br />of traffic around you and, if nothing else,
<br />you can see what you missed!
<br />Thanks.
<br />
<br />--Chief Auspos
<br />
<br />911
<br />
<br />DO YOU KNOW WHY THE NINE ELEVEN SYSTEM
<br />CAN'T BE USED IN LOWER SLOBBOVIA?
<br />
<br />BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THERE CAN'T FIND ELEVEN au
<br />THEIR PHONE DIALS!
<br />
<br />010 joke? "ay~e so. b~: i:'s a ;C~: .ay :;
<br />point out that we Ra8seyites do have the 911
<br />system and, if there are any Slobboviaite;--
<br />who have just moved here, they can use the
<br />system just by dialing a NINE and then a ONE
<br />and ONE again. If you need a police :ffi:;er,
<br />a firelan or a.hulance criye~ a:~-.; .;:~
<br />their attendant equip.ent. jus: reeeaber to
<br />dial ~. It is fast and accurate and, if
<br />you have to drop the phone to go back to
<br />swatting bees, your address will still be on
<br />a T.V. screen at the dispatcher's desks and
<br />they can dispatch police, beekeepers, etc.
<br />
<br />
<br />"...the driver of each other vehicle shall
<br />yield the right of way and shall immediately
<br />drive to a position parallel to and as close
<br />as possible to the right had edge or curb of
<br />the highway clear of any intersection, and
<br />shall stop and remain in this position..."
<br />Speaking for the police I will say that
<br />this law simply says, "Give me the whole
<br />roadway please because I may need it and you
<br />can have it back after I go by." Except for
<br />the real rookies among us, I think I can
<br />safely say that none of us actually enjoy
<br />running with red lights and siren because
<br />when we do this it is usually at faster
<br />than normal speeds and involves going through
<br />intersections with stop signs and passing
<br />under somewhat hazardous conditions. When my
<br />shift ends I enjoy going home particularly
<br />if I am in one piece with no more openings in
<br />my outer covering than what nature provided
<br />so I'm not going to go bananas out on the
<br />street. However when I am advised of a person
<br />bleeding severly, a cardiac arrest, a house
<br />fire, a baby not breathing, etc., etc. the
<br />tendency is to get there in a hurry. To do
<br />this, and to do it effectively and safely
<br />I need the roadway all to myself. I can't
<br />guess that since you are slowing up in the
<br />left lane on Highway #10 that I can switch
<br />over to the right and pass 'cause you
<br />might just decide to move over about that
<br />time. That is why, when you are in that
<br />left lane and see the reds coming and/or
<br />hear the siren, check for cars to your
<br />right and move over to the shoulder and
<br />stop. Don't just cruise along the shoulder
<br />waiting for De to go by since that scares
<br />ae! There say be an asbulanee or fire truck
<br />just behind and you say swerve back out as
<br />soon as the squad goes by. Or I say want
<br />to turn into a driveway or intersecting
<br />road which you are blissfully blocking.
<br />(NOTE: On Highway #10 or other DIVIDED
<br />highways we don't expect Westbound cars
<br />to stop for Eastbound eaergencies and
<br />vice versa.)
<br />If you are driving down Nowthen Blvd. or
<br />Ramsey Blvd. or sose other nice wide road-
<br />way, please pullover anyway even if you
<br />see no cars coming at us. Please don't as-
<br />sume that I can just whip around your left
<br />side since the roadway may be slippery and
<br />I don't want to make a change of course
<br />and chance losing control. A car may sud-
<br />
<br />911
<br />
<br />Minutes con't from page 4
<br />decorative post located on driveway edge at
<br />Mr. XX residence that were rlamaged by the City
<br />snow plow truck when plowing snow on Thursday
<br />December 30, 19B2. Further, that if Mr. XXX
<br />wants to replace these posts he must contact
<br />the Public Works Superintendent as to where
<br />he should locate said posts. It IS further
<br />directed that the Public Works Superintendent
<br />make a cursory check of the City as to how
<br />many other residences have the- same. possible
<br />problems and report back to Council. It is
<br />further directed that an article be published
<br />in the 'Ramsey Resident' informing the public
<br />that the City is not responsible for damage
<br />to articles that are obstructing the City
<br />right-of-way.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />proposed letter regarding amendment to Waste
<br />Management's Landfill Permit in Ramsey, further
<br />that said letter be forwarded to Mr. Bruce
<br />Brott of MPCA.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve of
<br />authorizing Mr. Peter Raatikka of Hakanson
<br />Anderson Associates, In. to proceed with
<br />the project to establish vertical control in
<br />the urban area at a cost not to exceed $4,566.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve of the
<br />plans and specifications for the following MSA
<br />projects for submission to the Mn/DOT: 155th
<br />Avenue and Variolite Street NW.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to appoint
<br />Councilpersons Schlueter and Reimann to
<br />the Road and Bridge Standing Committee.
<br />Further to appoint the following City Staff
<br />
<br />members as ex-offici a members to this committee
<br />City Administrator L. Schnelle, City Engineer
<br />P. Raatikka, Public Works Superintendent M.
<br />Mevissen, Building Official C. Berg. The
<br />purpose of this committee is to review all
<br />street project plan~ and specifications and
<br />make recommendations to Council.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to accept the
<br />petition fro, property owners of land in the
<br />1984 proposed sewer area requesting that the
<br />City commence preparing plans and specifica-
<br />tions for making public utilities available
<br />and further, :0 table any action until the
<br />regula~ Council meeting scheduled for Feb.
<br />22, 1983.
<br />
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve of the
<br />fire contract service from the City of Anoka
<br />in the amount of $27,238.42. Further, to aut-
<br />horize the Mayor and City Administrator to
<br />sign said aggreement.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve of the
<br />City of Ramsey joining the Association of
<br />Metropolitan Municipalities,
<br />Motion passed 4-1 to adopt Resolution
<br />#83-8 supporting the location of a racing
<br />facility in Anoka County.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />license applications for Contractors as
<br />submitted.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />license applications for Motor Vehicle
<br />Sales, Repair and Rental as submitted.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />license applications for Garbage and Refuse
<br />Haulers as submitted.
<br />
<br />Motion passed unamiously to approve the li-
<br />cense applications for Gasoline Sales as sub-
<br />mitted.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />license applications for Cigarette Sales as
<br />submitted.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve the
<br />license applications for Billiards as
<br />submi tted.
<br />Motion passed unanimoulsy to approve the
<br />license applications for Amusement Center
<br />as submitted.
<br />Motion passed unanimoulsy to adopt Reso-
<br />lution #83-9 authorizing payment of the bills
<br />in the amount of $102,463.24 for the month
<br />of January, 1983.
<br />Motion passed unanimously to approve pay
<br />estimate #5 on Street Project #82-1 in the
<br />amount of $10,005.27 to UD Contracting.
<br />Further, that this pay estimate is approved
<br />for the purpose of submitting to the Municipal
<br />State Aid Engineer for the reimbursement to the
<br />City of Ramsey and at the time the City re-
<br />ceives these funds, Council will take further
<br />action to release these funds to UD Contracting.
<br />Motion passed unanimously :0 adjourn the
<br />regular council meeting.
<br />Present:
<br />Mayor Tom Gamec
<br />Councilmember Reimann
<br />Councilmember Schlueter
<br />Councilmember Sorteberg
<br />Councilmember VanWagner
<br />
<br />--Sue Vanl'/agner
<br />
<br />page 5
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