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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3471 PRINTER'S NO. 3649
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2582
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DOUGHERTY, GUENST, BRENNAN, D. WILLIAMS AND KUTZ,
JUNE 1, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 22, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for
definitions.; AND, IN GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO
OPERATION OF VEHICLES, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DRIVERS OF
EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "emergency vehicle" in section
102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
amended and the section is amended by adding a definition to
read:
§ 102. Definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Emergency vehicle." A State or county emergency management
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vehicle, fire department vehicle, police vehicle, sheriff
vehicle, ambulance, advanced life support squad vehicle, basic
life support squad vehicle, emergency canteen support service
organization vehicle, blood delivery vehicle, human organ
delivery vehicle, hazardous material response vehicle, armed
forces emergency vehicle, one vehicle operated by a coroner or
chief county medical examiner and one vehicle operated by a
chief deputy coroner or deputy chief county medical examiner
used for answering emergency calls, a vehicle owned by or leased
to a regional emergency medical services council that is used as
authorized by the Department of Health to respond to an actual
or potential disaster, mass casualty situation or substantial
threat to public health, a vehicle owned by a county or regional
police association and operated by a police officer that is used
for police transport or victim extraction, a vehicle that is
owned and operated by a county correctional institution [in a
city of the first class] and used to respond to an emergency at
a correctional institution [in a city of the first class] or to
escort an ambulance which is transporting sick or injured
prisoners [in a city of the first class], any vehicle operated
by a special agent, special agent supervisor, narcotics agent or
narcotics agent supervisor while performing official duties as
employees of the Office of Attorney General, any vehicle owned
and operated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority established
in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 (relating to parking
authorities) and used in the enforcement of 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 57
(relating to taxicabs and limousines in first class cities), a
vehicle owned by a city of the first class and operated by first
judicial district certified armed probation officers, a State
parole fugitive apprehension emergency vehicle, a vehicle owned
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and operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission that is
used by an emergency service responder as dispatched by the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's traffic operations center, or
any other vehicle designated by the State Police under section
6106 (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by
Pennsylvania State Police), or a privately owned vehicle used in
answering an emergency call when used by any of the following:
(1) A police chief and assistant chief.
(2) A fire chief, assistant chief and, when a fire
company has three or more fire vehicles, a second or third
assistant chief.
(3) A fire police captain and fire police lieutenant.
(4) An ambulance corps commander and assistant
commander.
(5) A river rescue commander and assistant commander.
(6) A county emergency management coordinator.
(7) A fire marshal.
(8) A rescue service chief and assistant chief.
(9) The chief or operations director of a county
hazardous materials response team.
(10) A police officer who is also a member of a county
or regional municipal special emergency response team which
is authorized to respond to emergencies under 42 Pa.C.S. §
8953 (relating to Statewide municipal police jurisdiction).
* * *
"State parole fugitive apprehension emergency vehicle." A
motor vehicle operated by an agent, as defined in 61 Pa.C.S. §
6101 (relating to definitions), that is used to respond to an
emergency or an activity of law enforcement and meets the
following criteria:
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(1) The operator has completed an emergency vehicle
operator training course approved by the Department of
Corrections.
(2) The motor vehicle is:
(i) engaged in the apprehension of an absconder or
escapee;
(ii) responding to a confirmed escape;
(iii) responding to an immediate threat to public
safety; or
(iv) assisting a Federal, State or local law
enforcement agency in this Commonwealth, including task
force operations.
(3) The motor vehicle is in compliance with the written
emergency vehicle policy governing the use, supervision,
safety and reporting of State parole fugitive apprehension
emergency vehicles developed and implemented by the
Department of Corrections.
* * *
SECTION 2. SECTION 3105(D.1) OF TITLE 75 IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 3105. DRIVERS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
* * *
(D.1) VEHICLES OWNED AND OPERATED BY A COUNTY CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION [IN A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS].--THE DRIVER OF A
VEHICLE THAT IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A COUNTY CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION [IN A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS] AND USED TO RESPOND
TO AN EMERGENCY AT A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION [IN A CITY OF THE
FIRST CLASS] OR TO ESCORT AN AMBULANCE WHICH IS TRANSPORTING A
SICK OR INJURED PRISONER [IN A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS] SHALL
COMPLY WITH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS, RED SIGNAL INDICATIONS AND
STOP SIGNS. AFTER ASCERTAINING THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE GIVEN
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THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, THE DRIVER MAY PROCEED THROUGH A RED SIGNAL
INDICATION OR STOP SIGN.
* * *
Section 2 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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