SB86 Summary

• Authorizes volunteer firefighters at least 19 years old to operate privately-owned vehicles as "authorized volunteer firefighter vehicles" when approved by their fire chief to respond to emergencies.

• Permits authorized volunteer firefighter vehicles to be equipped with no more than two red "courtesy lights" on the front and two on the rear, but prohibits sirens, bells, or electronic siren devices.

• Grants drivers of authorized volunteer firefighter vehicles responding to emergencies the ability to exceed speed limits by up to 20 miles per hour, park irrespective of traffic laws, and disregard traffic direction laws, but only when using courtesy lights and only while responding to (not returning from) emergencies.

• Requires drivers to maintain a fire chief approval letter dated within six months, carry minimum auto liability insurance of $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident plus $50,000 property damage, and complete an emergency vehicle operations course through the Alabama Fire College.

• Imposes double fines for violations of these provisions and permanently revokes the violator's privilege to use courtesy lights if convicted of operating the vehicle in an unauthorized manner.