New Kentucky State Police cruisers will be Chevrolets instead of Fords

First, lights & sirens are not exclusive indications someone is going somewhere "worthy" of speeding. Many runs do not allow or call for using those but speeding to get there is still necessary. I am so sick of everyone assuming & deciding that they know for a fact a cop is not going anywhere important.

Second, people speed. You just admitted you were. Should cops lead by example? Really? All I hear is griping from citizens when a cop isn't speeding because then they can't speed past either & only wish that cop would hurry up & pass the group.

Third, those "special cars" you mentioned are not some prize. They are driven hard & have hundreds of thousands of miles put on them very quickly. That is the nature of working the expressways. If you don't want someone to attack you for voicing your opinion or attack you for voicing your opinion maybe you should not be so condescending & accusatory anout something of which you have very limited knowledge

Actually KSP does have a few CAMARO's spread through the state, they are white and unmarked. KVE (A branch of KSP) has Dodge Chargers spread throughout the state, they are usually Dark blue and unmarked. Indiana State Police also have Mustangs which are unmarked. See where im going with this? Every police agency has some sort of "Special Car" That they use for various reasons, just an FYI.

The other response hit many good points already, but I'll add this:

Believe it or not, there are times, depending on roadway and traffic conditions, where having emergency equipment activated can actually do more harm than good. (Drivers sometimes do very strange things when blug lights and sirens come screaming up behind them, like slam on the brakes and staying in the lane they're in.)

On an interstate where traffic is already flowing pretty smoothly (and quickly, by your own admission), it may have been more efficient to simply leave the equipment off. (Assuming the officer was on a run, which I don't know, so I won't make assumptions.)

Some runs demand emergency equipment and balls-to-the-wall driving (officer in trouble, for example), other runs can be priority runs, but not require that type of response.

However, and I'll give you this one: there is the possibility that the officer simply was just late for something or in a hurry, and taking advantage of the fact that they drive a marked car. I did over 20 years, and sure I saw some instances of officers behaving in a way that reflected poorly on all of us.

The point is this: don't assume you know the circumstances to be fact when judging why police do some of the things the way that they do. Those times where it may be shown an officer is exhibiting bad judgement, fine; but don't paint all of us with a broad brush as a result.

Since the original poster caomplained about never being given an honest answer, I felt that some research was in order. ANYONE can look up the Kentucky Revised Statutes online. It's amazing what one may learn when they take the time to read. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO KRS 189.392, QND 189.940 AS THEY WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN DETAIL:

189.392 Emergency vehicles excepted.

KRS 189.390 (Speeding Etc.) shall not apply to emergency vehicles while being operated under the provisions of KRS 189.910 to 189.950.

Effective: July 15, 1988

History: Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 177, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1988. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 9, sec. 2, effective March 1, 1974.

189.910 Definitions for KRS 189.920 to 189.950.

(1) As used in KRS 189.920 to 189.950, "emergency vehicle" means any vehicle used for emergency purposes by:

(a) The Department of Kentucky State Police;

(b) A public police department;

(c) The Department of Corrections;

(d) A sheriff's office;

(e) A rescue squad;

(f) An emergency management agency if it is a publicly owned vehicle;

(g) An ambulance service or medical first-response provider licensed by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, for any vehicle used to respond to emergencies or to transport a patient with a critical medical condition;

(h) Any vehicle commandeered by a police officer;

(i) Any vehicle with the emergency lights required under KRS 189.920 used by a paid or volunteer fireman or paid or volunteer ambulance personnel, or a paid or local emergency management director while responding to an emergency or to a location where an emergency vehicle is on emergency call;

(j) An elected coroner granted permission to equip a publicly or privately owned motor vehicle with lights and siren pursuant to KRS 189.920; or

(k) A deputy coroner granted permission to equip a publicly or privately owned motor vehicle with lights and siren pursuant to KRS 189.920.

(2) As used in KRS 189.920 to 189.950, "public safety vehicle" means public utility repair vehicle; wreckers; state, county, or municipal service vehicles and equipment; highway equipment which performs work that requires stopping and standing or moving at slow speeds within the traveled portions of highways; and vehicles which are escorting wide-load or slow-moving trailers or trucks.

Effective: June 8, 2011

History: Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 17, sec. 1, effective June 8, 2011; and ch. 99, sec. 1, effective June 8, 2011. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 24, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 226, sec. 106, effective July 15, 1998; and ch. 426, sec. 124, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 233, sec. 9, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 211, sec. 16, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 220, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 419, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986. -- Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 1.

Legislative Research Commission Note (6/8/2011). This section was amended by 2011 Ky. Acts chs. 17 and 99, which are in conflict. Under KRS 446.250, Acts ch. 99, which was last enacted by the General Assembly, prevails.

189.920 Flashing lights and sirens.

(1) All fire department, rescue squad, or publicly owned emergency management agency emergency vehicles and all ambulances shall be equipped with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating red lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws.

(2) All state, county, or municipal police vehicles and all sheriffs' vehicles used as emergency vehicles shall be equipped with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws.

(3) By ordinance, the governing body of any city or county may direct that the police or sheriffs' vehicles in that jurisdiction be equipped with a combination of red and blue flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.

(4) All public safety vehicles shall be equipped with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating yellow lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle. Yellow flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights may also be used by vehicles operated by mail carriers while on duty, funeral escort vehicles, and church buses.

(5) All Department of Corrections vehicles used as emergency vehicles shall be equipped with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle. The Department of Corrections vehicles shall not be equipped with or use a siren, whistle, or bell. The equipment prescribed by this subsection shall be in addition to any other equipment required by motor vehicle laws.

(6) (a) If authorized by the legislative body of a county, urban-county, charter county, consolidated local government, or unified local government:

1. All publicly owned county jail and regional jail vehicles used as emergency vehicles may be equipped with the one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle; and

2. An elected jailer or the chief administrator of a county or regional jail not managed by an elected jailer may equip one (1) personally owned vehicle with one (1) or more flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle.

(b) Publicly owned county jail or regional jail vehicles shall not be equipped with or use a siren, whistle, or bell.

(c) The equipment prescribed by this subsection shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws.

(7) Red flashing lights may be used by school buses.

(8) No emergency vehicle, public safety vehicle, or any other vehicle covered by KRS 189.910 to 189.950 shall use any light of any other color than those specified by KRS 189.910 to 189.950. Sirens, whistles, and bells may not be used by vehicles other than those specified by KRS 189.910 to 189.950, except that any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.

(9) Vehicles used as command posts at incidents may be equipped with and use when on scene, a green rotating, oscillating, or flashing light. This light shall be in addition to the lights and sirens required in this section.

(10) A personal vehicle used by a paid or volunteer firefighter, ambulance personnel, or emergency services director who is responding to an emergency shall display the lights required in subsection (1) of this section.

(11) An elected coroner may equip a publicly or privately owned motor vehicle, or both, with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red and blue lights and a siren meeting the requirements of this section solely for the purpose of responding to a report of the death of a human being subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) The coroner makes a written request to the legislative body of the county, urban-county, charter county, consolidated local government, or unified local government in which the coroner was elected to equip a publicly or privately owned motor vehicle, or both, with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red and blue lights and a siren meeting the requirements of this section, and that request is approved by the legislative body by ordinance or by court order;

(b) The coroner may use the lights and siren only while responding to the scene of the report of a death of a human being and shall not, KRS 189.940 to the contrary notwithstanding, exceed the posted speed limit; and

(c) The permission granted pursuant to this section shall expire upon the coroner leaving office or the legislative body revoking the authorization.

(12) A deputy coroner certified pursuant to KRS Chapter 72 may equip a publicly owned or privately owned motor vehicle, or both, with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red and blue lights and a siren meeting the requirements of this section solely for the purpose of responding to a report of the death of a human being, subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) The deputy coroner has made a written request to the coroner to equip a publicly owned or privately owned vehicle with flashing, rotating, or oscillating red and blue lights meeting the requirements of this section and the coroner has approved the request in writing;

(b) The coroner makes a written request to the legislative body of the county, urban-county, charter county, consolidated local government, or unified local

government in which the coroner is elected to permit the deputy coroner to equip a publicly owned motor vehicle or privately owned motor vehicle, or both, and that request has been approved by the legislative body by ordinance or by court order;

(c) The deputy coroner may use the lights and siren only while responding to the scene of the report of the death of a human being and shall not, KRS 189.940 to the contrary notwithstanding, exceed the posted speed limit; and

(d) The permission granted pursuant to this section shall expire upon the coroner leaving office or the legislative body revoking the authorization.

Effective: June 8, 2011

History: Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 17, sec. 2, effective June 8, 2011; and ch. 99, sec. 2, effective June 8, 2011. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 25, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 226, sec. 107, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 211, sec. 17, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 419, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 55, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. -- Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 2.

Legislative Research Commission (6/8/2011). This section was amended by 2011 Ky. Acts chs. 17 and 99, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together.

189.940 Exemptions from traffic regulations.

(1) Except as provided in KRS 189.920, the speed limitations set forth in the Kentucky Revised Statutes do not apply to emergency vehicles:

(a) When responding to emergency calls; or

(b) To police vehicles when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law; or

(c) To ambulances when transporting a patient to medical care facilities; and

(d) The driver thereof is giving the warning required by subsection (5)(a) and (b) of this section.

No portion of this subsection shall be construed to relieve the driver of the duty to operate the vehicle with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or highway.

(2) The driver of an emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or of a police vehicle in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or of an ambulance transporting a patient to a medical care facility and giving the warning required by subsection (5) of this section, upon approaching any red light or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety to traffic, but may proceed past such red or stop light or stop sign with due regard for the safety of persons using the street or highway.

(3) The driver of an emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or of a police vehicle in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or of an ambulance transporting a patient to a medical care facility and giving warning required by subsection (5) of this section, may drive on the left side of any highway or in the opposite direction of a one-way street provided the normal lanes of traffic are blocked and he does so with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or highway.

(4) The driver of an emergency or public safety vehicle may stop or park his vehicle upon any street or highway without regard to the provisions of KRS 189.390 and 189.450, provided that, during the time the vehicle is parked at the scene of an emergency, at least one (1) warning light is in operation at all times.

(5) The driver of an emergency vehicle desiring the use of any option granted by subsections (1) through (3) of this section shall give warning in the following manner:

(a) By illuminating the vehicle's warning lights continuously during the period of the emergency; and

(b) By continuous sounding of the vehicle's siren, bell, or exhaust whistle; unless

(c) The vehicle is an ambulance and the driver is of the opinion that sounding of the siren, bell, or exhaust whistle would be detrimental to the victim's health. In the event the driver of an ambulance elects not to use the siren, bell, or exhaust whistle he shall not proceed past red lights or drive in the opposite direction on a one-way street or in oncoming lanes of traffic unless no other vehicles are within five hundred (500) feet of the front of the ambulance. The

driver shall not extinguish the warning lights during the period of the emergency.

(6) No driver or operator of any emergency or public safety or other vehicle shall use the warning lights or siren, bell, or exhaust whistle of his vehicle for any purposes or under any circumstances other than those permitted by KRS 189.910 to 189.950.

(7) KRS 189.910 to 189.950 does not relieve the driver of any emergency or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.

Effective: June 8, 2011

History: Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 3, effective June 8, 2011. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 371, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 308, sec. 36. -- Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 4.

189.950 Prohibitions -- Exceptions.

(1) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS 189.910 to 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle, any siren, whistle, or bell. Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which shall be so arranged that it cannot be used as an ordinary warning signal.

(2) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS 189.910 to 189.950 as emergency vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any red or blue flashing, revolving, or oscillating light or place a red light on the front thereof. This subsection shall not apply to the use of red flashing lights on school buses or to stop lights or turn signals at the rear of any motor vehicle.

(3) No motor vehicle, except those designated under KRS 189.910 to 189.950 as public safety vehicles, shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon any vehicle any yellow flashing, revolving, or oscillating light. This subsection shall not apply to the use of yellow lights for turn signals; or to emergency flasher lights for use when warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing; or to vehicles operated by mail carriers while on duty; funeral escort vehicles and church buses.

(4) Any person who is a regular or voluntary member of any fire department furnishing fire protection for a political subdivision of the state or any person who is a regular or voluntary member of a rescue squad may equip his vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief of the fire department or rescue squad. He may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency or to a location where another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his official duties as a member of a fire department or rescue squad.

(5) Any constable may, upon approval of the fiscal court in the county of jurisdiction, equip vehicles used by said officer as emergency vehicles with one (1) or more flashing, rotating or oscillating blue lights, visible under normal atmospheric condition from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle, and a siren, whistle or bell, capable of emitting a sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet. This equipment shall be in addition to any other equipment required by the motor vehicle laws. Any constable authorized by the fiscal court to utilize blue lights and a siren pursuant to this section shall maintain at least the insurance described by KRS 304.39-110.

(6) Any person who is a paid or voluntary member of any ambulance service furnishing emergency medical services for a political subdivision of the state may equip his vehicle with red flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights and a siren, bell, or exhaust whistle if he has first been given permission, in writing, to do so by the chief or director of the ambulance service. He may use such lights and equipment only while proceeding to the scene of an emergency, a medical facility, or to a location where

another emergency vehicle is on emergency call in the performance of his official duties as a member of the ambulance service.

Effective: July 15, 1986

History: Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 220, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 437, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. -- Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 5.

Legislative Research Commission Note. This section was amended by two 1986 Acts which do not appear to be in conflict and have been compiled together.

You don't want someone to get an attitude back but you already approached the subject with negative assumption: "I am sure some of your answers will be.... "CAUSE WE CAN".. that is someone with low mentality to think that way and a BIG EGO."

So before ANYONE answered you, you were already claiming some of us have a low mentality and big egos? Yet you want a "straight answer" and to be talked to respectfully? That's a two way street, bud.