41-6a-1718.  Simulated emergency vehicle — Definition — Exemption — Identification.

(1)  As used in this section:

Terms Used In Utah Code 41-6a-1718

  • Authorized emergency vehicle: includes :
(a) fire department vehicles;
(b) police vehicles;
(c) ambulances; and
(d) other publicly or privately owned vehicles as designated by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Highway: means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of any nature when any part of it is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for vehicular travel. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Law enforcement agency: means the same as that term is as defined in Section 53-1-102. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, governmental agency, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except a mobile carrier, as defined in Section 41-6a-1120, or a device used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • (a)  “Media production” means the making of a motion picture, television show, video, commercial, Internet video, or other viewable programming provided to viewers via a movie theater or transmitted through broadcast radio wave, cable, satellite, wireless, or Internet.

    (b)  “Simulated emergency vehicle” means a vehicle used:

    (i)  exclusively for media production; and

    (ii)  to simulate an authorized emergency vehicle.

    (2)  If a media production entity using a simulated emergency vehicle provides reasonable advance written notice as described in Subsection (3) to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the highway being used by the simulated emergency vehicle, the simulated emergency vehicle is exempt from the restrictions of Section 41-6a-1616 while the vehicle is:

    (a)  being used to simulate an authorized emergency vehicle in the media production; or

    (b)  being driven in transit between the media production location and the simulated emergency vehicle storage location if, during transit, the vehicle displays a sign prominently on each front-side door of the simulated emergency vehicle stating “Simulated Emergency Vehicle.”

    (3)  The written notice required in Subsection (2) shall include:

    (a)  the date;

    (b)  the time;

    (c)  the designated route of travel and location of use;

    (d)  a description of the simulated emergency vehicle; and

    (e)  contact information for a person who is employed by, or has contracted with, the media production entity to whom the law enforcement agency may direct questions or concerns about the simulated emergency vehicle’s use or the notice.

    Amended by Chapter 206, 2016 General Session