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Show Area volunteer firemen discuss proposed rules Cedar City volunteer firemen Saturday night told a representative of the Utah State Department of Public Safety that rules concerning the use of private vehicles as emergency vehicles should be left as much as possible in the hands of local officials. The public hearing that evening was the third in four being held throughout the State to gain public input concerning con-cerning Senate Bill, 138, "Signal Lights Volunteer Firemen," passed during the last session of the State Legislature. The new law sets down some general guidelines for such use of private vehicles, but leaves specific rules up to the Department of Public Safety. The firemen in Cedar City, like many volunteers throughout the State, respond to the fire station in their private vehicles when an alarm is sounded. ' Having these vehicles designated as emergency vehicles allows them to use sirens and flashing red lights and run stop signs and traffic signals if see HEARINGS on page A4 Hcflnil continued from page A 1 necessary. Seven questions were addressed during the hearing, which was open to the public hut was attended only hy firemen and the press. The questions ranged from the type of training that should be provided drivers of such vehicles to the amount of licensing lees to the responsibility of providing liability insurance. Michael R. Sibbctt, State Coordinator of Regulatory Licensing, conducted the hearing and was told on all issues that it should be left to local jurisdictions. "We're not on the Wasatch Front," said Chief David Bentley. "We don't have the problems they have on the Wasatch Front." Bentley also noted that things have been running very smoothly m Ins department without additional State regulations. There has been only one accident in 23 years which involved a fireman responding to a call. In- noted. Under a current agreement utn the Cedar City Police Department the volunteers are allowed to run stop signs and red lights at a maximum speed l 15 miles per hour, if no traffic is approaching. ap-proaching. They may also drive l. miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Approximately one-third oi the firemen on the department haw red lights currently, Bentley said The last of the public hearings will be this evening at 7 in South Salt Lake City. |