California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 2 - Department of the California Highway Patrol
Chapter 5 - Special Vehicles
Article 1 - Ambulances
Section 1105 - Ambulance Driver's Responsibilities

(a) Delays. Every driver of an ambulance dispatched for emergency service shall respond promptly or inform the dispatcher of his/her inability to respond.

(b) Speed Restriction. In no event shall an ambulance driver exceed a speed of 15 miles per hour while disobeying any official traffic control stop sign or stop signal. This subsection shall not apply to publicly owned and operated dual purpose law enforcement vehicles during law enforcement work.

(c) Destination Restriction. In the absence of decisive factors to the contrary, an ambulance driver shall transport emergency patients to the most accessible emergency medical facility equipped, staffed, and prepared to administer care appropriate to the needs of the patients.

(d) Siren and Red Warning Light Use Restrictions. Ambulance drivers shall not use the siren and red warning light (Code 3 operation) when traffic is congested to a degree that increased ambulance speed and right-of-way cannot be gained thereby. Siren and red warning lights shall be used with due regard for safe roadway operation of ambulances and shall not be used except under the following circumstances.

(e) Driver Conditions. No person shall drive or be directed to drive an ambulance when his/her ability to operate the ambulance safely is adversely affected by fatigue, illness, or any other cause nor when the vehicle is unsafe to operate.

(f) Vehicle Condition. Every driver shall inspect the ambulance prior to operation to determine that it is in safe condition, equipped as required, and that all vehicle equipment and installed medical equipment is in good working order.