Not yielding costs money, lives

Pull to the right when you see red and blue flashing lights or hear the wail of a siren.

“The law has been in effect for a gazillion years,” said Spokane County sheriff’s Cpl. Don Manning, who was participating in a multi-agency effort Wednesday to crack down on drivers who refuse to pull over.

State and local agencies say a growing number of motorists fail to make way for emergency vehicles. And blocking the route of a police car, firetruck or ambulance could cost a life, they say.

“It’s good to come together for a common goal,” said Jeff Sevigney, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol.

But there were no emergency calls Wednesday when law officers gathered at three fire stations – one in Spokane Valley, one in Spokane and one on the North Side – intent on ticketing scofflaws.

The plan had been for one officer to ride in each firetruck, with a patrol car trailing behind. The officer in the truck would radio a description of offending cars to those in the patrol cars, and tickets would be issued.

Although it didn’t happen Wednesday, officials hope to repeat the effort every three or four months.

If there’s more than one motorist who violates the law, officials said the officer who witnesses the violation can take down the license plate number and cite the driver at a later date.

The fine for failing to make way for emergency vehicles ranges from $500 to $1,050, officials said.

Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies discussed the common causes that lead to drivers not obeying the law. Eating food, using cell phones, lighting cigarettes or listening to loud music were among the most frequent causes.

Drivers often say “I didn’t see them” or “I didn’t hear them,” Manning said. “My response is, as a driver it’s your primary responsibility to operate the car.”

That means pulling safely to the right, Manning said.

Ignorance of the law, or lack of attentiveness, may be the predominant reasons drivers don’t pull to the right for emergency vehicles. But what surprises firefighters and officers is the brashness of some people who disobey the law.

“We’ve had people racing us,” Spokane Valley Fire Department Lt. Scott Crawford said.

“They’ll pull up beside the truck, stare at the driver and smile.”

Firetrucks can’t go faster than 68 mph. The racing normally occurs on city streets like Sprague Avenue, where the trucks are going slower.

Drivers also tail firetrucks and ambulances to catch green lights, another firefighter said. Strobes on the front of emergency vehicles turn traffic lights green.

“Most drivers, once they are made aware of the law and the problems that disobeying it causes, will make room and get out of the way,” sheriff’s Deputy Eric Epperson said.

“But there are those few who are always going to take advantage of the situation.”

If caught, the choice could be costly, deputies said.