GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1987 SESSION

CHAPTER 146
SENATE BILL 193

AN ACT TO EXPAND THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AUTHORITY OF FIREMEN AND RESCUE SQUAD MEMBERS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 20-114.1(b) is rewritten to read:
"(b)	In addition to other law enforcement or traffic control officers, uniformed regular and volunteer firemen and uniformed regular and volunteer members of a rescue squad may direct traffic and enforce traffic laws and ordinances at the scene of or in connection with fires, accidents, or other hazards in conection with their duties as firemen or rescue squad members.  Except as herein provided, firemen and members of rescue squads shall not be considered law enforcement or traffic control officers."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 69-39.1(b) is amended by inserting after the words "suppression of the reported fire" and before the words "by the department or the fireman" the phrase "or to the direction of traffic or enforcement of traffic laws or ordinances at the scene of or in connection with a fire, accident, or other hazard".
Sec. 3.  G.S. 20-114.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b1)	Any member of a rural volunteer fire department or volunteer rescue squad who receives no compensation for services shall not be liable in civil damages for any acts or omissions relating to the direction of traffic or enforcement of traffic laws or ordinances at the scene of or in connection with a fire, accident, or other hazard unless such acts or omissions amount to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing."
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of May, 1987.