                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCY INCIDENT COMMANDER WHEN OPERATING
AT AN EMERGENCY INCIDENT; PENALTY FOR REFUSAL TO OBEY ORDERS (§ 32.1-111.14:5)

Except as provided in § 32.1-111.14:6, while any emergency medical services
personnel are in the process of operating at an emergency incident where there
is imminent danger and when emergency medical services personnel are returning
to the emergency medical services agency, the incident commander of such
emergency medical services agency at that time shall have the authority to (i)
maintain order at such emergency incident or its vicinity, (ii) direct the
actions of emergency medical services personnel at the incident, (iii)
notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-888 through 46.2-891, keep
bystanders or other persons at a safe distance from the incident and emergency
equipment, (iv) facilitate the speedy movement and operation of emergency
equipment and emergency medical services personnel, and (v) until the arrival of
a police officer, direct and control traffic in person or by deputy and
facilitate the movement of traffic. The emergency medical services agency
incident commander shall display his emergency medical services
personnel&#8217;s badge or other proper means of identification. Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, this authority shall extend to the activation of
traffic control signals designed to facilitate the safe egress and ingress of
emergency equipment at an emergency medical services agency. Any person refusing
to obey the orders of the emergency medical services incident commander at that
time is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The authority granted under the
provisions of this section may not be exercised to inhibit or obstruct members
of law-enforcement agencies or fire departments or fire companies from
performing their normal duties when operating at such emergency incident, nor to
conflict with or diminish the lawful authority, duties, and responsibilities of
forest wardens, including but not limited to the provisions of Chapter 11 (§
10.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 10.1. Personnel from the news media, such as the
press, radio, and television, when gathering the news may enter at their own
risk into the incident area only when the incident commander has deemed the area
safe and only into those areas of the incident that do not, in the opinion of
the incident commander, interfere with the emergency medical services personnel
dealing with such emergencies, in which case the emergency medical services
incident commander may order such person from the scene of the emergency
incident.

HISTORY: 2015, cc. 502, 503.