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Fire department personnel are up against the clock in nearly every emergent call. As such, firefighters don’t have time to contend with illegally parked cars, silly obstacles, or belligerent and nosy people. So, should you be one of those in-the-way types, can the fire department write you a ticket like a police officer would? Beyond a citation, can a firefighter arrest you?

A fire department professional may be able to write you a ticket, report you to a law enforcement officer, or exercise arrest powers, depending on certain factors

No, in most cases and states nationwide, a fire department professional will not pull you over for speeding, failing to wear your seatbelt, or driving erratically. However, fire and EMS agencies work closely with law enforcement. As such, it’s not unreasonable to consider a fire crew on an engine, quint, or truck contacting police officers to intercept a lawbreaker on the road.  

In some cases, members of a fire department may have the legal authority to cite or even arrest residents for breaking the law. Of course, upholding the law is a better task for law enforcement officers (LEOs) like municipal police, sheriffs, and federal officers. Still, depending on the state and local regulations, FD professionals may exercise some legal authority in an emergency. 

For instance, a revised Kentucky statute fire personnel may have some of the same arrest powers as the state’s sheriffs, per FindLaw. “The regular members of the fire department in fire protection districts, except volunteer firemen, shall have the same powers of arrest as now given by law to sheriffs of this Commonwealth and they are hereby expressly declared conservators of the public peace whose duties, in addition to their other prescribed duties, are to conserve the peace, enforce all laws and preserve order.”

Now, I was a full-time firefighter in Northern Kentucky. At no time did I or any of my colleagues arrest anyone. That said, I was at emergency scenes wherein law enforcement removed belligerent people and issued citations.

More often than not, that’s how interfering with a fire crew’s work will land you a ticket or a set of handcuffs. However, you almost certainly won’t see a fire apparatus pulling a motorist over to issue a speeding ticket or citation.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).