Only if you use those certifications as a volunteer. If you act as a paid paramedic (or other emergency services person) only then the defense to prosecution is not available to you. If you could provide evidence that in addition to your paid service you also "as a volunteer, [provide] services for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations" then the defense to prosecution for going past 30.06/30.07 signs would seem to be available to you.crazy2medic wrote:??? So as a Certified Texas Paramedic with a CPR, ACLS, PHTLS, PALS and other medical cards I can ignore 30.06 signs? Are you sure?ninjabread wrote:Get a red cross first aid card and soon you can ignore 30.06 signs.
Might be a question for the court whether mere possession of a Red Cross First Aid card by a person who is not a member of a volunteer organization and has no other evidence the he ever acted as a volunteer is sufficient to establish "volunteer emergency services personnel" status. A card plus membership in a VFD would seem to be solid evidence.
Also, since the Legislature did not include the "engaged in emergency services" text for 30.06/30.07 but did for other restrictions (schools, bars), then it seems pretty clear that the defense to prosecution for 30.06/30.07 applies all the time, regardless of "duty status." I don't know the reason for this, but I would hazard a guess that it is so VESP can go to restaurants and such without having to disarm. I am aware of volunteer fire departments whose members stand shifts at the station -- these personnel can (after 1 Sep) could then go to a posted restaurant or store between runs during a duty shift and have the defense to prosecution available to them.