ROH §15-7.6
When emergency vehicles can ignore speed limits
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗Emergency vehicles can go over the speed limit when responding to an emergency, chasing a suspect, or going to a fire, but only if they use their siren or bell and have a red or blue light visible from 500 feet ahead. Even then, the driver must still drive safely and can be held responsible for reckless driving.
The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — When speed restrictions not applicable
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
The speed restrictions set forth in this traffic code shall not apply to an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call, or when used in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, and the driver thereof sounds audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle, and when such emergency vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle. This provision shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street, nor shall it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of such driver’s reckless disregard of the safety of others.
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Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.