Law enforcement explains your rights
Read more: Local
If you were in an emergency situation and had to get emergency care, would you speed to get to the hospital?
That's what one local couple did, and they got a speeding ticket.
They're now fighting that ticket because they say they weren't treated fairly or appropriately.
NBC25 we wanted to know what are your rights in an emergency situation? Can you break the law to get the aid you need?
On July 31st, 2009, around 3:00AM on US-10 in Midland County, Emil Myers was taking his wife to the emergency room.
He says she had already miscarried and was in extreme pain.
Emil Myers says, "The more she sobbed and cried, the faster I went just to get her there."
Deputy Myron Green sees a vehicle going 96 miles per hour and pulls it over.
The conversation goes as follows:
Deputy: "Howdy."
Myers: "Hi."
Deputy: "Do you have your license with you and the registration and insurance for the car?"
Myers: "I don't have my license. My girlfriend is having a miscarriage, and we're going to the hospital right now."
As the questioning continues, the exchange gets heated.
Myers: "Why don't you do me a favor and follow us to the hospital and let her go in?"
Deputy: "Why don't you relax, because you're supposed to have your license on you."
After some more tense words, the deputy tells the driver to go. The deputy says he will follow them to the hospital and write a citation there.
The driver says the deputy acted inappropriately and kept him too long.
However, the sheriff's department says, it has a responsibility to identify the occupants of speeding cars and their situation.
Law enforecement says, in an emergency situation, always call 9-1-1. That ensures trained medical personnel are responding to your situation.
The driver in this scenario says, driving himself was the best solution.
Myers says, "She didn't want to call an ambulance because it would have taken 15 to 20 minutes to get there, and take another 15 to 20 to get back. It would have been a half hour to an hour to get to the hospital, and we were 5 minutes from the hospital."
Midland County Sheriff Jerry Nielsen says, "You might be able to get there faster than an ambulance can from point A to point B, but if something happens to the patient en route there, you've got no help for them because you can't render assistance and drive the vehicle at the same time."
The bottom line, even in an emergency, is that the law still applies.
In this scenario, the deputy asked the people if they wanted an ambulance.
Law enforcement says, you can refuse an ambulance, but if you do, you must go the speed limit to the hospital.
Also, the sheriff's department says it can't give you a ride because of liability.
The driver in this case says he will not pay the ticket and is asking a judge to determine the outcome.
