Opinion ID: 1593545
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Discretionary versus Ministerial Acts

Text: In Jones v. Lathram , the language of Yanero v. Davis, 65 S.W.3d 510 (2001) provides in part that an officer or employee is afforded no immunity for tort liability for the negligent performance of a ministerial act, i.e., one that requires only obedience to the orders of others or whether the officer's duty is absolute, certain and imperative, involving merely execution of specific acts arising from a fixed and designated fact. Any local government such as the City of Brandenburg could be liable for negligence arising out of the acts or omissions of its employees in the discharge of their ministerial duties. See KRS 65.2003(3). The negligent operation of an emergency vehicle by a police officer which violates existing police procedures or regulations or statutory traffic regulations is certainly actionable and outside the scope of the common law doctrine of special relationship relied on by the City and Officer Miller. KRS 189.430(3) states in pertinent part: No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key. . . . The clear purpose of this statute is to prevent theft or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle as well as for the protection and safety of the general public. Cf. OAG 79.559. If this statute had been properly followed, the tragic accident would not have occurred. As noted in the dissent by Judge Taylor, police officers are exempt in certain emergency situations from the application of traffic regulations as noted in KRS 189.940. Specific statutes give police exemptions from certain other traffic regulations as noted in KRS 189.450(7). However, in this case there is no statutory exception or exemption that relieves Officer Miller from KRS 189.430(3). The special relationships doctrine has no application to the issue of whether Officer Miller may disregard applicable traffic laws and regulations that he was obligated to obey in the performance of his duties. The question of whether Officer Miller was negligent in the operation of his police cruiser is reserved for the jury.