Volunteers with Lights and Sirens

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Permalink Reply by joseph s kennedy jr on August 22, 2008 at 12:54pm

just lights

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on August 22, 2008 at 12:59pm

Yes, you will no doubt catch hell on this one as will I with being the first to comment....BUT, thats hasn't deterred me in the past nor will it here....I have my "Blue lights" on my pov as per State Law....They are purely a "courtesy light" In New York State they do not grant you any special priviledges to not abide by the traffic laws....I would shudder to think what it would be like if we had members running lights and sirens....sometimes I wonder how these "wackers" ever got a license to start with....Personnally I would like to leave things as is......stay sfe and keep the faith.........Paul

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Permalink Reply by cole warf on August 22, 2008 at 1:17pm

Good topic. First I would like to say that in Kentucky volunteers can run lights (only red or red/clear), and sirens. I can go either way on this one. I know in the area where I am a volunteer if you are running lights and siren, other motorist pull over to the side of the road. I think that running lights and a siren helps with the response time to the station or to the scene. But at the same time there is still the need for sensible driving.

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Permalink Reply by Brock Crawford on April 9, 2009 at 7:35pm

Here in Pa. we can only run blue, or blue/clear, red is only for Chief and Assistant. chief. Also the only people alowed to have a siren on their POV is the chief and Assistant Chief, only because they should be the only one's responding directly to the scene in the POV's. I know of 7 guys from different departments that were caught by the police running traffic lights and stop signs. To many people abuse the priviledge of having a light's on their POV's.

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Permalink Reply by Art Sutherland on April 9, 2009 at 8:11pm

I noticed where you said to many people abuse the priviledge.

My question is, what was done to the people you know have abused the Lights?

My next question is, why do people think a firefighter would abuse a light and siren?

Do Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs abuse the Lights and Sirens?

If a Chief or Deputy Chief does abuse the Light and Siren what is done to them?

Why do people think when a firefighter is voted Chief or Deputy Chief they all of a sudden wouldn't abuse the Lights and Sirens but if they remained a firefighter they would?

I don't want to agrue about the Lights I am just asking some questions.

Art

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Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on April 26, 2009 at 12:33pm

- When we find we have intrusted a jerk driver with a chiefs responsibilities (and we all have) his V&T law violations become a police matter.
- We think some few firefighters might once in a great while abuse light priveledges because decades of experience have proven that to be true.
- We have to assume that the people we elected or appointed to lead us are of a sufficiently sound frame of mind to set a good example when responding to calls. We have all been dead wrong in that assumption. Its a chance we take.
- Volunteers we issue blue (ID only) lights to are told they are on their own if they get caught abusing the light.

WHO ARE YOU AND WHO DO YOU REPRESENT?

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Permalink Reply by Tim on August 22, 2008 at 1:20pm

TO be honest,

I think that all vol FF should at least have lights. I have one red light on my jeep for response and its courtesy only. Pedestrians do not have ot move out of the way. . .
Think about it, if vol guys had lights and sirens, they would be abusing the athority that they enpower to the drive. Let's face it, there are lots of guys out there who unfortunatly dont respect the profession. . . . .

Lights only should be the way it is, as it is in MA

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Permalink Reply by Robbie Snow on August 22, 2008 at 6:31pm

Thats true, there is a lot of people who would abuse the priviledge. In Arkansas if we run lights we must run siren also. But the local police make sure we dont abuse our priviledges. They only allow us to go 10 mph over the speed limit and must obey all other traffic laws. And yeah,they have pulled many volunteer firemen over for doing over our allowed limit.

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Permalink Reply by Art Sutherland on April 9, 2009 at 8:12pm

Can you answer the questions to.

I noticed where you said to many people abuse the priviledge.

My question is, what was done to the people you know have abused the Lights?

My next question is, why do people think a firefighter would abuse a light and siren?

Do Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs abuse the Lights and Sirens?

If a Chief or Deputy Chief does abuse the Light and Siren what is done to them?

Why do people think when a firefighter is voted Chief or Deputy Chief they all of a sudden wouldn't abuse the Lights and Sirens but if they remained a firefighter they would?

I don't want to agrue about the Lights I am just asking some questions.

Art

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Permalink Reply by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 30, 2008 at 5:41pm

If you're concerned about pedestrians moving out of the way, stop driving on the sidewalk. LOL

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Permalink Reply by firechief911 on August 22, 2008 at 1:39pm

well thats the positives get ready for the negs lol

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Permalink Reply by Mac Conant on August 22, 2008 at 2:04pm

Vol Depts are often times understaffed. So when time is indeed a factor, you need to look at who can and wont respond to calls. What happens if say, Bob. Someone who is qualified to do just about every thing need be at a call, cant have a light, and cant have a siren. Well bobs gunna need 10 minutes to get to the station to get the truck, cuz no one else can run it, and gram and grampa infront of him are doing 40 in a 55 (I had this happen to me several times before i got my light)

Remember now, Vol's save lives & Property. So time is very important when responding POV on a Vol dept.

As for Siren, there are so many deaf people not paying attention, I feel sirens should be aloud. Once again think of how many people will/can respond, and how time is a factor. They cant speed to the call, and have to obey traffic laws, so why not give them a little more help in cutting down time.

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