Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel on February 2, 2009 at 1:01am

that is the same in Kentucky. We can go 10 mph over the posted speed and we also use red/clear/yellow. but they are only asking for the right to pass/pass through the inersection and drive with do-regraud

Permalink Reply by Jessika on February 14, 2009 at 5:17am

You all have good points and comments and I want to thank you all for them. It is still my opinion that people should atleast have to pull over for us but it is not the law and they do not have to do so. I would think that if it was their house they would want people to pull over for us in our POV's so that we can get to the station and get there as soon as possible!

Permalink Reply by Lt. Ballinger on February 14, 2009 at 2:03pm

On my dept. we can run blue curtosey lights on our dash. Some have even put blue lights in their grills and front corner lights. In the last year or two the State of Illinois has written the Motor Vehicle Code to include volunteers to have flashing headlights if they want. We also have to obey all rules of the road. 10-15 years ago we were dispatched by our PD and both got the call at the same time. So the cops knew what the call was and the severity of it. Some of the veteran cops would depending on time of day or type of call, give you a break on speed limits as long as you were not reckless. Back then I was one of 3 drivers during the day and worked on our city's far East side which put me about 7 miles from my station. For most structure fires or rescue calls depending on who the cop was on that end of the city, he would sit and wait for me to come over the tollway and give me an escort and block intersections for me once in a while. Now we have so many new cops that it is hard to find anyone who will still do that for us.

Permalink Reply by John on February 14, 2009 at 3:08pm

Here in good old Delaware once you get your evoc card your car is considered an emergency vehicle so long as you have your lights on. The only thing I wish is that they would let us have the use of a siren. That would make it just a little safer.

Permalink Reply by Matthew Mask on March 6, 2009 at 11:11pm

Here if you just run flashers no one has to pull over for and you are not aloud to go over the speed limit. If you run lights you are aloud to run 10 miles over the limit. If you run lights and sirens peolpe are suppose to pull over for ya and you are aloud to run up 15 miles over the limit unless if its bad or people are traped then you can run up to 25. But use comman since.

Permalink Reply by Jessika on March 7, 2009 at 6:13pm

that is not the way it is here for POV

Permalink Reply by Bobby Hill on March 7, 2009 at 6:48pm

I not sure what is going on in your town. I do beleive that YOUR safty is the first thing you should think of. You can not help if you can't get there safely. But i do beleive that you should have just a little. We have to follow all state and local laws here were I'm at as well,but are givin a little with the help and understanding of our town and law enforcement. I Do Not go over 5 miles on the hyws. and do not go over the speed limit while in town. You never know when a motorist will panic and a person not paying atention will step out in front of you. Here in OK., motorist DO NOT have to give right of way to fire and EMS. Be attent and curtious and people will have more respect for you. Do you have manditory driver cert. testing (not in house). Just remeber, if you hurt or kill someone you (and your department) are legally liable for that action. You could/can go to prison. Don't stress out over getting there. You will still get there just, but saftly and with the respect of the town. If you would like help and advice, contact me. I can help you undertstand and help with your town. Capt. AVFD.

Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on March 7, 2009 at 10:32pm

first question I have is who covers your car insurance if you are running emergency lights ? I know my state farm policy excludes this !

In my county in NM we are not allowed or given any break, no lights, no exceeding the speed limit. There is an exception for Chief Officer's POVs that meet strict lighting requirements and inspection criteria. (pain in the ^(&^ if you ask me ) so not many make use of it. Flawed system if you ask me.

First - we must respond safely regardless of the vehicles we are in and the nature of the call --- "do no more harm"
Second -- Cops will always have rights we don't have , not because they are better or more deserving but because of who they are. Accept it.
Third - If we need big lights and sirens ( and we do) on fire trucks then if you want the same traffic rights that the BRT has then you need the same warning system. So don't expect much from a dash light or a kojak light. For anything more than when parked these are dangerous.
Fourth -- on only a small percentage of calls will it make a difference if you get there 1-2 minutes faster. Know those calls and act appropriately but on all the rest of the calls act appropriately for that as well. Know your need and your limitations.
Fifth-- when you drive irresponsibly you are not just risking your life. You are risking the lives of anyone driving or walking along the way.
Finally -- speeding is more dangerous than not, going against a intersection control device is extremely dangerous as is going against traffic flow

I, and a number of other chiefs in my area have lessened this issue by getting and assigning chief units to a select few. Chief, Asst Chief, and others with specific needs. These are sometimes surplus cop cars ,transfered to the department with full warning package, cheap to acquire. We barely put on 3000 miles a year on these and never exceed 80 mph so they are maintained cheaply to meet these requirements,compared to what cops around here need. They are department vehicles so we can ensure they are maintained and insured. Folks can drive them for official business and if in district and able to respond, as needed. This helps gets essential personnel on scene quickly with proper equipment for us to operate more safely.

being a Chief means managing resources; during a call , before the call, and after the call. If there is a TRUE need to improve response times there are plenty of ways of doing it rather than speeding POVs.

Permalink Reply by Jessika on March 7, 2009 at 10:33pm

Everyone who has sent a reply to this have been mostly degrading. . . I dont know if it is because I am a women firefighter or what but I dont need people putting others down but thats fine if you want to state your opinion but some things you need to just keep to yourself. . . I know most of you prolly didnt mean anything by what you have said and that is fine. . . I have just got a couple emails from others who wont reply to this because they are afraid what what someone is going to say about what they think is ok and what they think is not ok. . . . how we do it here is different then other places and vice versa. . . .

Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on March 7, 2009 at 11:30pm

reading through all the comments I really didn't see anything degrading so not sure what you and others are reading in to these. If folks are afraid to post because of their opinion it sort of defeats the purpose of these blogs. I thought the whole idea was to get lots of opinions out on the table so we could learn and take back with us new information. Your topic is a very important and sensitive one. I found 4 blogs with essentially the same topic all going on . I am always looking for new ideas. And yes different areas will require different approaches and different states have different laws. It is great to hear what others are doing and thinking.

Permalink Reply by Jessika on March 11, 2009 at 6:06am

I am just telling you all what people have said. . . I am glad for the opinions. . . its also nice to see how other depts are able to run. . . and how the way grant county here in washington needs a little work and for them to be more clear what is ok and what is not ok. . . .

Permalink Reply by Amanda Drew on March 17, 2009 at 10:01pm

In our town we know the resident state troopers very well, and we are allowed to go 10-15 over the speed limit, but no faster and that's only when we are responding to calls. However since we have many curvey back-roads most of us slow down and go the speed limit.

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