responding in pov

Hey,
I was wounering what your department (exspeshly volunteer) regulation's on pov response.
Ex. Yes-no, running red lights (safly), speeding, stop signs, going stright to the scene, ect...
One other question. If your not allowed to run lights and/or siren are you alowed to do any of the above.

Thanks...

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Smoke EaterPermalink Reply by Smoke Eater on January 3, 2009 at 5:48pm
That's what I thought. Not a position I would want to be put in though. For my families sake or someone else's family. Just sounds kinda risky to me. I do understand the 5 mph over the limit but not blowing through red lights and stop signs.
Permalink Reply by Bill Brierton on January 3, 2009 at 8:56pm
I don't think there are regulations but the general rule is that you do not respond POV. There are some exceptions to that espicially when to get to the station I have to pass the scene. I have my gear, a first aid bag so I generally can handle most things till the calvary shows up.

I don't run red lights, and I don't speed or blow through stop signs because that is just plain unsafe.

We are not permitted to have lights or a siren unless you're a chief officer.
Permalink Reply by Chaz2771 on January 3, 2009 at 11:35pm
We are allowed to run lights and siren. We are not allowed to go directly to the scene, regardless of whether you must pass the scene or not. The chief makes you sign a contract before he gives you permission to drive with flashy flashies. It basically says that you will not travel more than 5mph over posted speed limit and not drive like a moron. We also have to shut them off at least 300 feet before the station. It's pretty much just so the dept can wash it's hands of it if you get into an accident or drive like an idiot. Everybody usually goes 10 to 15mph over though. But most don't drive like idiots i.e. cutting people off, blowing through stop signs w/out slowing down, using them when they're not necessary, ect. Once in a while somebody lets the adrenaline get to them and a civilian might make a complaint, but it usually gets resolved pretty quickly.
Permalink Reply by Jason F. Anderson on January 4, 2009 at 12:25am
Our department put into place about 4 years ago its first POV policy. In a nutshell, you have to have completed your candidate/probationary period prior to being allowed to utilize emergency warning equipment. Speed is limited to 15 MPH over posted during the day and 10 MPH over the posted at night. ALL Stop Signs and Traffic Signals are to be strictly observed. It is also instilled in them, that it is hard to handle an emergency when the required equipment is sitting in the station...so direct response to the scene is discouraged until an adequate assessment of equipment/personnel needs is made.
Aaron SmithPermalink Reply by Aaron Smith on January 4, 2009 at 12:30am
No lights enroute, just on scene. And we can go to the station or the scene. We usually have the normal same people go grab the engines...
Permalink Reply by David on January 4, 2009 at 12:51am
we are not allowed to take pov to scene but we can run a single blue light to respond to the scene
Permalink Reply by Nick Hollins on January 4, 2009 at 1:36am
At my dept the juniors cant catch a truck unless there not running signal 9. Its my understanding if your under 18 in the state of Kentucky u cant go lights or sirens in emergency situations, but you can ride the trucks as long as there not running lights and sirens.
Permalink Reply by Jared Lelaidier on January 4, 2009 at 2:09am
Red/White lights + Siren they both by law must be on kinda all or none law, must have red light that rotates 360. As for speeding our sog is ten over but it is with due regard, Stop signs and lights are not to be blown you must stop. In my area a fireman was sent to jail after a accident while running code, this dept. no longer runs lights/sirens.

Slowing down is the hardest thing to do for a fireman but I think it is critical in every task we preform.
Permalink Reply by B Small on January 4, 2009 at 3:49am
In Missouri it is allowed by law as long as state requirements for an emergency vehicle are met. ie warning lights visible 360 degrees, and a siren. However a permit must be issued by the entity. Fire Chief Board etc. Unfortunately many people think the blue light permit allows them to drive however they want. In 2008 a county deputy responding to an emergency in his cruiser was struck and killed by a volunteer fire fighter going to the same emergency in his POV. The volunteer ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed and killed a good man doing his job. Now he is being prosecuted criminally, and he has been served with a massive wrongful death suit by the widow of the officer. He is going to lose, and quite likely go to prison. He will spend the rest of his life paying off on the law suit regardless, all because of his actions driving code in his POV.
On a second note working on the ALS ambulance service I go on calls with volunteer departments frequently. In areas that allow POV response we often cannot get to the scene because of all the POVs parked along the road on both sides and in the driveways. My co workers that don't come from a volunteer sympathetic backgrounds call these people, fire flies,blue light cowboys, rescue rangers and other derogatory names.
As Director of Rescue Services in my home town during the 90's I issued only two blue light permits for special cases. All members were to respond to the station unless they actually had to pass the scene, and I did check. No one was even allowed to respond to a call unless they had proof of current vehicle licensure, and up to date vehicle insurance information on file. If you responded on a call with expired tags or insurance it was grounds for termination by the board. All rescue personnel were to abey all traffic laws as well. It was a little hard nosed but we seldom had a problem or complaint.
Permalink Reply by BlaBlaBla on January 4, 2009 at 12:39pm
blue lights for us and we must obey all traffic laws.
Permalink Reply by chele on January 4, 2009 at 5:53pm
We don't have any regulations regarding responding in our POV's to a fire. The only rule we have on EMS is that we the box must be on scene first. It makes no sense for me to respond without the box. None of us have lights or sirens on our POV's and we all MUST obey all traffic laws while responding.
Permalink Reply by Doug on January 4, 2009 at 6:05pm
our department allows members to run blue lights and chief officers to run red lights and sirens but they must obey all state motor vehicle codes, no running stop signs, no speeding and besides blue lights are only a courteous light in the state of pa.

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