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Sorry you can't drive your fire truck back to the firehouse.
NYS has apparently came up with a new DMV law about 4 years ago and forgot to tell anybody.. So now you can't drive your fire truck back from a fire call or go to a parade unless you have a CDL.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=771996&c...
Our station may have to go "out of service" until we can match this requirement although NYS Association of Fire Chiefs think they have control over all of the volunteer stations. We do not have the funds or the manpower to meet this requirement. Our Governor is too busy with cuts to the budget to tackle this problem at this time.
So what do you think.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=771996&c...
Our station may have to go "out of service" until we can match this requirement although NYS Association of Fire Chiefs think they have control over all of the volunteer stations. We do not have the funds or the manpower to meet this requirement. Our Governor is too busy with cuts to the budget to tackle this problem at this time.
So what do you think.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rom919 on
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LT... you can tell her that... and good luck with that... I want to see her expression...
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Permalink Reply by morris washburn on
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Romulus !! I saw this coming 5-10 yrs ago . I was in New YORK as a Vol. Fire Fighter and wanted my CDL at the time , and thought then that those whom have it should be the 1st driver ,Yes I have mine CDL B with AIR brakes , but cant get a tanker endorsment , That is another subject that I feel should also be part of .but You do have a point as a small community whom have zero $$$ and cant afford to do any fund rasiers, it just gets tougher . What you should do is get a pattion going ,but you should have ALL FFS sign it all across NEW YORK STATE ,not just your area . good luck !! But I still stand behind haveing a CDL B .
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Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
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I wouldn't say get out but get the proper training or don't drive the trucks. I will ask these few questions if you can answer them and I'll leave this thread alone you said quote"I just believe we must use our common sense and stop assuming that we mandate everything" 1) Why should people that drive large vehicles be required to have CDL's and a firefighter not? 2) Can all of your truck drivers pass a CDL test and health card exam if needed? 3) Do you feel the your firefighters are properly trained on air brakes, tankers and commercial vehicles? 4) does your department pay for other training IE FF1, FF2, EMT? 5) do you want your family on the same road as an untrained driver? Stay safe Romulus hope their is no hard feelings good discussion.
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Morris ... we have after many stations in our county and throughout the state, informed the lawmakers that we would have to place our and many more stations out of service till the "requirement was met" ..... and ...... they are returning the law back to it's original status....
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090305/NEWS03/30305995...
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You could always respond with a mini pumper and wait for aid if worse came to worse. But I have answered all your questions., Answer mine if you could I would like know what you think.
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Romulus : You saying !! That the state of new york is saying its okay !! to drive w/out a CDL? I have to in most cases okay !! But I feel that those whom show up 100% of the time the Dept. can say okay guys this year we will pay for 2 or 3 ppl to get CDL. but you need to keep it up . just do the permit and road test !! that might be a big help in long run. Once you have your CDL all youhave to do is renew it !! Right ! I do wish you all the best and hope it comes okay !! But dont let the law makers push you people .
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GM.... LT and Morris ...Assemblywoman Russell should have added that this cost is above the cost of your already class D license fee of $60.00. LT.. getting donations today is harder than ever, you are competing with churches, boy/girl scouts, sportsman clubs, other fire depts, snowmobile clubs, the little boy w/cancer and your neighbor w/transplant needs, etc..etc... Don't forget all the Chicken BBQ's you compete with for $$$$. These profit ideals have now become overloaded also.. These charitable organizations are stretched out beyond their capacity and most of these organizations now look at you and say.. "Let the taxpayers pay that".... LT, Morris will tell you that here in NYS... The taxpayers are already stretched out to the limit already. That is probably why he is there in TN with you.. lol
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, and state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, have attached their names as co-sponsors.
"It doesn't make sense that we allow our firefighters to race to the scene of a fire with or without a CDL license, but in less extreme circumstances like coming back from the scene, in a parade or training, the license is required," Mr. Aubertine said. "Our firefighters drive to the scene because we need them to and because they have had extensive training that surely covers their ability to participate in a parade."
The language change also created an unintended liability, according to those who drafted the Assembly bill.
"One can easily imagine a situation where an accident occurs on a return trip with another vehicle and the volunteer is liable because, pursuant to current law, they never should have been driving said emergency vehicle to begin with," the bill's explanation reads. "The bill would remove this loophole so that our emergency responders are no longer put in situations where they are unable to answer calls because no volunteer can drive the equipment back following the call."
Mrs. Russell said in a press release that the current version of the law "puts a strain on small volunteer fire departments in the north country that already work with very limited resources — whether it is the cost to operate a volunteer department or finding responders available to meet our emergency needs."
The cost of a commercial driver's license is far greater than the fee for a standard license. A firefighter who wanted to comply with the law would also have to pay $10 for a learner's permit and $40 for the road test. The firefighter likely would need professional training to pass the test, which would cost hundreds of dollars, Mrs. Russell noted.
"With all the training requirements heaped on our volunteers, this CDL requirement is a burden that shouldn't have happened," said Martin J. Hassett, St. Lawrence County emergency services director.
Joseph D. Plummer, Jefferson County's interim fire and emergency services director, agreed, saying the changes were welcome and would "allow the fire services in our county and around the state to operate without the concern of breaking the law."
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Good afternoon Romulus, Here is a sugestion: but I know it wont help because I had this thought for years . The Idea is ALL VOl. Fire Fighters should be ABLE TO NEVER PAY TAXES ,homeowners/landowners,but must be active in a Fire service. If you rent !! well you should have a tax exempt # but the landlord is not included unless they show prove they own the building.You are right there is way to many other organizations trying to make money also ,so your banging your head on wall.The Politictions need to watch what they do ,we (FFs) can break or make the call !! you know what I mean !! Here in Tn. there is NO state income tax, just tax on everything else.
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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A question. Once a person attains a CDL, is there a yearly fee to keep that CDL current?
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Yes, in Tennessee the yearly fee is twenty dollars.
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Oops, I should have said a yearly fee on top of the normal driver licence fee?
Here there is only one fee, it covers whatever level your licence is. I have car, motor cycle, medium weight trucks, heavy trucks, heavy truck/trailer combinations, semi-trailer combinations covered under the one fee. (No, I'm not interested in getting B-Double, B-Triple or Raod Train endorsements!)
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I meant to type twenty dollars on top of the normal fee of twenty or thirty dollars, I can't remember.
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