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.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Ingram, Sr. on May 2, 2009 at 7:50pm

NO SIR...THEY WERE RELYING ON THE CHIEF TO STATE THAT YOU HAD THE PROPER TRAINING AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE THAT B LICENSE. I HAD EVOC CLASSES FROM STATE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS. IT WAS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Ingram, Sr. on May 2, 2009 at 8:23pm

SORRY, I NEGLECTED TO STATE THIS WAS AROUND 15 YEARS AGO. BUT YOU ALSO STILL HAD TO TAKE THE FULL DOT PHYSICHAL ALSO. AND YES, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT GRANDFATHERING. BUT ON A STATE WEBSITE I JUST CHECKED OUT, IT STATES YOU NEED NO CDL TO OPERATE FIRE VEHICLES IF YOU HAVE APPROVED TRAINING. AND ACTIVE MILITARY WITH APPROVED MILITARY LICENSES OPERATING MILITARY VEHICLES. AND ALSO SAYS FARMERS IN SOME CERTAIN CASES.

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Permalink Reply by Rom919 on May 20, 2009 at 6:18pm

LEGISLATION PASSES BOTH NY ASSEMBLY AND SENATE
ALLOWING FIREFIGHTERS TO OPERATE
FIRE APPARATUS WITHOUT SPECIAL LICENSE

FASNY and other firematic groups commend Legislature
for bill that corrects oversight in state traffic laws

Today the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) commended the members of the New York State Legislature for prompt action on legislation sponsored by Senator Brian Foley (D - Suffolk) and Assembly Member Robert Sweeney (D - Suffolk) to address an oversight in the state's traffic laws. That loophole essentially disallowed firefighters from operating fire trucks and other emergency apparatus without a commercial driver's license, or CDL, during key, non-emergency purposes, such as training runs and building inspections. FASNY believes that Governor Paterson will sign the bill into law before Memorial Day.

FASNY President Thomas J. Cuff, Jr. identified the legislation as "remedial to correct a problem stemming from interpretations of a vague amendment to New York's Vehicle and Traffic law". FASNY, which represents the interests of the 130,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in the Empire State, worked closely with the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York in supporting the legislation.

FASNY was particularly concerned about this unintended outcropping of a large omnibus transportation bill in 2005: as interpreted, the bill allowed volunteers to drive heavy fire apparatus - e.g. fire trucks - to the scene of an emergency, but not to return to the firehouse. Furthermore, it was discovered that the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration required states to pass special legislation exempting firefighters from the CDL requirement. (The aforementioned 2005 legislation did not adequately exempt firefighters from the CDL requirement: the situation therefore required remedial action from the NY State Legislature.)

While some of the defect was cured by language in the recently enacted New York State budget, all official duties of firefighters, such as training, were not addressed. "Training is an essential function. Without today's legislation, those restrictions would have hampered our responders' abilities to respond to emergencies," said Mr. Cuff. "We are grateful to Senator Foley, Assembly Member Sweeney, members of the Legislature, the Governor and the State's emergency response associations for their continuing commitment and dedication to our volunteer fire service."

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Permalink Reply by Rom919 on May 26, 2009 at 4:01pm

CDL Bill Signed Into Law

Dear FASNY Member:

On Thursday Governor Paterson signed legislation allowing firefighters to operate fire trucks and other emergency apparatus without a commercial drivers' license during non-emergency situations, such as training, building inspections and ceremonial duties, including parades.

Some of the defect was cured by language in the recently enacted NYS budget, which exempted firefighters from the CDL requirement while going to and from an emergency situation. The legislation now completes the exemption and makes it clear that ceremonial activities, such as parades, are also exempted activities.

The legislation was sponsored by Senator Brian Foley and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney. FASNY worked closely with the Chiefs and Districts Associations to support the efforts of the sponsors in getting this bill through. FASNY commends the members of the Legislature for passing the bills, and Governor Paterson for signing it into law before Memorial Day. FASNY also thanks its members for their active support of this important bill.

The Governor's office issued a press release on the bill signing, which included the following quote from FASNY President Tom Cuff:

President of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York Thomas J. Cuff, Jr., said: "This law restores the ability of our dedicated volunteer firefighters to operate fire apparatus in both emergency and non-emergency situations - such as training and drill evolutions - and community events, including school visits and, of course, this weekend's Memorial Day parades. Our members already receive many hours of safety and operational training before getting behind the wheel of these rigs, making the need for a CDL unnecessary. On behalf of the volunteer fire service, our leadership thanks the Legislature and Governor for their swift action in passing and signing this important piece of legislation."

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Permalink Reply by Daniele on May 26, 2009 at 7:36pm

Perhaps you guys can get some uncertified folks with a CDL to do the driving until you guys can get up to par with the law???

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Permalink Reply by Kyle on May 26, 2009 at 9:23pm

Ny governor just signed a bill today to withdraw that law.

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Permalink Reply by David Duran on February 5, 2011 at 1:16pm

I live in Houston, TX. We have to have a Class B Exempt license to drive any type of fire apparatus. It is basicly the same as a Class B Regular License, the only difference is that we don't have to know all the different load variations or how certain types of brakes work. The only thing that we can drive with a Class B Exempt license is fire apparatus. If we wanted to drive a commercial truck, we would also have to have a Regular Class B license.