green or blue lights?

[STXmedic]

So you are going to put your life in danger so somebody can be happy you asked them if they were in pain? Sounds logical.

No offense intended, but you must not have been doing this for very long. You are indeed wrong. It's a law here too for people to either slow down or move over. They could care less. They will wait until the last second to move over (literally on your bumper) and happily pass you at highway speeds as they have their head turned 90 degrees. All lights do is make them more curious. Just because it's logical, courteous, instinctual, and is what you would do does not mean that's what joe blow is going to do.

But you seem young and a real "go getter," so this is falling on deaf ears. All I can really do is wish you luck that you don't have a life-changing incident.

 

[Achilles]

I have hideaways on my truck, but they're not for going on rescues or to fires, they're for snowplowing
Actually i just have the front strobes in, not even a power supply, until I get my Vertex's

Btw Tow: to pull something.
Toe: phalanges of the foot, they also have Toe jacks.

 

[Jon]

Alright. First - welcome to EMTLife.com, Michaelalex17. I mean that. Hang around. Many of us here have been in your shoes at some point.

I did this:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=green+light+laws+new+york

And found this site as the 2nd link.
http://www.health.ny.gov/nysdoh/ems/pdf/srgvat.pdf

41. Colored and flashing lights. The provisions of this subdivision shall govern the affixing and display of lights on vehicles, other than those lights required by law.

1. No light, other than a white light, and no revolving rotating, flashing, oscillating or constantly moving white shall be affixed to, or displayed on any vehicle except as prescribed herein.

2. Red lights and certain white lights. One or more red or combination red and white lights or white light which must be revolving, rotating, flashing or oscillating or constantly moving light, may be affixed to an authorized emergency vehicle, and such lights may be displayed on an authorized emergency vehicle when such vehicle is engaged in an emergency operation, and upon a fire vehicle while returning from an alarm of fire or other emergency.

4. Blue Light. One blue light may be affixed to any motor vehicle owned by a volunteer member of a fire department or on a motor vehicle owned by a member of such person's family residing in the same household or by a business enterprise in which such person has a proprietary interest or by which he is employed, provided such volunteer fireman has been authorized in writing to so affix a blue light by the chief of the fire department or company of which he is a member, which authorization shall be subject to revocation at any time by the chief who issued the same or his successor in office. Such blue light may be displayed by such volunteer fireman on such a vehicle only when engaged in an emergency operation.

5. Green Light. One green light may be affixed to any motor vehicle owned by a member of a volunteer ambulance service, or on a motor vehicle owned by a member of such person's family, or by a business enterprise in which such person has a proprietary interest or by which he is employed, provided such member has been authorized in writing to so affix a green light by the chief officer of such service as designated by the members thereof. Such green light may be displayed by such member of a volunteer ambulance service only when engaged in an emergency operation.

Some other thoughts:

If you tell your auto insurer that you're putting warning lights on your car, your rates may go up. If you DON'T tell them and you're required to (have you read ALL of the policy?) you may not be covered if something happens.

The law is VERY specific on what you are and are not allowed to have, and who needs to authorize it. If it isn't clear enough, check with a lawyer - they get paid to interpret laws (I am NOT a lawyer).

As was said earlier - stopping at MVC's in a POV isn't always a bright idea. Even with ANSI gear and flashing lights, you are invisible, and half-ton vehicles doing 45+ MPH can be VERY unforgiving. And I concur. In many cases, you are of little utility, and may even get in the way or make the scene more complicated. In 10+ years of doing this, I can say I might stop at one MVC scene a year. POV responses are more frequent for me - but my service doesn't allow warning devices, and I manage just fine without.

One last piece of advice, from one of my mentors when I was as wet behind the ears as you: "If you drive like a jerk with warning lights, someone is going to call the chief, and you'll catch hell for it. If you DON'T use lights, and just drive like a jerk - you're just another jerk on the road." Not that I advocate this... but it is good to remember.

Now, I'll go one step further. Do you know what a whacker is? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whacker

I'm not saying being a whacker is bad. I will say this. I don't see long-term whackers in the Fire/EMS service. They last a couple of years at most, and either burn themselves out completely, or grow out of it. Balance is key. Do me a favor, and read this article: http://www.jems.com/article/health-and-safety/there-s-more-life-ems


You're gung-ho. That can be good. Just be careful. Remember: You will need to prove yourself and get some real experience before you can be an expert.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing you around here.

 

[firecoins]

1 green light is allowed in NY State.

 

[michaelalex17]

Alright. First - welcome to EMTLife.com, Michaelalex17. I mean that. Hang around. Many of us here have been in your shoes at some point.

I did this:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=green+light+laws+new+york

And found this site as the 2nd link.
http://www.health.ny.gov/nysdoh/ems/pdf/srgvat.pdf



Some other thoughts:

If you tell your auto insurer that you're putting warning lights on your car, your rates may go up. If you DON'T tell them and you're required to (have you read ALL of the policy?) you may not be covered if something happens.

The law is VERY specific on what you are and are not allowed to have, and who needs to authorize it. If it isn't clear enough, check with a lawyer - they get paid to interpret laws (I am NOT a lawyer).

As was said earlier - stopping at MVC's in a POV isn't always a bright idea. Even with ANSI gear and flashing lights, you are invisible, and half-ton vehicles doing 45+ MPH can be VERY unforgiving. And I concur. In many cases, you are of little utility, and may even get in the way or make the scene more complicated. In 10+ years of doing this, I can say I might stop at one MVC scene a year. POV responses are more frequent for me - but my service doesn't allow warning devices, and I manage just fine without.

One last piece of advice, from one of my mentors when I was as wet behind the ears as you: "If you drive like a jerk with warning lights, someone is going to call the chief, and you'll catch hell for it. If you DON'T use lights, and just drive like a jerk - you're just another jerk on the road." Not that I advocate this... but it is good to remember.

Now, I'll go one step further. Do you know what a whacker is? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whacker

I'm not saying being a whacker is bad. I will say this. I don't see long-term whackers in the Fire/EMS service. They last a couple of years at most, and either burn themselves out completely, or grow out of it. Balance is key. Do me a favor, and read this article: http://www.jems.com/article/health-and-safety/there-s-more-life-ems


You're gung-ho. That can be good. Just be careful. Remember: You will need to prove yourself and get some real experience before you can be an expert.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing you around here.

thank you that was very helpful

 

[michaelalex17]

So you are going to put your life in danger so somebody can be happy you asked them if they were in pain? Sounds logical.

No offense intended, but you must not have been doing this for very long. You are indeed wrong. It's a law here too for people to either slow down or move over. They could care less. They will wait until the last second to move over (literally on your bumper) and happily pass you at highway speeds as they have their head turned 90 degrees. All lights do is make them more curious. Just because it's logical, courteous, instinctual, and is what you would do does not mean that's what joe blow is going to do.

But you seem young and a real "go getter," so this is falling on deaf ears. All I can really do is wish you luck that you don't have a life-changing incident.

i was never trying to argue with anyone on here. if you dont think its a good idea i will not do it. i just thought it might help but you guys have been doing this a lot longer than me, hence the reason i wanted to ask for opinions. i wont get the lights on my pov. i appreciate everyone's responses and taking the time to help out.

 

[ffemt8978]

i was never trying to argue with anyone on here. if you dont think its a good idea i will not do it. i just thought it might help but you guys have been doing this a lot longer than me, hence the reason i wanted to ask for opinions. i wont get the lights on my pov. i appreciate everyone's responses and taking the time to help out.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what we think about the idea because it will be your decision. You asked us for our opinions, and we provided them. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[james88]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I've never heard of the lights thing. People in EMS put lights on your personal vehicles too? Why?

 

[bstone]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I've never heard of the lights thing. People in EMS put lights on your personal vehicles too? Why?

It appears that some places have people responding to EMS calls from their own vehicles, much like that of volunteer fire departments.