The problem is that 99.9% of volunteer EMS in New York is authorized to run a green light with no ROW privledges to the scene or to pick up an ambulance and take it out to the scene.
Hatzolah through their lobbying efforts was able to get regulations changed to allow EMT's in the state to run red lights/sirens to calls in their POV's. Problem is that they (Hatzolah) hand out permits like candy (permits are not state permits, but authorized by their chief of service) to just about everybody, reguardless of being a CFR, EMT, EMT-P, Doctor, PA, or driver. State regs REQUIRE that the vehicle be inspected by the DOH and a certification sticker be DISPLAYED in plain view attesting to such certification in order to respond lights/siren. This is not done by Hatzolah members (I've only seen one sticker in all my years around them) and is not enforced by the state. I know of two regional EMS authorities who pretty much flat out said they would not enforce these regs with them because of political backlash and they don't want to be seen as anti-jewish.
Essentially (especially in New York/NYC) Hatzolah does whatever they want, when they want and knows that there will not be any reprocussions of their actions. No one wants to get into the us vs jews debate. Part of it is the culture, part of it is the city attitude.
Now, if they excersised due dillagence in their driver training and didn't give everyone permits to run lights and sirens and didn't abuse it, it would be a difference story on that subject. But, when you have 5 people doing 75mph to a person "not feeling well with a toothache", thats an extreme public safety hazard.
Sorry, but when someone's personal vehicle has more lights and sirens on it than most heavy rescues, thats wackerish (and the norm for them).
Thats just the reality of them in the NYC/NJ area.
Funny how you don't see this in their offshoots in Los Angeles, Connecticut and a few other places.
