Emergency vehicle lighting in NJ
- Thread starter policefreak
- Start date
- Status
firecentral
Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2006
- Messages
- 11
Re...
That Does Not Answer My Question...
That Does Not Answer My Question...
If you are going to an emergency call you can use the light in the State of New Jersey, as long as you have a permit. The accepted practice for most but not all, is a response one town away. But that depends on geography.
I personally depending on the call have responded with lights activated 4-5 (wharton boro) towns away, on I-80, and have never been stopped.
If i was a Trooper and I observed you driving with you're lights on and I saw your reg. plate I would let you drive on, write your plate down and verify later whether you we're going to a call.
If I found out that you we're not going to a call, I would take your light and write you summonses for everything I could. How's that for an answer.
I personally depending on the call have responded with lights activated 4-5 (wharton boro) towns away, on I-80, and have never been stopped.
If i was a Trooper and I observed you driving with you're lights on and I saw your reg. plate I would let you drive on, write your plate down and verify later whether you we're going to a call.
If I found out that you we're not going to a call, I would take your light and write you summonses for everything I could. How's that for an answer.
firecentral
Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2006
- Messages
- 11
Re..
Sounds Good Thanks...
Sounds Good Thanks...
Alarms50
Member
When the NY State V&T law was amended a few years ago it was changed to allow PD's the use of blue lights facing to the rear only. To deny Volunteer Firefighters the use of Blue Lights for their response to emergencies would require an act of the State Legislature, as the change for the PD's came from.radioman2001 said:
I've been retired from the Job for some time now, but Title 39 of the NJS (39=Motor vehicles) used to set forth just who was eligible to display lights and what color shall (not should) be displayed.
I have a question and hopefully someone can answer it or point me in the right direction.
My Dad is a Captain of a Fire Police Unit and runs Red/Blue on his lightbar, now my question is, will he need to put a cover on saying "Out of Service" when we travel to NJ this summer?
Thanks in advance
My Dad is a Captain of a Fire Police Unit and runs Red/Blue on his lightbar, now my question is, will he need to put a cover on saying "Out of Service" when we travel to NJ this summer?
Thanks in advance
If someone has a light and siren on and they are flying around for no reason they belong in a hospital under serious medication.
I drive an ambulance for a living and I try to avoid the lights and siren especially when en route to the E.D. was a B.S. BLS patient that could have use a taxi instead of the ambulance. We have an SOP at our agency if it's BLS and non life threating you drive to the emergency department ( Cold ) no lights and sirens.
Also if a cop is worrying about some yahoo riding around with a light flashing in the world we live in today the cop should get a life or a new line or work.
Have a nice weekend !!
I drive an ambulance for a living and I try to avoid the lights and siren especially when en route to the E.D. was a B.S. BLS patient that could have use a taxi instead of the ambulance. We have an SOP at our agency if it's BLS and non life threating you drive to the emergency department ( Cold ) no lights and sirens.
Also if a cop is worrying about some yahoo riding around with a light flashing in the world we live in today the cop should get a life or a new line or work.
Have a nice weekend !!
SCANdal
Silent Key
Do a quick yahoo! search of "New York Police Impersonator" and see what I mean...
There are specialists in some agencies who's job it is to enforce these types of laws. While you are focused on just the lights, they are focused on the fact that there is a very high probability that there are other crimes, beside Vehicle and Traffic Law violations afoot. There have been numerous documented cases in the New York Metro area of motorists pulling over and stopping for someone behind them who is displaying a red (or blue, or white, whatever the color) flashing light. When that someone approaches, often displaying a fake or stolen badge and/or uniform, the motorist is then robbed, assaulted, or worse.
SCANdal
mondaro,mondaro said:
There are specialists in some agencies who's job it is to enforce these types of laws. While you are focused on just the lights, they are focused on the fact that there is a very high probability that there are other crimes, beside Vehicle and Traffic Law violations afoot. There have been numerous documented cases in the New York Metro area of motorists pulling over and stopping for someone behind them who is displaying a red (or blue, or white, whatever the color) flashing light. When that someone approaches, often displaying a fake or stolen badge and/or uniform, the motorist is then robbed, assaulted, or worse.
SCANdal
llllllllll
Member
i sure misss NJ the cops where i use to live never messed with vol Fire due to the fact that most were on the dept. Sometimes the officer would escort you when they new there was a working fire to your respected fire station.
Scandal is correct. We can talk about this until we are blue in the face, but it all boils down to this.
It all depends on where you are. If it's a municipal cop and you are in a big town, the cop is going to know if there is a fire/ems call. If it's a small town, and the cop sees you go by and there is no call in his/her town, he/she may stop you just to make sure you are legit or in the very least get your reg. and inquire later. Especially if they see you over and over.
If you are on an interstate highway or toll road, and a trooper sees you, chances are he/she will let you drive on, since they have no idea where you might be going. If the trooper decides to radio in to see if there is a call somewhere....you're gone anyway. This happens in Sussex and Warren counties where for the most part NJSP is the primary police agency. They will radio in to see if there is a call somewhere.
Like Scandal mentioned, there are too many crazies out there. Even though it may not be a regular occurence in NJ, all it takes is 1 wack job to pull someone over, and the other driver doesn't know any better not to stop if the car with the blue lights pulls in behind them. This is where educating the motoring public is key.
Also, our money wasting legislature passed a law that allows an OEM volunteer to display and use blue lights. I know a few towns that allow this. Hopatcong is one. Some towns require residency in the town they are serving. Some don't like Sussex Co. I think it depends on how many people the towns attract, as to whether they need to take "out of towners". Here you have a situation where someone like myself could be traveling from Mount Olive to Newton, with my lights on. All perfectly legal.
I think the best advice any of us can give is that if it feels wrong, it probably is. Use your best judgement. I have been stopped for speeding and rolling through a stop sign, both by NJSP and luckily have been given a break. I have yet to be asked for my blue light permit (I don't volunteer it). I was only asked what I was and where, because the trooper(s) saw my 2-way radio and the light.
Good Luck!
It all depends on where you are. If it's a municipal cop and you are in a big town, the cop is going to know if there is a fire/ems call. If it's a small town, and the cop sees you go by and there is no call in his/her town, he/she may stop you just to make sure you are legit or in the very least get your reg. and inquire later. Especially if they see you over and over.
If you are on an interstate highway or toll road, and a trooper sees you, chances are he/she will let you drive on, since they have no idea where you might be going. If the trooper decides to radio in to see if there is a call somewhere....you're gone anyway. This happens in Sussex and Warren counties where for the most part NJSP is the primary police agency. They will radio in to see if there is a call somewhere.
Like Scandal mentioned, there are too many crazies out there. Even though it may not be a regular occurence in NJ, all it takes is 1 wack job to pull someone over, and the other driver doesn't know any better not to stop if the car with the blue lights pulls in behind them. This is where educating the motoring public is key.
Also, our money wasting legislature passed a law that allows an OEM volunteer to display and use blue lights. I know a few towns that allow this. Hopatcong is one. Some towns require residency in the town they are serving. Some don't like Sussex Co. I think it depends on how many people the towns attract, as to whether they need to take "out of towners". Here you have a situation where someone like myself could be traveling from Mount Olive to Newton, with my lights on. All perfectly legal.
I think the best advice any of us can give is that if it feels wrong, it probably is. Use your best judgement. I have been stopped for speeding and rolling through a stop sign, both by NJSP and luckily have been given a break. I have yet to be asked for my blue light permit (I don't volunteer it). I was only asked what I was and where, because the trooper(s) saw my 2-way radio and the light.
Good Luck!
CommJunkie
Member
firecentral said:
There's a similar law in PA that says you can't use your blue lights on highways either. Ever been to PA? EVERYTHING is a State Highway! lol...most cops don't really care.
Although, if I see a wacker driving recklessly on I-95 with a blue light, I'm the A-hole that doesn't move
:twisted:lakekid313 said:
How so? If it's done right it should be oh that's a firefighter I NEED to pull over. It should be done either PSA (never happen) or maybe highway flashing sign. Something but it should be done on the Law Enforcement end. BTW, PA loves those highway signs!
If they can do it for seatbelts.........
But in NJ a few people would have to die either from a fire truck or an ambulance not getting to the scene in time because our 1st responders couldn't get to the building or scene fast enough.
I would follow this rule of thumb which is currently in place wife my wife, I she instructed NOT to pull over for an unmarked Police Car, She knows the every location of the local police station in every town on the way to work she is to drive directly there unless a mark police car joins to unmarked car to pull her over. MANY cops that I work with tells me she would not be charged with eluting police if she pulls over once a MARKED car pulls her over.
What Scandal said about specialist in the field I 100% respectfully disagree I work with law enforcement every day there are zero specialist out there that went to the academy or his degree or certification in lights and sirens. I think many cops out there focus on many foolish things on the road I am not going to name towns or counties but these traffic cops would pull you over for a tail light out and while on the stop a van load of dope and guns just rode by doing 100 miles per hour.
What Scandal said about specialist in the field I 100% respectfully disagree I work with law enforcement every day there are zero specialist out there that went to the academy or his degree or certification in lights and sirens. I think many cops out there focus on many foolish things on the road I am not going to name towns or counties but these traffic cops would pull you over for a tail light out and while on the stop a van load of dope and guns just rode by doing 100 miles per hour.
emtbrat29
Member
This happens in Sussex and Warren counties where for the most part NJSP is the primary police agency......
that is not true we have 12 municipal departments in warren njsp covers allamuchy twsp white twsp knolton twsp hardwick twsp harmony twsp frelinghusen twsp franklin twsp the little town of asbury liberty twsp rt's 80 and 78 so 12 out of the 21 towns in warren county dont have a big problem with blue lighters even njsp dosnt either most of the troopers are cool and just keep driving or they even have followed me to a call and offered assistance
that is not true we have 12 municipal departments in warren njsp covers allamuchy twsp white twsp knolton twsp hardwick twsp harmony twsp frelinghusen twsp franklin twsp the little town of asbury liberty twsp rt's 80 and 78 so 12 out of the 21 towns in warren county dont have a big problem with blue lighters even njsp dosnt either most of the troopers are cool and just keep driving or they even have followed me to a call and offered assistance
emtbrat29 said:
If you listen to NJSP on the scanner, "blue lighter" is spoken as a derrogatory term in most communications i've heard.
Trooper A
"There is a blue-lighter on scene"
Trooper B
"Do you feel safer?"
Hear those kind of comments all the time.
Better one for you, Trooper on the Turnpike refused to shut a lane down while I was working an MVA out on the pike, I called the Dispatcher advised him that we had an unsafe scene and pulled away.
There where no patients to be transported anyway but we emergency responders Fire or EMS shouldn't be taking any crap from the cops or the troopers, Thankfully most of the departments I work with except for one have mostly great guys, it is just there younger morons that haven't learned to leave there ego's at home that we have trouble with.
There where no patients to be transported anyway but we emergency responders Fire or EMS shouldn't be taking any crap from the cops or the troopers, Thankfully most of the departments I work with except for one have mostly great guys, it is just there younger morons that haven't learned to leave there ego's at home that we have trouble with.
- Status
Similar threads
