Emergency Lights
My department (as well as every other department in my county) allows warning lights (no sirens, unless you're a chief or asst. chief) in a POV and I choose to run them. If it wasn't worth the insurance and other costs associated with allowing members to run emergency traffic, I'm sure we wouldn't be allowed. But since we can run with warning lights, it's obviously important enough to the possible lives at stake that members are needed quickly and promptly.
Yes, I am certified in emergency vehicle operations. And yes, I believe anybody wishing to run warning lights needs to have a certification that teaches them proper driving techniques.
If your department doesn't allow lights, what is the sense in putting one down that does? Just because you do it one way does not make that way perfect and everybody should follow your SOP's.
I'm not defending anybody that believes that just because you're a member (or an aspiring member) you can have warning lights. I believe that it is a right and earned and it can be easily taken away.
Mickey
Yes, I am certified in emergency vehicle operations. And yes, I believe anybody wishing to run warning lights needs to have a certification that teaches them proper driving techniques.
If your department doesn't allow lights, what is the sense in putting one down that does? Just because you do it one way does not make that way perfect and everybody should follow your SOP's.
I'm not defending anybody that believes that just because you're a member (or an aspiring member) you can have warning lights. I believe that it is a right and earned and it can be easily taken away.
Mickey
the rest of these people just need to drop it and stop having such a hissy fit cause a few people in completely different states have a few lights on their trucks.
its not like i had red and blue lights. mine where white
im not sure what my departments policy is. but our sheriffs department has its own detention facility built on the same grounds as the department. being a correctional officer i got training in everything BUT EVOC. if the sh*t hits the fan having traffic in the way while trying to get to the detention center can cost an officer there life so i think that all officers that are on call should be required to have them... but thats just my 2 cents.
I've been thinking about adding some lights and such for messing around with, but not on the road. So say I get a siren and I'm over a buddies house and I decide to turn it on in his driveway. If a cop were to be in earshot, could I get arrested? Since its not on a public road I think not but idk.... or if I were to get pulled over and a cop saw it could i get in trouble? mostly I would just use it and any lights when I was in mud pits and such.
btw i live in maryland.
btw i live in maryland.
I've been thinking about adding some lights and such for messing around with, but not on the road. So say I get a siren and I'm over a buddies house and I decide to turn it on in his driveway. If a cop were to be in earshot, could I get arrested? Since its not on a public road I think not but idk.... or if I were to get pulled over and a cop saw it could i get in trouble? mostly I would just use it and any lights when I was in mud pits and such.
btw i live in maryland.
btw i live in maryland.
You most likely won't get arrested, but you will get a work order to take it out. However if the cop is having a bad day he can get you for impersonating a public servant which can land you in jail.
Bottom line everyone... IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON TO HAVE LIGHTS AND SIRENS, DON'T PUT THEM ON YOUR VEHICLE!
It's illegal, and makes all of our jobs (our meaning police, fire, ems, state highway) a lot harder. The police don't give a damn if you're in the mud pits, garage, show, or where ever. If the vehicle is driven on the streets, and is not used as a first response vehicle, leave the lights and sirens off.
Last edited by NoLongerJeepin; Jan 28, 2009 at 12:30 AM.
I agree.. Those that put lights on their cars just for the heck of it and especially those that are put on jacked up redneck trucks make the fire departments and other public safety agencies look bad. Putting lights on our vehicles makes us "marked" so to speak, so we are in the eye of the public. If Bo Diddly plays with his siren in a parking lot, people think that's some dinky redneck volunteer playing with his toys. That gives us a bad image. That is why I want my truck to look as clean as possible to represent my agency and other agencies with a positive image. and with NoLongerJeepin,
IF YOU DON'T NEED LIGHTS AND SIRENS, DON'T USE THEM
and that's my $.02
IF YOU DON'T NEED LIGHTS AND SIRENS, DON'T USE THEM
and that's my $.02
I agree.. Those that put lights on their cars just for the heck of it and especially those that are put on jacked up redneck trucks make the fire departments and other public safety agencies look bad. Putting lights on our vehicles makes us "marked" so to speak, so we are in the eye of the public. If Bo Diddly plays with his siren in a parking lot, people think that's some dinky redneck volunteer playing with his toys. That gives us a bad image. That is why I want my truck to look as clean as possible to represent my agency and other agencies with a positive image. and with NoLongerJeepin,
IF YOU DON'T NEED LIGHTS AND SIRENS, DON'T USE THEM
and that's my $.02
IF YOU DON'T NEED LIGHTS AND SIRENS, DON'T USE THEM
and that's my $.02
The only thing i can think of by your comments is me... HMMM ive got a lifted truck, ive got a sig with a rebel flag in it and i work for the STATE!!!
My company REQUIRES any vehicle that is working on our roads to have at least 1 amber light. But perferr to have 2 white stropes as well. Now like i said earlier our company uses 2wd vehicles. Geuss what, they get stuck, mowers get stuck, mules and atv's aswell.. Are they gonna pay a tow company to come out and recover them? not when they have a CAPABLE 4x4 right there. And on our call outs... we arent flying down the road lights flashing horns going off sirens blairing. We make our way there carefully but quickly. The LEO's in the area will give us free passes and normally escorts to an accident. The lights dont come one till you are at the scene OR have to take the should to get around stopped vehicles.
The LEO's lives as well as lives of people driving on our interstate are in our hands. The accident has to be quickly and precisely evaluated and MOT for the accident must be set up to ensure safety for the investigation. If that means im setting down 50-100 cones closing down a lane thats what it is. Or if im setting 3 cones straight across the road and parking my truck behind them then thats what i have to do. It depends on the situation.
But your problems with rednecks must go back to when you were a youngster... im a country boy and always will be call me what you want. But if you are an LEO with that attitude you need your badge pulled.
ha trimble.. i'm from georgia . I was born in Georgia. Nothing wrong with a 4x4 lifted truck.. I'm talking the 1985 chevy on 38 super swampers with a set of strobes and a whelen speaker mounted to the roof rack. I'm sure we can agree, you look at some trucks with lights, and especially a siren, and just say wtf. Didnt meant to knock you.
So you didn't have them to "scare" your friends into thinking you were a LEO? Your friends just are naturally scared of stobe lights? Please enlighten me - not trying to be a *****, I'm honestly wondering what your thinking is here. Thanks.
ya they are. most people do think twice when they see flashing lights. mine had white bulbs, well crappy yellowish bulbs. i never put blue or red ones in there. thats crossing the line
ha trimble.. i'm from georgia . I was born in Georgia. Nothing wrong with a 4x4 lifted truck.. I'm talking the 1985 chevy on 38 super swampers with a set of strobes and a whelen speaker mounted to the roof rack. I'm sure we can agree, you look at some trucks with lights, and especially a siren, and just say wtf. Didnt meant to knock you. 

Lol theres a guy that trailers in a truck every weekend to the local mud bog that has 2 3" body lifts stacked on top of each other, and 1 walmart special yellow strobe. I have deemed it and named it DEATH TRAP.
So, you use your personal vehicle to pull out company vehicles? Does your boss pay to fix your truck in case of breakage? Do you get extra pay for this service? Just curios on how that works.
my boss you pay for anything that broke do to this. but the thing is... pulling out the stuff i pull out isnt gonna break my truck. He also pays a percentage of mile gas, and tires. soooo
which honestly, even if i did happen to break something it really doesnt matter to me if they replace it or not. If i didnt want the liablility of that then i wouldnt have offered. Its not often when stuff gets that stuck anyways. Im just that type of guy. And my boss is the type of guy that you dont have to even ask.
hope thats the explanation you were lookin for.
which honestly, even if i did happen to break something it really doesnt matter to me if they replace it or not. If i didnt want the liablility of that then i wouldnt have offered. Its not often when stuff gets that stuck anyways. Im just that type of guy. And my boss is the type of guy that you dont have to even ask.
hope thats the explanation you were lookin for.
im not sure what my departments policy is. but our sheriffs department has its own detention facility built on the same grounds as the department. being a correctional officer i got training in everything BUT EVOC. if the sh*t hits the fan having traffic in the way while trying to get to the detention center can cost an officer there life so i think that all officers that are on call should be required to have them... but thats just my 2 cents.
I've been thinking about adding some lights and such for messing around with, but not on the road. So say I get a siren and I'm over a buddies house and I decide to turn it on in his driveway. If a cop were to be in earshot, could I get arrested? Since its not on a public road I think not but idk.... or if I were to get pulled over and a cop saw it could i get in trouble? mostly I would just use it and any lights when I was in mud pits and such.
btw i live in maryland.
btw i live in maryland.


