Hatzolah Is Going Green
- Thread starter TheGatekeeper
- Start date
Old news, been law for a few years here now. They got in trouble for running "other colors" without legal permission.
They may be doing another publicity push for green to be recognized... Mind you Toronto drivers don't really care about any emergency vehicle.. lol.
Green is simply a courtesy light, so they cannot be running sirens/stop signs, taking opposing traffic lanes, etc.
Green is simply a courtesy light, so they cannot be running sirens/stop signs, taking opposing traffic lanes, etc.
Right... which has always been the case for VFF... But I didn't know there was a Hatzolah corps in Toronto (never noticed in the two years I lived there !) let alone that they abused "other colors" 
I'm sure in NYC they will continue to spend thousands of dollars on red & blue lights on their POVs...
TheGatekeeper said:Right... which has always been the case for VFF... But I didn't know there was a Hatzolah corps in Toronto (never noticed in the two years I lived there !) let alone that they abused "other colors"
I was surprised to find they're here as well, don't think they run L&S at all here since it's so restricted.
I would think that Toronto police would have less of a tolerance than the do in NYC. Not sure how much political pull they have there, but in talking with my CN friends, they (TPD) wouldn't put up with it.
Maybe they can come to NYC for a day and write tickets all day long.
Maybe they can come to NYC for a day and write tickets all day long.
dustymedic said:
Difference is, here they are legally allowed to have/use them...(provided they meet the Part 800 requirements.)
EMT-BLS said:
Not blue to the front. I believe (would have to check for admendments) that blue to the rear is still restricted to police and fire vehicles although no one really enforces it.
But, when was the last time you have seen a certification sticker on a hems pov? I've only seen it on one out of the many I have seen. Anyone who has operated in NYC metro area where hems operates could say the same thing.
PJH said:
No, you're right...Blue is restricted for all services to only thee rear. No sides, and certainly no forward-facing.
I used to see them quite frequently...In fact, my boss, a HEMS paramedic, does have one on both of his vehicles. But the coordinators (basically supervisors, to those unaware) are so busy with other nonsense that they don't enforce the basic legalities of being allowed to respond to calls. And Shomrim...don't even get me started.
Ha! Shomrim. I was sent this link to a blog that is great to read as well as the comments to it. I especially love this one which can be applied to several groups and people mentioned on ELB:
Boro Park Shomrim Exposed: November 2012
(Blog comment):
"No one knows for sure if he's a predator or not yet hes a perfect candidate (by surrounding himself with vulnerable teens his actions are suspicious)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a job that you love (lights and sirens). Due to the nature of the job he must associate himself with emergency personal which he loves. To go and bash the legitimacy of his operation is outright low and un-necessary. (we all know that all businesses who deal with lights and sirens are installing illegal lights)"
Boro Park Shomrim Exposed: November 2012
(Blog comment):
"No one knows for sure if he's a predator or not yet hes a perfect candidate (by surrounding himself with vulnerable teens his actions are suspicious)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a job that you love (lights and sirens). Due to the nature of the job he must associate himself with emergency personal which he loves. To go and bash the legitimacy of his operation is outright low and un-necessary. (we all know that all businesses who deal with lights and sirens are installing illegal lights)"
TheGatekeeper said:
It gets better,
Boro Park Shomrim Exposed: 66th precinct allegedly has NO CONFIDENCE in their CO Mike Deddo - Part I
"Allegedly" is a funny word to use on a blog.......... 18 times in an article.
That blog is the equivalent of National Enquirer,
.Blogspot.com blogs have not exactly been known for accuracy.
My point exactly...
This "blog investigator" is basically saying "this is what I've found out, but don't quote me!" .. Allegedly !!
This "blog investigator" is basically saying "this is what I've found out, but don't quote me!" .. Allegedly !!
They use Green in Florida also, witch I still find odd.
http://elightbars.org/forums/f80/hatzalah-miami-dade-eru1-33311/
http://elightbars.org/forums/f80/hatzalah-miami-dade-eru1-33311/
That word has been used by everyone since the NYT or LAT 20-30 years ago lost a court case. Reporters use to "Tell it how they heard it" but (IIRC) someone wrote up an arrest/crime story and found out that the person did not commit the crime - the reporting damage had been done. This is also along similar lines for "sources within" or "a high level source that..." etc.
Its been mainstream for awhile now.
Some EMS members haven't been known for accuracy either. Then again, photo's and videos don't always lie - just consider the context.
There's enough squirrelly things that go on in NYC that I doubt that more than half of the "source" information is fairly accurate.
Its been mainstream for awhile now.
Some EMS members haven't been known for accuracy either. Then again, photo's and videos don't always lie - just consider the context.
There's enough squirrelly things that go on in NYC that I doubt that more than half of the "source" information is fairly accurate.
I wish Hatzolah ran green too! Once all the mini vans lit up like christmas trees with red white blue amber ect facing all ways hits the Catskills in the summer, people seem to stop being so willing to yeild the right of way to the rest of us. There have been so many problems with imposters up here (people passing them selves off as hatzolah but in no way associated with them) running lights and sirens. And so many running them just to get through a red light (espically on fridays) and then they shut them off as soon as they get through the light. A few years back there were people caught running red lights and sirens to get deliveries done before sundown friday! (That was dealt with and has since stopped) As a result people get so annoyed and desensitized to it all they aren't very willing to pull over! Granted I used to have the name and number for the head Catskills Hatzolah and I have a great working relationship with him (I lost his number when I got my new phone though) I presented these concerns to him, and he told me to let him know and he will deal with his members if they are doing something wrong, and he will go to the police about the imposters!
Oh and btw if you want to see Ufos, split fails and some of the worst sounding sirens (sounds like a car alarm) come to the catskills in the summer. If you want to see a command suv that will make most fire depts jealous and is an amazing set up, come see the Catskills Hatzolah white Taho command SUV!
RamCumminsFF said:
The majority of Hatzolah members use Smart Sirens, so I'm not sure what you're referring to...Besides, who gives a **** what it sounds like, as long as people pull over...
Smart siren? Never heard of it. Alot of people don't I think mainly because most that I have heard aren't very loud. I know in the summer if I see a vehicle behind me with red and blue I don't pull over, Its not legal in NY so as far as Im concerned its an imposter! The majority of the problems we seem to have is with the Hatzolah wanna bes, they must figure since they are in the country they can get away with more. Granted we have had some problems with Hatzolah members, but like I said that is usually delt with with one phone call. And to the member saying they haven't seen many with DOH stickers.......come walk through the walmart parking lot in Monticello in the summer and you will see a ton of mini vans and suvs with DOH stickers! The Hatzolah members up here are legit. Nothing for nothing their "real" medics are nothing short of amazing! I would rather call for one of them in the summer than most of the fellow goy medics from the local paid service!
RamCumminsFF said:
You never heard of a Smart Siren? Jeez...
I'd reconsider the whole "not pulling over for red/blue", it may be a State Trooper. And they are not nice people when you "flee".
Nope isn't a trooper, had a trooper rip someone apart for having blue front facing told them it isn't legal for them (troopers) so no way can anyone else have it! And when I see it on a mini van Im confident it isn't a cop! And I should rephrase that, I will pull over, at my convenience, and then take a plate number down! As a fire chief I am waiting to put my new lightbar on my truck since it came with blue end caps (waiting for red ones to come in), I don't want to piss off the cops or do anything illegal. I just don't get why everyone just can't play by the rules!! Now that I see the picture I do know what a smart siren is! It wasn't ringing a bell!
RamCumminsFF said:
It's a well known issue in NYC that everyone and their grandmother has lights and sirens. NYPD chooses not do anything about it, so people have gotten comfortable ripping around L&S, and then when everyone goes upstate for the summer, the party rages on there.
And all that serves to accomplish is more and more tension between locals and summer visitors, and between cops and summer visitors. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with Hatzolah, I don't mind working with them at all, they seem as a whole very dedicated and skilled. However unless everyone from the city coming to the catskills gets it through their heads to respect the laws, and show a little respect to the locals the whole locals vs summer visitors tension and issues will rage on! Please relay to as many people as you can that come up here to please respect the country, only run their lights and sirens when going to a call. And slow down and don't drive like you are still in the city! Use turn signals, don't use your horn every 10 seconds, don't stop in the road to let people in or out of your vehicle, don't cut people off, don't double park, and don't tailgate! 
Phillyrube said:
Ha! I've heard that phrase when I lived in those parts. As for DOH stickers, never seen one on a H car except one. I've seen the "diamond runs" in the past too. Every Friday evening using an ambulance.
A local cop I knew loved to give out parking tickets to "the members" who would park in no parking areas and claim they were on a call when they were not (local kosher market and post office).
Lots of smart sirens in use but for the last few years many members have even rocking Whelen products. Ill see if I can find my picture of the Honda civic rocking a vision bar.
Summertime in the lower Catskills as far as public safety is concerned is an experience.