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Post by PSPFIREMARSHAL on Dec 17, 2003 18:49:00 GMT -5
It is that time of year again for Department Light Lists. I realize some elections do not take place until late in the year and replacement of officers don't take effect until Jan or Feb, but please start to get them compiled. Some departments have not submitted them for several years even after being asked for them several times. This is what we would like to have completed: Name Registration Color of vehicle Make and Model
The reason for some of the additional information is because in the last month we have had several incidents involving the misuse of lights and the additional information would make it easier to identify the problem child. As we all know in the fire service, one bad apple makes all the other apples look bad. thanks bob
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Post by strangeone on Dec 26, 2003 19:49:57 GMT -5
;DI would like to suggest that Bob attend a few meetings to express his desires (the law)on the running of the lights in the county to different types of calls and incidents,I believe this would do some good as there are always some doubters out there who think the chiefs are bull and are just trying to stress their power over them by stating use CAUTION and brains.
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Post by PSPFIREMARSHAL on Dec 27, 2003 10:06:14 GMT -5
Do you mean Fire Chief meetings or individual department meetings? If you mean Fire Chief meetings, I have attended just about every one with the exception of decembers and that was because of the arson fire in Towanda Twp. As far as department meetings, There are too many to attempt to make every one. However if you have a certain meeting in mind or a certain subject, such as lights, I would be more than willing to schedule something.
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Post by strangeone on Dec 27, 2003 10:33:07 GMT -5
:Dthanks Bob consider yourself invited dept 7 meets 1st wednesday of the month dept 22 meets 2nd thursday of the month
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Valley6
Junior Member
One of the Valley's Blue Smurfs
Posts: 14
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Post by Valley6 on Mar 19, 2004 20:00:54 GMT -5
Bob maybe you need to look into the misuse of illegal lights also. The strobes in headlights, behind the dash, and behind the grill !!! I wish someone would give us the true low down on what is what. It needs to be sent to the ambulance services as well as the fire depts. I'm getting too many versions and I want the one that is right. THANKS
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Post by FIREFIGHTER16 on Oct 27, 2004 20:13:57 GMT -5
I AGREE WITH VALLEY 6 WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN RUN AND WHAT WE CANT. DASH LIGHTS AND GRILL WOULD BE GREAT TO RUN SO YOUR VEHICLE DOESNT LOOK LIKE A WACKER VEHICLE.
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Ron
Junior Member
Posts: 11
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Post by Ron on Oct 28, 2004 0:38:40 GMT -5
Vally6, You can look up the Pa vehicle code on the internet to tell you the laws.The way the law states blue lights, one 360 degrees an no more then 2 rotators or flashers on a barlight. Hidaway strobes an dash an grill lights are illegal for blue lighters even though I have them.
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Post by TheFenceJumper1 on Oct 28, 2004 11:47:43 GMT -5
my opinion, please dont crusify me on this,
WERE VOLUNTEERS, whats the big deal with a few extra light's, I want my vehicle bright if it's gunna sit along the side of the road-way so other drivers see it in hopes they SLOW DOWN. As long as the lights are not used to pull people over and "abuse them" as fare as runnig them for no reason.
Correct me if I'm wrong but arnt we the one's that usually have to wait for the state police and the wrecker services.
This is just my opinion. I have no beef with the law, it is what it states, what 2FW2 stated. But isent their more important business that needs attending like the meth and drug problem. There is were you will keep you firefighters/ first reponders (EMS too) and Fire Police safe when they make entry to a scene.
Just my two sence.
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Post by GVEMS11 on Oct 28, 2004 12:53:27 GMT -5
Pertinent sections from: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Title 67, Chapter 173 (FLASHING OR REVOLVING LIGHTS ON EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZED VEHICLES) (3) Blue lights. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 4572(a) (relating to visual signals on authorized vehicles), ambulance personnel, owners and handlers of dogs used in tracking humans, and volunteer firefighters may each equip one personal vehicle with no more than two flashing or revolving blue lights or one light-bar assembly containing no more than two blue lights. Only blue lights may be used on the light-bar assembly. See Figure 3.1. (9)(b) 360° visibility. When flashing or revolving red, blue, yellow or amber lights are mounted on a vehicle, one or more of these lights shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction (360° visibility), regardless of the method of mounting. Emergency vehicles equipped with flashing or revolving red or blue lights mounted on or behind the grille are not exempt from this subsection. (c) Flash rate. The flash rate, when observed from a fixed position, shall be between 60 and 120 flashes per minute. When the flash rate is produced by the interruption of current, the period of illumination shall be long enough to permit the bulb to come to full brightness. Chapter 173 may be viewed in its entirety at: www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter173/chap173toc.html
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W4SFD
Junior Member
"Condemnation without investigation is the ultimate ignorence" Albert Einstein
Posts: 16
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Post by W4SFD on Nov 4, 2004 6:02:09 GMT -5
Theres only one problem that I can see. The blue light laws have been changed so many times that its become a political football in the Statehouse.
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Post by TheFenceJumper1 on Nov 4, 2004 19:31:05 GMT -5
(6) White or clear lights. In addition to flashing or revolving red or combination red-and-blue lights, an emergency vehicle may be equipped with a flashing headlamp system and no more than one flashing or revolving white or clear light, except that an emergency vehicle may be equipped with a light-bar assembly containing no more than two flashing or revolving white or clear lights.
(i) Flashing or revolving white or clear lights and flashing headlamp systems may only be used in conjunction with the flashing or revolving red or combination red-and-blue lights. Flashing or revolving white or clear lights and flashing headlamp systems that are not used in conjunction with flashing or revolving red or combination red-and-blue lights do not constitute visual signals under 75 Pa.C.S. § § 3325 and 4571 (relating to duty of driver on approach of emergency vehicle; and visual and audible signals on emergency vehicles).
My question is, consider fire chiefs and deputies or assistant chiefs or ambulance personnel, that run white and red, so far I havent seen somebodies personnel vehicle licensed as an emergency vehicle, are they legal, what contributes to an emergency vehicle.
Just a question of intrest?
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Post by canton2 on Nov 4, 2004 23:37:44 GMT -5
Fencejumper,
"Emergency vehicle." A fire department vehicle, police vehicle, sheriff vehicle, ambulance, blood-delivery vehicle, human organ delivery vehicle, hazardous material response vehicle, armed forces emergency vehicle, one vehicle operated by a coroner or chief county medical examiner and one vehicle operated by a chief deputy coroner or deputy chief county medical examiner used for answering emergency calls, or any other vehicle designated by the State Police under section 6106 (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by Pennsylvania State Police), or a privately owned vehicle used in answering an emergency call when used by any of the following:
1. A police chief and assistant chief. 2. A fire chief, assistant chief and, when a fire company has three or more fire vehicles, a second or third assistant chief. 3. A fire police captain and fire police lieutenant. 4. An ambulance corps commander and assistant commander. 5. A river rescue commander and assistant commander. 6. A county emergency management coordinator. 7. A fire marshal. 8. A rescue service chief and assistant chief.
TEXTTEXT
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Post by CMTMedic on Nov 7, 2004 22:19:59 GMT -5
What is the need for fire police to have red lights? If traffic is that bad at an incident shut down the road! They provide an important service, but it's not necessiarily as time sensitive as other tasks. I have seen more than a few times fire police responding to incidents with lights and sirens even after it was controlled and IC had ordered all units to reduce their response mode. If an individual does not beleive that a fire police officer can direct them where to go the color of the light on the vehicle will not make a difference.
As far as I know there is no stipulation in the law that states if you fit a category that allows you to display a light that you must do so.
Does anybody know what the legality of displaying department name or the PA fire police stickers (the big ones) on a vehicle. I know this came up in NYS where the insurance company stated that if an individual was going to have markings of the fire department that the FD had to insure the vehicle.
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Post by canton1 on Nov 8, 2004 0:16:45 GMT -5
Well, I have a opinion on this like everything else. I think that some of them should have Red lights.
There is many times it is nice to have a firepolice there fast to help get traffic situated so that when the "trucks" arrive. THat is the last thing I want to do is worry about traffic.
It all boils done to the same thing over and over again. Someone has to take charge and control it. The "user" needs to use their head................
I am not to sure about the law on these signs, but, the fire department does insure it once the person is doin fire department functions......
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Post by Captain17 on Nov 30, 2004 22:30:40 GMT -5
How is the law exactly written for the EMS/Ambulance side of things? Who can use redlights in the EMS side of things? Possible officers would be Ambulance Captains and Rescue Chiefs. How does this relate to EMS Captains that either run the ambulances or even the QRS units? Would the EMS Captains be the same as "Rescue Chiefs?" Someone enlighten me on this topic.
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