Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

If allowed to get away with it, every city and state can have an ordinance to give speeding tickets to ambulances, police cars and fire engines. Best of all if there is one behind you, you don’t have to pull over.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

on the first part.

on the second.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I am wondering if there is a deeper story behind this. Perhaps many people set up their car with lights and a siren to pass through traffic. I often see these phony cars driving somewhat recklessly on road shoulders and swerving between slower cars.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Shame on you: "the drivers" are Medics, and by gosh everyone of them will tell you so!!😎
I was a mechanic for an Ambulance District for 9 years.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

The only reason the LEOs should be speeding to a crime scene is if its still active!!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

For once I agree with you !!!

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

Those pictures and video are reviewed before tickets are sent. The people reviewing and approving these fines need to be retrained.

Canisdirus

I'd find out the names of those responsible...
Then I would send them a letter absolutely agreeing with their position...

Then I would inform them that my fellow drivers are unanimous with me in the decision...

The decision is that if the person reading the letter and their family...ever need an ambulance...

The drivers will make sure they stop fully at every red light when carrying them to the hospital.

That should do it.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

My question to you is Have you ever driven and ambulance?

The Medics Driving are supposed to stop at a red light then proceed when they are sure all cross traffic has stopped.
What surprises me is there has been no laws passed limiting the speed they can drive.
I imagine each state has its own rules/laws

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Traffic fines, as well as parking fines and others, are a form of revenue generation for the City. It is a covert way of generating income without increasing taxes which would irritate the general public and possibly lose the City administrators an election. It's the Mayor's way of insinuating, "You want safe streets, don't you?"

If Chicago would tax the criminals and drug dealers, the City would be busting with surplus funds. Rob a liqour store, you pay a tax on the money you stole. Sell drugs, you pay a tax on the proceeds. By the way...Al Capone was from Chicago and they imprisoned him on tax evasion, not crime and murder.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Really? Wow, who knew? I never saw this on any driver test I ever took.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

“In providing mail service across the country, the Postal Service attempts to work within local and state laws and regulations . . . However, as you are probably aware, the Postal Service enjoys federal immunity from state and local regulation . . . The Postal Service requires its employees to obey all traffic laws and rules while operating Postal Service vehicles. However, the state and/or local ordinances imposing penalties and fines cannot be enforced as against the Postal Service.”

https://www.thewisedrive.com/can-postal-carriers-park-wherever-they-want/#:~:text=However%2C%20as%20you%20are%20probably,while%20operating%20Postal%20Service%20vehicles.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Having spent over 40 years in EMS (at all levels), and managing one of the oldest ambulance operations in the US, I find this City's approach quite appalling.

Any legitimate citation incurred by employees (on or off duty), it is the responsibility of the employee to pay the fine when charged, or go to court. This is standard practice and policy for almost all ambulance operations nationwide.

However, most State laws allow for an ambulance to proceed through a red light as long as it is safe to do so and only after coming to stop/slow roll and "clearing the intersection", which means having eye contact with the other driver(s) to make sure they know you are proceeding against a red light. Many companies make it mandatory for ambulances to come to the intersection and stop at a red light and then proceed.

Most lawsuits against ambulance companies involved vehicle accidents and patient drops on gurneys. Backing accidents are the number one type of accidents in ambulances.

BTW... I did a time study on ambulances going to a call and stopping for redlights vs not and the response times were only off by seconds... not minutes. Better to get their safely than not at all.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thank you !!
You worded what I know and saw happen
I followed one the Ambulances to a call to prove that point after an argument with one of the crew members , she drove speeds up to 45mph and then had to brake hard on every curve, I followed at the 30 mph speed limit and arrived as she was getting out, when she got out she said I drove as fast as she did , I told to check my brakes for heat, hers were smoking.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Thank you for your service to the EMS Community!

At one point I oversaw fleet management and driver training (10 year period), while also being a paramedic supervisor. By implementing low force driving practices we were able to cut our fleet costs by 50% (well documented) and our accident portfolio was excellent. The company was sold and the new company eliminated the existing policies and within 3 months had their WORST ambulance accident in a decade. Yes... it was an intersection accident where the paramedic driver blew thru a red at 45mph+ The ambulance broadsided a little car which was unrecognizable and the ambulance rolled on its driver's side and slid 300 feet injuring the ambulance driver. I still have the accident photos for posterity. Accident occurred late at night so the ambulance driver assumed no one was coming through intersection. The local law enforcement cited the other driver for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. The California Vehicle Code is pretty specific on Code 3 (emergency) driving and also has specific licensing for Ambulance Drivers much like a professional trucker, chauffeur, or bus driver. There is even special licensing for fire apparatus operators.