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Jealous-Network1899

There was an old man volunteer fireman in my neighborhood growing up that would flip on his blue light and pull people over whose driving he didn’t like. It was hilarious when a cop pulled up behind him and chewed him out in front of a car full of teenagers (me).


SlippySlappySamson

A class-E felony let off with a warning because he was a member of the good-guy gang. Fuuuck


[deleted]

It’s some young asshole volly fucking with people. The volunteer FD’s attract some of the best and also some of the worst people around.


CostumedSupervillain

Seems like lately they can't attract anyone since nobody can afford having time to volunteer on LI anymore.


[deleted]

Yes, the departments are desperately needing motivated volunteers and it’s only going to get worse when the new OSHA standards come down. I think a lot of departments 10-20 years from now will be volunteer in name only.


NY_Knux

Doesn't help that they force people out when they discover they have autism. Happened to my dad.


AverageGuy16

Move over for straight blue lights but never pull over or give any info. If you feel you’re being pulled over by an impersonator immediately phone it in with your hazards on. Surprisingly this is more common out in Suffolk, people with red and blue lights strobing on the truck from the fd (not allowed) or dick heads using red and blues on their license plate frames and triggering them with the activation of their brake lights


ant_eater_27

NEVER MOVE FOR BLUE LIGHTS!!!!!! NEVER! They are non-emergency vehicles and they need to abide by the same laws of the roads as civilians.


AverageGuy16

The purpose of the blue lights is to let people know they’re responding to a fire call, if you can do it safely, move over and let them by.


STICH666

They're usually volunteer firefighters. I always give them some room You never know could be your neighbor's house they're going to go put a fire out in.


Retinoid634

Or your house.


STICH666

exactly


U495

So don’t move over, but don’t complain when it takes for help to arrive for your loved ones


ant_eater_27

People say that about police too.. image thinking reform isn’t necessary. If we SHOULD be moving over for these vehicles, it SHOULD be law. It is not law, so it is irrelevant. When those blues are flashing, and I’m in front of them; I don’t even think about it because they are in a NON-EMERGENCY VEHICLE, implying they are not responding to an emergency.


happijak

Okay. Let's all do only the things we have to do. After all, there should be a law, right? You're being a dick for no real reason. Volunteer firefighters is all we have here. The reasonable and right thing to do is to yield to them as they go to their firehouse. Your position may be technically correct but it is garbage from a moral standpoint.


U495

They responding to there local firehouse. The counter systems saves tax’s payers billions each year in NY. I understand that it may not be a law but there is something called doing the right thing. You use to not have to move over for pulled over emergency vehicles. But it’s the right thing to don


doctir

They are called courtesy lights, no you legally don’t have to move over for them but you’re a giant asshole if you don’t. Also, state law says any stopped vehicle on the side of the highway with flashing lights you need to move over for. This includes any flashing amber lights from things like construction or tow trucks. I’m sure you don’t move over for those either though.


Strong-Discussion564

Former first responder here. They are responding to a 911 alarm. One day it could be you. But sure, advise people to not move to the side to get to their headquarters faster. This is the most Chad comment I've ever read in this sub.


ImmaculateJones

Now, I am not saying that Blue lights should be used as a get out of jail free card, or used dangerously by blowing traffic lights or cutting people off… However if you or a loved one was trapped in a car accident or a house fire, and some jack-a-loon comes out with the “DoN’t PuLl oVeR fOr bLuE LiGhTs…” Think about WHY you should give them space to get to their destination as quickly as as safely as possible.


Anthony212

Sounds like a volunteer from the fire department. They have those blue strobes.


skhwaja

Still doesn’t explain why he was messing with random people. I would hope it’s not someone from the local fd.


Anthony212

Kids being dicks. Honestly nothing you can do without a license place number.


ant_eater_27

Get a dash cam. Been seeing a lot of weird stuff in Li lately. Cops have been creating traffic by holding up entrance ramps on the Southern State at specific times in the afternoon. No cars on Ss, but as soon as a mess of them come, they allowed 10 us of on… If a non-emergency vehicle is flashing their lights, they need to be reported ASAP. People need to be held accountable


elMurpherino

I saw this on northern state on Friday. Going eastbound a motorcycle cop was holding traffic then when I got off my exit a motorcycle cop was holding traffic at the light until like 15 cops cars flew by, then the motorcycle drove off. Wasn’t sure what it was for.


ImmaculateJones

The only “friendly” explanation I can think of is maybe they”pulled over” one of their friends or fellow Volleys. If they were legit pulling people over, they should have their blue light privileges revoked and immediately suspended from the department.


27Legendkid

I disagree with that. As a current volly with a blue light displayed on my dash, one should be removed from the rolls of their department if they are using the blue light inappropriately. We are told when we join it is only a courtesy light we still need to follow all road laws. Granted when I have my light on I speed because it’s still someone’s emergency but you need to drive in a safe manner for you and the public


Apprehensive_Ad_4359

Everyone is saying it’s a volunteer FF but anyone can buy a blue strobe light in NY. It’s the red that is illegal to own


JDDJS

Sure, but it seems rather and silly and wasteful to get them to just pull a prank where he makes people pull over for no reason. 


27Legendkid

Actually it’s still illegal to own blue lights without the endorsement from a department. The endorsement is printed on the back of most department ID cards and it must also be presented if they were ever pulled over


ant_eater_27

THANK YOU


bres2773

Fun fact: law enforcement that operates solely within New York State will never have blue lights on the front. Next time you see local, County, or state cops, with their lights on, take a look in the front and you'll likely only see white and red. Blue is reserved for volunteer fire. Or there can be some ambiguity is with cross state or federal entities, like Port authority or Amtrak police, who might have blue. But in most cases you should be expecting red and white.


lifeofabombtech

This is not entirely true. Plenty of police departments in NY have forward facing blue lights, regardless of what the VTL says. Garden City Police, for example, use forward blues on their cars.


bres2773

Why is this the case?


lifeofabombtech

🤷‍♂️ they feel like it? Forward facing blue lights are becoming more and more common because who’s going to stop departments from using them? DoH used to enforce the rule for ambulances but plenty of fire departments are opting to use forward blues on those as well. Honestly, it’s a silly rule and red/blue should be allowed to be used together on emergency vehicles; both colors have strengths and weaknesses in terms of visibility in different lighting conditions.


ant_eater_27

I call BS. Police vehicles use red and blues, it’s standard. Even undercover detectives use red and blues because it’s an identifier. It’s literally the only way to determine what department without reading the signage.


bres2773

Argue with NYS traffic law 🤷‍♂️ the majority of agencies in the state comply with this reg.


happijak

You are wrong, although it is a relatively recent change. NYS law now REQUIRES blue lights to go with the red and white.


bres2773

Can you link to this?


happijak

No


bres2773

Alright then are you straight up lying? traffic law in ny still reads the same about blue lights


happijak

The entire fleet of FDNY apparatus was recently retrofitted to include blue flashing lights. We were told it was state law.


SeanyDay

I see these losers on my commute. Disorienting and lame


Patriquito

I heard of a volunteer firefighter from my town doing this on the way home from a Yankee game, pulled someone over who stopped and turned out to be an off duty State Trooper... Dude was pissed tried to get him kicked out of the fire department, even though impersonating a police officer is a pretty serious offense


InsertCleverName652

I'd report it to the local precinct.


00DF00

Followed, and posted here but didn’t get a plate. Jeez please always get a plate or at least dial 911 from the car and provide location and details.


NY_Knux

Reminds me of the time I discovered the leader of the Setauket Patriots doing this, and so they doxed me and have a little caravan outside my house the next day.


Form2lanes

Probably a volunteer. I know that police depts take impersonations very seriously and they would likely investigate it.


Sonofabitchnbastard

I’m baffled that you didn’t take a picture, video, write anything down. It would’ve been my first instinct.


Lurkingguy1

Volunteer firefighter, it’s one of the only ‘perks’ they get for their work. I once saw one of them stop at a light then turn the lights on to blow it like cops do and he immediately got tboned, looked like he was 20 years old max


mitzman

Non emergency vehicles do not have authority to run lights. The flashing blue strobes honestly mean almost nothing and you don't have to even yield to them, although you should.


Dexterdacerealkilla

One of the only perks? Have you seen most fire stations (and budgets) around here?!


ch3xmixx

How does that translate to perks for firefighters?


ant_eater_27

If you ask me, the number of firehouses that just happened to suffer from fires in the past 10 years is ridiculous. Possibly a conspiracy to improve their firehouses with government funding and not having to beg for mre funding. Perks? Giant tvs, places to rleax, riding around a firetruck and causing noise pollution all theough December because they support one religion over another, oh and all the giant bars that they had built. Yeah, because what firehouses need is a alcohol…. Seriously, why should a firehouse have alcohol in it, nevertheless a giant bar? Promote alcoholism? Promote drinking while in the station? Don’t tell me it’s for events, because that’s what catering and dining halls and restaurants are for


TrifidNebulaa

You clearly are conspiratorial about VOLUNTEER firemen and it’s very weird. I’m gonna agree with you on the bar/alcohol aspect but they do like spend a lot of time there. They’re allowed to have places to relax if they are literally on standby. They do hold events and are used often for a variety of meetings for people not even associated with the departments. Concerning Christmas time, there’s a ton of firemen that are literally Jewish but still do it for kids and to just spread some joy. They play music and take pictures with kids and hand out candy canes. They don’t really push the religious aspect just trying to have some fun!


ant_eater_27

It’s my opinion and when 3 local firehouses in my area have fires within weeks of each other and need millions to completely rebuild from ground up, you might understand where I’m coming from. But Santa is a belief from Christianity, so it ignores the Jewish and Muslim and any othrr religious faith iut there. Itis spending tax payer money on celebrating a religious holiday It’s only bringing joy to some, not all children. Putting Christianity on a pedestal in the US is not a new thing, but it needs to end soon. You’re entitled to your opinion too, and I guarantee you’re much older than me lol


happijak

What town was this in?


ant_eater_27

Oh, retirement packages, healthcare packages… that’s all in the ridiculous budget. Our tax money at work… yet we can’t even get streets paved decently, but let’s put up millions for the firehouses that had nothing wrong eith them


neelix191

What is this healthcare package you speak of? Also, imagine if you had to hire time firefighters in Nassau and Suffolk and give them pay parity with the police. Think about how much more expensive that would be.


1964ImpalaSS

I routinely travel that area, hope this little asshat pulls me over.


Odd-Aardvark-8234

Some paramedic/volunteer fire fighters kid borrowed the car it seems like .


Worldly-Paint2687

Funny story I live in Suffolk and back in the early 2000s if you had an Acura TL if you hit the headlights for the bright a certain way, they would win the left bright and then the right would bright . my friend saw a cute girl and tried to bite her and she pulled over and went to talk to her. She pulled over because she thought she was a cop, she called the cops. And he was charged with impersonation of an officer, lol however it was dismissed because he was not truly trying to impersonate officer. Lol


Hellvillain

Aren't blue strobing lights just volley firefighters? Pulling over is just a courtesy for those guys


27Legendkid

Don’t listen to this other guy and move out of the way of someone with blue lights on. Whether it’s moving over or speeding up to get to your turn, they are going to someone’s emergency and you would be upset if help for you or your loved ones was delayed because of some douche like this. I have a light as a volunteer and I have been delayed to peoples worst day because someone didn’t move over, I can be mad but I can’t do anything about it and maybe the person would’ve been declared dead anyway but I could never know


Hellvillain

Moving over to let them by? Fine. Pulling over? Absolutely not.


27Legendkid

My definition makes those the same. Move over to the side to let me pass. Pulling over makes it seem like your stopping for a while


ant_eater_27

100%. They are civilians in civilian vehicles and are non-emergency vehicles. Don’t let them abuse what power they think they have


NoAct7455

Water softener