Midwest Legal Question

[firefighter02]

Ok...here's my question..

As a firefighter I am permitted in my state to display a blue light with a permit to use in my personal vehicle when responding to fire and EMS calls.

I am going on vacation in a couple of weeks through IL, OH, IN, and maybe KY or MI.

My question is, can I leave my blue light mounted in the car (it won't come on unless I turn it on) or do I have to go through the work to unmount it...IS my home state's permit to have one good in other states? I would not be using it, but I am not sure if any other states have rules against displaying it. Was hoping to not have to go through the work of unmounting it and remounting when I get back home.

Thanks in advance.
FF

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

I have no CREDENTIALS to know this, and I have no real idea as to what the answer would be. But I figured the post could use the bump, and if you want someone else's permission to leave it on your car, I figured I'd express such sentiments. I'm sure it'd be fine. As long as you never turn it on, even if a cop did pull you over, you could explain that you're only passing through, really, and you have the permit. I'm sure you'd be fine.

 

[firefighter02]

Thanks. LOL. Generally the "federallies" leave me alone..something about firefighter plates on the car..there is that unwritten code of respect..but one never knows when driving through "small town" America...

 

[phoenix1224]

I have a couple firefighter buddies and they've told me that, in Illinois, you can leave it mounted so long as you have the firefighter plates (and your state permit)... and don't use it unless you're responding to a fire call...

 

[sheath]

According to those oh-so-helpful boys at Station No. 2 in "Small Town" Tennessee, the permit for one state is honored in all states if you are carrying the proper identification and a valid permit, and provided that you do not use the lights except under the direct supervision of an "officer of rank" in that particular state.

S.

 

[Alyx]

I just want to start this by saying that I did work in the EMS field, but it’s been many years now and our local laws have changed somewhat. This is just to give a general idea of what was going on at the time, and our solution to the problem.

The EMS laws here are broke down by state, county and city. The state (at the time) had no specific laws for EMS personnel using blue lights in their POV’s. Many counties did however. Our county allowed EMS personnel to run blue lights, because we’re in such a rural area and were usually able to be on scene well before the ambulance. Our neighboring county to the south did not allow for ANY emergency lights in POV’s. This often became a hassle on mutual aid calls. Stopping at the county line to jerk out a hard wired blue light wasn’t an option. So we made hats for the lights. Covers, actually. Cloth covers sewn to fit and fastened to the dash with Velcro. Slide the cover over the light; give a push to make sure the Velcro was secure and no more problems. The few times cops asked about them, it was a simple matter of showing our ID cards to prove we were who we said and that the covers were there because of county law.

We were able to get away with it because of how desperately short of EMS personnel the area was. In more urban area’s, it may not work. The easiest thing to do would be to contact the EMS coordinator (or whatever you call them there) for those states and ask for the information. You could do it via email. They’re pretty easy to find on the net. I found the following for ya:

Illinois: http://www.state.il.us/iema/
Ohio: http://www.ems.ohio.gov/
Indiana: http://www.in.gov/sema/ems/
Kentucky: http://kyem.dma.ky.gov/
Michigan: http://www.migov.state.mi.us/msp/0,1607,7-123-1593_3507---,00.html


Anyway, hope that helps you out. Enjoy the vacation!

 

[cyberski]

You better just play it safe and go buy yourself a brand new Yugo and take it instead.



Don't be a fool.....

 

[car nut]

How big is it? Can ya just throw a hat or shirt over it? Im sure you wont get stopped for it, and if your stopped for another reason and they ask just have some paperwork with you. I know when your an out of state car you cant get tickets for such things as expired license plates, illegal tinted windows etc.. because they cant prove if its legal where ytou come from, and even if they knew it was illegal they still oculdnt write ya for it. Now if you run into a crooked cop you can get a ticket for obstruction of view possibly. My buddy got one for a tree air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror. A judge would laugh it outta his court room but are you gonna go on another trip to fight a 55 dollar ticket 3 hours away??? Cops know this and try to throw tickets at non local cars. Watch your ass outta state and if you think the cops jerkin ya around demand a supervisor.

You should get "proffesional courtesy" in most places. But theres no good cops anywhere you go, and some good cops too. Problem is the good cops usually dont bug ya, but if you get a bad one... hope you know your laws!

 

[firefighter02]

WOW ...I am overwhelmed by the response..Once again showing that the How to board is really the place to go....first anal lube and pigs feet..now blue lights...what will I think up next.

Thanks to all who responded...That makes me feel a little easier..
I absolutely would hate to have to unmount the damn thing...and I promise to be good.....

Well as good as one can be when you drive a dark colored luxury sedan with a light on the dash and wig wags

 

[Hisownprecious]

Once again showing that the How to board is really the place to go....first anal lube and pigs feet..now blue lights...what will I think up next.



Well as good as one can be when you drive a dark colored luxury sedan with a light on the dash and wig wags

So, i searched the library...i found the anal lube thread...but where's the anal lube and pigs feet thread?


Cause that could surely come in handy!


j.

 

[sheath]

So, i searched the library...i found the anal lube thread...but where's the anal lube and pigs feet thread?


Cause that could surely come in handy!


j.

Just do a search on his name, and limit the search to the how-to board...You'll find all sorts of good stuff.

Possibly incriminating stuff. *snicker*

S.

 

[Bobmi357]

Look at it this way.

Go on your vacation, full lights and sirens screaming all the way. You'll get there in half the time and take cops from every state you pass through with you. Make extra reservations.

 

[firefighter02]

Siren...Shit ..I knew there was something else the LHS needed!!!

*Flips over to the Galls Equipment website*

Thanks Bob! Damn..why didn't I think of that before!!

 

[Willing and Unsure]

in illionois it shouldnt be a problem. a lot of the state, when going through like on I-80, it's more volunteer people and state troopers. the state troopers most likely wont question you, neither will the volunteers. Around Chicago, you might see some problems because people there are just plain crazy drivers and there's no telling what the police might or might not do there.

 

[ffemtp]

Living in IL and being a vol. FF/emt-P it is not a problem in most of the state. I don't go into downtown Chicago with it on my dash. My get mistaken for a cop in the wrong part of town.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Living in IL and being a vol. FF/emt-P it is not a problem in most of the state. I don't go into downtown Chicago with it on my dash. My get mistaken for a cop in the wrong part of town.

if he's on the interstates he should be fine through the city... but you never really know with the chicago police dept.

 

[firefighter02]

if he's on the interstates he should be fine through the city... but you never really know with the chicago police dept.

Wahoo!!! Its been years since I had a good strip search!!

Can I call you to come down and bail me out?


FF

 

[firefighter02]

Living in IL and being a vol. FF/emt-P it is not a problem in most of the state. I don't go into downtown Chicago with it on my dash. My get mistaken for a cop in the wrong part of town.

In case no one has said it lately..>Thanks for your service!!

In the middle of EMT-B class..man its a nasty bitch LOL....

FF

PS>>GO PACK GO!!!

 

[midwestyankee]

if he's on the interstates he should be fine through the city... but you never really know with the chicago police dept.

There is far more truth to this than many people know.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

There is far more truth to this than many people know.

oh I know. my cousin has been pulled over for no reason on several occasions when he worked downtown. And what's sad is they would usually pull him over on the interstate on ramps around dusk so it was just after the high traffic time. It really pissed him off. And I cant say I blame him for being angry either. The Chicago police are just really really dumb sometimes.