City's battle against lights and sirens

From NY1:

Starting next week, the New York City Fire Department is set to reduce the number of fire units that respond to certain types of emergencies with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The three-month pilot program, known as "Modified Response," will be tested at fire companies all over Queens.

"The history of the department's response with the lights and sirens is that firefighters are responding to a serious emergency," says Uniformed Firefighters Association President Stephen Cassidy. "Until somebody actually gets there, it is difficult to determine the extent of that emergency."

FDNY officials say not all emergencies require the same response. They are testing to see the impact of reducing the use of lights and sirens for the second and third engine companies heading to emergency calls that are not fires, like a gas leak or a stuck elevator.

The first responding unit will still respond with lights and sirens, but those that follow will do so at a reduced speed.

The FDNY believes the program will lead to fewer accidents and less noise.

The firefighters' union, however, says the plan is confusing and could lead to more accidents, not fewer.

The NY Times has an in-depth article.

Marty's sense of entitlement

From the NY Post:

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's SUV was seen last week zooming through red lights in Flatbush as if it were an emergency vehicle, on the way to a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg.

Markowitz defended the use of lights and sirens as "appropriate."

"They are only used with great discretion," insisted Mark Zustovich, the beep's spokesman.

He has been caught before blazing through Brooklyn.

In October 2004, one of his constituents complained that Markowitz's SUV whipped through a red light at Third Avenue and Sackett Street. An aide later said the beep was on his way to a speech.

When asked why Markowitz has lights and sirens in the first place, his spokesman replied, "They were authorized by the city of New York."

Not according to the mayor's office, which says it has nothing to do with what elected officials install in their vehicles.

Not according to the state motor-vehicle law, which makes no provision for elected officials to use equipment reserved for emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police cars.

And not according to the NYPD.