2scents -“Correct me if I am wrong, in NJ EMTs are not allowed to have red lights or pass through red lights, they have to follow the regular traffic rules. That is why cops would pull over EMTs that respond in their personal cars.”
Wrong. First of all, I didn’t go through any red lights and was pulled over, nor did I use L & S. Technically they have to have blue lights on their vehicles, not L & S. It’s only allowed (L & S) for the Chief or Captain of the service. (Only one person per squad.) Already many moons ago, many Hatzolah members in NJ in the areas that they respond have L & S. They use these with impunity and disobey all traffic laws like they are emergency vehicles. I personally don’t care – I’m not from the complainers, but I’m not going to sweep the truth under the carpet either.
“I did not understand what you wrote regarding two units responding with the ambulance en route, all units respond on a code 1 unless advised otherwise, even if the ambulance is already on the way, the ambulance without EMTs is not worth much.”
I’m not going to explain it, if you didn’t understand it. Perhaps reread it. The gist of my point was that anybody with a scanner and a little knowledge of how Hatzolah works can easily tell if a Hatzolah guy using L & S is legit. I personally don’t care what abuse is going on -it’s not my business. It’s the responsibility of the Vol. squad and the Gov. But if the OP and others are so bothered by this, they can easily find those who abuse their priviliges and then they can document it. And then they can report it to the proper authorities.