As a Hatzolah member, I would like to address this post with several points:
1. No VAS plate is issued without a letter from the agency that the registrant works for,
2. There ARE, in fact, many unscrupulous agencies in NYC that will issue a letter in exchange for a large (bribe) donation. It goes without saying, that Hatzolah will never do this,
4. ALL Hatzolah vehicles (private and Ambulances) have a NYS DOH inspection sticker in the right of the windshield. These stickers are blue and yellow and are visible at a distance. Absence of this sticker is another indication of an imposter,(look for it)
5. I have personally witnessed, on numerous occasions, vehicles bearing VAS plates being driven recklessly with L&S while there is no call going on. A check into the Hatzolah database always indicated that these are not H members. These individuals are rotzchim and I have no problem calling him a “rodef”. Unfortunately, there is nothing any of us can do besides hope that they get pulled, and a full investigation is launched as to where the plate authorizations came from,
6. Hatzolah has a zero tolerance for members abusing the law thereby putting the organization into jeopardy, the membership knows that we are under the public microscope and held to a higher standard,
7. We are not the Police and there is therefore not much that we can do regarding non-members who drive recklessly and break the law. It disturbs and angers us more than it annoys anyone of you.
In summation, I agree with all that there exists a real problem and being the agencies are abusing the system, there needs to be better oversight by DMV, and enforcement by the local Police.