By Kathy Coffta
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)
NEW YORK — There should be no shortage of firetrucks at this year’s Memorial Day parades thanks to quick action by state lawmakers.
The Senate and Assembly moved this week to amend a law that had required firefighters to have a commercial driver’s license to drive large department vehicles.
Earlier this year, state legislators passed a law that permitted first responders with a valid class D license to drive an emergency vehicle to the scene of an emergency, but not back to the station after the call or in any other non-emergency situation, including parades.
Lawmakers throughout the state began pushing for a quick change to the requirement for many reasons, including the desire for the vehicles to be included in Memorial Day festivities.
“To me, it’s kind of a crazy law,” said Don Hudson, the fire chief in the city of Oneida. “What do you do with guys who are being trained? That’s a non-emergency,” he said.
Hudson said he has firefighters on his staff with commercial licenses, but he still cannot see how the law could be enforced.
“I don’t think police officers are going to be pulling firetrucks over during parades,” Hudson said.
He said he thinks if the law had not been changed many fire companies would have ignored it and put trucks in parades anyway.
The law is now awaiting Gov. David Paterson’s signature. Once signed, it goes into effect immediately.
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