New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that when police officers and firefighters are in an official capacity, they may drive emergency vehicles without a Commercial Driver License (CDL).

Under the (previous) NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, a CDL was required for operating heavy vehicles.

Police and fire vehicles were specifically excluded from this requirement until enactment of a 2005 law limited the exclusion to a vehicle’s use in emergency operations. This statute had numerous unforeseen negative consequences.

The previous statute created a snafu for non-emergency operations and events such as trainings, processions and daily inspections.

President of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York Thomas J. Cuff, Jr., said: “This law restores the ability of our dedicated volunteer firefighters to operate fire apparatus in both emergency and non-emergency situations – such as training and drill evolutions – and community events, including school visits and, of course, this weekend’s Memorial Day parades. Our members already receive many hours of safety and operational training before getting behind the wheel of these rigs, making the need for a CDL unnecessary…”


U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Senator Chris Dodd have proposed a tax credit to volunteer firefighters and emergency service crews.

If enacted, the proposal would provide a $1,000 federal tax credit to individuals who are active members of volunteer fire departments and emergency service crews to reward these brave men and women who risk their lives for little or no compensation.

This proposal is focused on maintaining current staffing levels of career and volunteer crews and rewarding the emergency service individuals who volunteer their precious time.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained, “front-line” firefighters available in their communities. However, the grant can only be used to hire new, paid firefighters.

Under the Dodd legislation, which Schumer is cosponsoring, fire departments receiving a SAFER grant in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 would be eligible for waivers that would allow the grants to be used towards preventing lay-offs and rehiring positions that were cut due to local fiscal woes.

Senator Schumer is also introducing legislation to provide a tax credit of $1,000 for volunteer firefighters that would serve as an important recruitment tool for local groups to boost enrollment numbers. Most importantly, it is a way for the Federal government to express the country’s enormous gratitude for the sacrifices they voluntarily make each day. Senator Dodd will be an original co-sponsor of Schumer’s legislation.


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