Speed scam gone crazy... [Archive]

Scuba_Steve

16th February 2011, 07:09

Luckily this has not reached NZ shores... (yet). Hopefully it never does, cause this is just insane :weird::wacko::blink:

Paramedics in Edmonton, Alberta, were advised by Alberta Health Services that drivers should "respond within the speed limits even when responding with lights and siren". AHS wrote: "Our job is to save lives, not put them in jeopardy." Drivers interviewed by Canadian news organisations say police have been stopping and issuing tickets to drivers on emergencies if they speed.

steve_t

16th February 2011, 07:18

WTF? Make sure you don't drive the ambo/fire truck over 50 km/h. Make sure you wait for the lights to go green before proceeding through an intersection :facepalm: I wonder if anyone's died while the cop has been issuing the ticket to the Emergency Services driver

oldrider

16th February 2011, 07:26

The "authorities" are there to "save us from ourselves"! :yes:

Some of "us" may die in the process but that is a risk that "they" are prepared to take! :facepalm:

Where would we be without "them"! :doh:

slofox

16th February 2011, 07:28

The Parking Gestapo in The Tron issued a ticket to a fire engine responding to a callout - for being "illegally parked"...FFS.

oneofsix

16th February 2011, 07:30

You can always depend on your managers for support, right?
"were advised by Alberta Health Services"
appears not.
Then they have the cheek to say they are in the business of saving lives. Oh the power of propaganda.:yes:

onearmedbandit

16th February 2011, 07:38

Have you got any other evidence of this, other than Chuck Shepards 'News of the Weird'?

steve_t

16th February 2011, 07:46

Scuba_Steve

16th February 2011, 07:49

Have you got any other evidence of this, other than Chuck Shepards 'News of the Weird'?

EMS1.com & CBC News

oneofsix

16th February 2011, 07:56

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Ambulances+speed+when+necessary+Alberta+Health+say s/4024911/story.html

A controversial directive telling Edmonton ambulance drivers they can’t speed under any circumstances was incorrect, Alberta Health Services said Friday...

Not quite incorrect. There was an original, limited distribution, memo that did prohibit speeding. It is only NOW incorrect cause its been amended.
"Only Edmonton Emergency Medical Services workers received the original memo prohibiting speeding"
I wonder if it was amended because the original receipants complained?
It also leaves an extra worry for the drivers. What if they miss call or it gets downgraded on route?

onearmedbandit

16th February 2011, 08:05

Ah so according to the 2nd article no drivers of emergency vehicles have been pulled over during an emergency.

Scuba_Steve

16th February 2011, 08:19

Ah so according to the 2nd article no drivers of emergency vehicles have been pulled over during an emergency.

from CBS News
"Edmonton paramedics are also getting ticketed for going through red lights and speeding. The union said that started happening after AHS took over ambulance services last year."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/12/24/edmonton-ambulance-ahs-speed-limits-memo.html#ixzz1E3pYtLu7

oneofsix

16th February 2011, 08:23

Ah so according to the 2nd article no drivers of emergency vehicles have been pulled over during an emergency.

True but that was a policy statement and therefore may not be reality. Also if you are mashed up on the side of the road wont it be a comfort to knwo the ambo is driving with the knowledge in the back of their mind that they might receive a ticket in the mail. I am sure they will eb going hard out to get to you knowing the support they haven't been shown by their management. :facepalm:

Ocean1

16th February 2011, 08:48

Usarka

16th February 2011, 08:58

Oh that's Canada for you eh.

george formby

16th February 2011, 09:17

Don't think there's any traffic regulation dispensations for emergency services vehicles here.

The only thing that stops them getting pinged is the constabulary's knowledge that the fallout would be exactly as above.

I was speaking to an Ambo a few years ago, commenting on their rather grunty sounding emergency vehicle & their comment was that it was a waste of fuel because they get ticketed for speeding regardless of the risk to their passenger.

Same rules for them & us here apparently.

Whynot

16th February 2011, 09:40

Its always an emergency when i speed

scumdog

16th February 2011, 10:29

Don't think there's any traffic regulation dispensations for emergency services vehicles here.

The only thing that stops them getting pinged is the constabulary's knowledge that the fallout would be exactly as above.

You KNOW this and it's correct?:blink: or is it just a 'don't think' comment?

If it is true it proves the Norfeyeland is a different country for sure.:yes:

Ocean1

16th February 2011, 10:42

You KNOW this and it's correct?:blink: or is it just a 'don't think' comment?

If it is true it proves the Norfeyeland is a different country for sure.:yes:

I heard reported by the media about four years ago and confirmed by an police official at that time that there are no legal dispensations for emergency vehicles in New Zealand, they are technically required to obey the same complete panoply of traffic law as the rest of us.

If that's not the case I'd like to say I’d be more inclined to believe the official was deliberately misquoted and did not utter an untruth.

I’d like to. Unfortunately, based on personal experience I’d risk standing accused of impropriety myself.

steve_t

16th February 2011, 10:49

You KNOW this and it's correct?:blink: or is it just a 'don't think' comment?

If it is true it proves the Norfeyeland is a different country for sure.:yes:

LOL. Why don't you just tell us what the real deal is, SD? :corn:

rustic101

16th February 2011, 11:05

I heard reported by the media about four years ago and confirmed by an police official at that time that there are no legal dispensations for emergency vehicles in New Zealand, they are technically required to obey the same complete panoply of traffic law as the rest of us.

If that's not the case I'd like to say I’d be more inclined to believe the official was deliberately misquoted and did not utter an untruth.
.

Correct there is no legal defence in the event of a crash or injury resulting from speed or unusual manoeuvre's ....

oneofsix

16th February 2011, 11:06

Correct there is no legal defence in the event of a crash or injury resulting from speed or unusual manoeuvre's ....

At least our police don't threaten them with tickets

Scuba_Steve

16th February 2011, 15:01

At least our police don't threaten them with tickets

...yet, I wouldn't put it passed our Govt to try the same thing :facepalm:

SPman

16th February 2011, 18:12

The Parking Gestapo in The Tron issued a ticket to a fire engine responding to a callout - for being "illegally parked"...FFS.As a Building Inspector in Auckland city, I got several tickets, including an attempt at one for parking on a building site behind orange cones at a site cordoned off for site parking!
I told him to stop being a fuckwit and proceeded on my way. On a site in Queen St, the builders got a ticket for parking on the footpath, as they opened the gate to the site to drive in!
So, I wouldn't put it past any authority to try this shit on!