By David Greene
A Bronxite visiting the Bay Plaza shopping mall with his family, says he became infuriated when he observed two FDNY EMS members sleeping in their ambulance outside Barnes and Noble. The source, which did not want to be identified, said he first observed the city ambulance outside the bookstore at 5:12 p.m., on Sunday, May 22.
The source claimed, "When I came back it was the same situation, both workers sleeping in the truck while breaking the law, because the New York State idle law is five-minutes unless an emergency vehicle is in action. Not sleeping!"
The point-and-shoot activist took several photos, including one where both members appear nodded-out. The source continued, "I was walking with my wife and two children... and could not breathe... The New York City Mayor is putting another smoking law into effect tomorrow with fines of $50 for each violation, but the idle law has been in effect for many years, but its never enforced. The public needs to be aware of this situation."
After about 20 minutes, the source observed a second ambulance from Montefiore Hospital pull up behind the first and left the diesel-fuel-burning ambulance idling for 10 minutes, before the source left at 6 p.m. The source added, "Nobody said they can't take a nap, but they don't have to do it in the view of the public, who see first responders sleeping and idling and my kids have to breathe in the fumes as we walk in the bookstore."
The photos were forwarded to the FDNY's Operations Department, who will look into the incident. Current figures state 50,000 people currently reside in Co op City.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (NYS DEC) website states that current laws ban heavy duty vehicles from idling more than five minutes, unless, "Involved in an emergency situation."
Current fines for a first offense range from $500 to $18,000. On February, 10, 2009, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation that gave civilians the ability to report truck idling violations through the DEC website.
Repeated calls to DEC were not immediately returned. A call to Mayor Bloomberg's office was referred to the Department of Finance, who collect fines from violators, but that request was also not immediately returned.
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