At last: Release issued announcing Lemon Law

It’s almost a month after it happened, but I’ve finally prepared and am distributing MY release about the passage of the Emergency Vehicle Lemon Law. You can see the release here.

The release talks about the importance of the new law, the unusual opportunity this challenge created to combine my love for public safety and my love for public affairs, and my true belief that this event showed that our form of government does work.

The legislators in the 24th District issued their release a month ago and the Daily Record (Parsippany) did a nice series of articles, including an editorial on Jan. 27 praising me! That was a first.

Anyway, thank you again for your help with this law. Feel free to pass this release on to anyone who might find it interesting.

“Lemon Law Ambulance” Provides a Post-Script: It Catches Fire

Flanders Ambulance 87, the Braun ambulance on a 2005 Ford E-450 chassis that triggered New Jersey’s Emergency Vehicle Lemon Law, caught fire while unattended in its firehouse bay Thursday morning.

Two firefighters were hurt fighting the fire, which did substantial damage to the ambulance, and minor damage to the firehouse. Police told the local newspapers that the cause of the fire was in the ABS mechanism of the engine.  Newspaper coverage can be seen here and here. 

It’s an ironic end to an ambulance that has given the fire company grief since the day it was purchased. After Ford and International tore the engine apart and put it back together, the ambulance served the fire company well for a couple of years. Today, the ABS light came on while the ambulance was returning from a call. It was taken out of service and parked. A short time later it caught fire.

There are two items of good news: First, no patient was in the ambulance when it caught fire. Second, with our new emergency vehicle lemon law, any emergency vehicle delivered with as many demons as this one had would have been taken out of service and replaced long ago.

Ambulance 87, the inspiration for New Jersey's Emergency Vehicle Lemon Law, caught fire while sitting in its firehouse bay unattended.

Daily Record runs story on Lemon Law

Just to let you know, the Daily Record of Morristown ran a story yesterday about the Lemon Law.  Unfortunately, they only got about half of the story into their electronic edition, so you can read what they did publish here.  WRNJ Radio, in Hackettstown, also interviewed me about the law,  so the word’s getting out.

And, yes, the release is still coming.

24th District Legislators Take Their Credit for Emergency Lemon Law

The delegation from the 24th Legislative District has issued a news release announcing the passage of Emergency Vehicle Lemon Law.

The release, on the NJ Assembly Republicans Wb site, can be seen here.

Sen. Steven Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Gary Chiusano responded promptly two years ago when I contacted about the need to extend NJ’s Motor Vehicle Lemon Law to emergency vehicles. With the support of Flanders Fire Company and Rescue Squad, which had an ambulance that would have fallen under the rule signed into law earlier this month, I explained the problems emergency vehicle operators face when an emergency vehicle doesn’t perform. The three legislators, with help from Sen. Barbara Buono and Assemblyman Jack Connors, quickly introduced the legislation that, with some negotiated changes, is now law.

Our thanks to all of the legislators involved.

This week, I’ll also be issuing a news release. Please let us know here if you are considering using the new Lemon Law on a vehicle.

It’s The Law: Emergency Vehicles Now Covered Under the NJ’s Lemon Law

New Jersey operators of fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and other emergency vehicles now can demand a replacement vehicle or refund of the purchase or lease price of the vehicle if it has chronic problems and can’t be repaired.

Former Gov. Jon Corzine signed A3396, the bill that brought emergency vehicles in the state under the Lemon Law. The bill became effective immediately.

You can read the final version of the law here. Thank you to everybody who has supported this and helped us push this through.

I’m going to generate a news release in the next day or two. If you have a comment you’d like to include, please respond here.

Lemon Law for Emerg Vehicles Headed for Gov. Corzine’s desk

A set of bills that would bring emergency vehicles under the state’s lemon law today completed its legislative journey when the Assembly passed A3396 with the amendments inserted by the Senate. The set of bills now goes to Gov. Corzine. He must sign it by Jan. 19, his last day in office.

Making the trip to the governor’s desk is not a guarantee that he will sign the law. I need to ask you to write one last note. This one’s easy. First highlight and save this: Please sign A3396/S2304 into law. These laws provide Lemon Law protection to those who energency vehicle operators, adding another assurance that police cars, fire apparatus and ambulances will be ready when they’re needed.

Got it? OK, all you have to do is click on the link at the end of this sentence, select “Law and Public Safety” from the pull-down menu, the pick a topic from the next pull-down menu (I picked Consumer Affairs) then fill in the blank. At the bottom, you can paste in the sentence you highlighted and saved above , or you can write in  your own remark.  Got it? OK. Click here.

Then click send and you’re done.

Thanks. Let me know when you’ve said the note. And I’ll let you know what happens next.

Thanks!

Senate OKs Lemon Law: On Its Way Back to Assembly

The New Jersey Senate approved the two bills that make New Jersey’s Lemon Law applicable to emergency vehicles. The Assembly version is headed back there on Monday, where the Assembly is expected to approve the changes to the bill made by the Senate. From there, it heads to the governor’s desk.

While we don’t know for sure that Gov. Corzine will sign the bill, it has not been controversial and the state EMS Council has expressed its support for the law.

I’ll let you know if we need to make the governor aware of our desire that he sign this bill.  I’ll keep you apprised!

NJ Senate to Vote on Lemon Law for Emergency Vehicles

The New Jersey State Senate will vote Thursday on the Lemon Law for emergency vehicles.

The two bills, A3396 and S2304, are on the calendar posted this morning. The Assembly passed the bill as submitted several months ago and sent it to the Senate. S23o4 underwent several changes after extensive negotiations with General Motors, Honda and other representatives of truck manufacturers. You can read the bill here. After reviewing the compromise language, the Senate Commerce Committee passed the bill to the Senate.

Thursday, the Senate will vote on both bills. The Assembly bill will be voted on with the new language. It must then go back to the Assembly for final passage so the identical bills are passed in both houses. The finished bill then goes to the governor for his signature.

Now is the time for you to shoot a quick email or make a quick phone call to let your senator know that he or she must vote in favor of this bill.  Click here to find out how to find out who your senator is and to send him or her a note.

Please send the email or make the call. It only takes a minute, but it can make a big difference. And please let us know that you’ve made the call or sent the email and share your thoughts with us. We’re so close. Get involved, please!

I wanted also to take a moment to remember two friends. Paramedic Randy Widdos,  MICP 1454, passed away on Christmas morning. He and I rode together on Medic-57  in Warren County. Randy knew the importance of getting involved and served on the governing body of his hometown and as deputy mayor.

On New Year’s Eve, Ed Vanderhoof passed away. Although he never worked in the field, he sold many of us ambulances and other vehicles over the years through different dealers. He understood what we do and was an enthusiastic supporter. He also stayed aware of and involved in politics in his home town because he understood the importance of the process.

Both men were in their early 50s; both men ended a long fight with cancer.

Write Sen. Codey; EMS Council Supports Lemon Law

With S2304 passed out of the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee, it’s time to ask Sen. Richard Codey to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. Now, more than ever, we must make ourselves heard.

Meanwhile, the state EMS Council Wednesday threw its weight behind the bill, voting unanimously to ask that the bill be posted.

Sen. Cody, from West Orange, is the Senate President. Part of his job is to select which bills go to the Senate Floor for a vote.  With the Senate in lame duck session, it’ll only meet a few more times.  We need to convince the senator that S2304 should be considered during the early session. Keep in mind that sponsors of every other bill being considered by the Senate will be asking Sen. Codey to post their bills, so emergency services people have to let him know we want this bill.

All you need to do is email him. Address your email to sencodey@njleg.org and simply write, “I am a voting (firefighter, paramedic, EMT, police officer…whatever you do) in the state of New Jersey, and I support S2304, the bill that provides lemon law coverage to emergency vehicles. Please bring this bill to the Senate floor for a vote.” That’s all ya gotta do.

If it’s easier, call (973) 731-6670 and read that message to his staffer.

All it takes is a minute, either way. You probably won’t be asked any questions, but most of the information you need to know is somewhere on this blog.

And please take a minute and let me know you’ve written a letter here or elsewhere.

On the other matter, I went to Trenton to appear before the EMS Council Wednesday. The council is a gathering of organizations representing every agency in New Jersey that provides or supports EMS. I stood and talked for about two minutes about the bill and the need for the Council’s support and Mickey McCabe, owner of McCabe Ambulance in Bayonne, interrupted me because the group knew about the bill, and made the motion. Information about the bill already had been distributed and it took about a minute for three people to second McCabe’s motion and for the group to unanimously agree to send the letter.

Several people later commented that the proposal was long over due.

My thanks to Mickey for leading the charge and my thanks to Don Roberts in OEMS for suggesting that I appear before the group.

Please follow the Council’s example and send a quick note to Sen. Cody. I’ve emailed my note and only took a minute or so.

Thanks.

Lemon Law Bills Out of Senate Committee

The Senate Commerce Committee Monday approved and sent to the Senate floor the Assembly and Senate versions of the proposals to apply the state’s motor vehicle Lemon Law to emergency vehicles.

The Senate must now vote on the legislation in one of the last few sessions remaining.  The Assembly must then adopt the changes to the original legislation and then it goes to Gov. Corzine’s desk for his signature.

Meanwhile, I’m planning on appearing before the New Jersey EMS Council in Trenton at 10 a.m. Wednesday. More information about this tomorrow, but if you’re available, it would be great to have your support.

Your vocal support now becomes absolutely important. With Sen. Oroho’s support and guidance, we’ve neutralized our biggest opposition by negotiating with General Motors.  It’ll come as no surprise that they don’t like Lemon Laws on principle, but they have said they wouldn’t testify against this bill. That doesn’t mean others won’t fight it. And it doesn’t mean that leaders in the Legislature and in the governor’s office won’t deal with other bills and let this one languish if we don’t make them realize how important it is.

We’ve come a long way toward having some recourse short of a lawsuit if someone sells us an ambulance, fire or rescue truck, police vehicle or other emergency vehicle that is constantly out of service. Let’s not give up this close to the finish line. Now is the time to write your senator. Click here and follow the instructions on the page. Email or call his or her office and simply say, “I’m a (firefighter, EMT, police officer…whatever describes you) and I’d like Sen. (name) to support S2304 that will give us the protection of the Lemon Law for our emergency vehicles.” If you want to explain why it’s important to you, or tell your Senator about a lemon your department has or has had, that would be great. But mostly, just ask him or her to support the bill. And please let me know that you’ve done that.

Feel free to leave your comments and stories here, too.