Cops are more interested in Safty than Money!!!

[RiverDave]

As soon as we explain to Nord how gold leaf lettering holds up to heat better than vinyl :thumbsup

AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

RD

 

[ROC]

As soon as we explain to Nord how gold leaf lettering holds up to heat better than vinyl :thumbsup

That's easy to answer..........

True gold leafing is a dying art. Vinyl lettering looks like shit (back to the looking good part)

Since firemen are all about supporting local business, we hire the only gold leaf artist in town. He's about 110.00 bucks an hour PLUS 90.00 bucks per 4 inch letter and 180.00 bucks for 10 inch letters.

Our gold leaf wording on my last rig was as follows.........PALM SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT and TRUCK 442 on two sides in four in letters. The 100" ladder had 10 inch letters, both sides, with the same wording. On the rear quarter panels, both sides, in two inch lettering were the words "PSSST, CHECK OUT THESE BITCHEN ALCOAS". The whole truck cost about $18,000 to gold leaf. Because of that, we're too damn nervous to even touch it while washing and waxing the rig. Therefore, it never gets touched and lasts a long time. Vinyl, on the other hand, we hate that shit and will purposely scratch it in the hopes of getting true gold leafing done. And THAT is why real gold leaf lasts longet than vinyl

Now back to the topic on hand..............

 

[Nord]

Looking great shows that we take pride in maintaining that expensive equipment. I bet we'd hear all kinds of shit from the public if we didn't keep those rigs looking their best. Damn, 20 years in the fire service tweeked me a little. I can't stand having my shit NOT dialed in. My garage, my closet, my truck etc. It's a sickness I think.


Yeah Alcoas are nice and we went to them quite a few years back. The guy heading up our apparatus committee told me why we got them instead of the steel wheels. Something about weight versus strength, maintenance, etc(gotta keep painting the wheels). An independant study was done before we ordered Alcoas on our new rigs. The study pretty much verified that buying Alcoas ( or any billet wheel) that will last the life of the rig was less expensive than buying steel wheels and having to repaint them on a regular basis (back to the looking good part). We also used chrome hub caps for a while. Pieces of crap that don't stay on. BTW, at least in the PSFD, the firemen keep the rig polished, including the Alcoas. We don't pay anyone to do shit that we can do in house. Including fabbing tool brackets, mounting equipment, minor repairs, preventative maint. etc.

And your'e right, it costs about 750,000+ bucks to get a rig built to spec. That's a ton of $$. Then we have to buy all (or a lot of it anyway, hose, tools, generators, Breathing apparatus etc) the equipment for it.

There's really nothing that I'd consider unneccesary on any of our rigs. I wouldn't even consider any of our equipment "nice to haves". Most tools we have/carry are multi-functional. Now that GPS tracking device..........that sucks.

This was never ran by the tax payers. Where was the "study" on how the tax payers wanted a fire truck to look? As for the Alcoas "which really wasn't supposed to be the focus here" I'm sure there are off brands that would build the rim for less and if there isn't then RiverDave should go where the money is being spent and start building those

As soon as we explain to Nord how gold leaf lettering holds up to heat better than vinyl :thumbsup

Lol.......... do we have new stickers coming out?

 

[ROC]

This was never ran by the tax payers. Where was the "study" on how the tax payers wanted a fire truck to look? As for the Alcoas "which really wasn't supposed to be the focus here" I'm sure there are off brands that would build the rim for less and if there isn't then RiverDave should go where the money is being spent and start building those


Lol.......... do we have new stickers coming out?

Honestly I don't think looks were the driving force behind buying Alcoas. Weight, maintenance etc played more a part than just looks. I think. Yeah, I'm pretty sure. They just happen to look good. Real good.

 

[TBI]

That's easy to answer..........

True gold leafing is a dying art. Vinyl lettering looks like shit (back to the looking good part)

Since firemen are all about supporting local business, we hire the only gold leaf artist in town. He's about 110.00 bucks an hour PLUS 90.00 bucks per 4 inch letter and 180.00 bucks for 10 inch letters.

Our gold leaf wording on my last rig was as follows.........PALM SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT and TRUCK 442 on two sides in four in letters. The 100" ladder had 10 inch letters, both sides, with the same wording. On the rear quarter panels, both sides, in two inch lettering were the words "PSSST, CHECK OUT THESE BITCHEN ALCOAS". The whole truck cost about $18,000 to gold leaf. Because of that, we're too damn nervous to even touch it while washing and waxing the rig. Therefore, it never gets touched and lasts a long time. Vinyl, on the other hand, we hate that shit and will purposely scratch it in the hopes of getting true gold leafing done. And THAT is why real gold leaf lasts longet than vinyl

Now back to the topic on hand..............

Shhhh, don't tell Nord

 

[ROC]

lol. I guess I shouldn't poke Nord too much. I need to buy some boots.....soon.

 

[TBI]

This was never ran by the tax payers. Where was the "study" on how the tax payers wanted a fire truck to look? As for the Alcoas "which really wasn't supposed to be the focus here" I'm sure there are off brands that would build the rim for less and if there isn't then RiverDave should go where the money is being spent and start building those

If you ran EVERYTHING by the taxpayers, nothing would ever get done, It's kinda like trying to explain something to a woman

 

[HolyMoly]

I got a ticket around Christmas time at kind of a famous speed trap about 40 miles from where I live. Not wanting the ticket on my record, and strongly feeling that the whole idea of having a 65MPH speed limit with modern vehicles on a dry, flat, straight, 4 lane highway is total bullshit, I called the court house and asked if I could get traffic school. "Lady says "there's no traffic school in this particular county, but you can request court supervision for "a slightly increased fine". So I say, "Sounds okay, what do I have to do?" She says, "show up at the courthouse, room whatever on March 17." So I do that.

So, I stood in this small town courthouse last Wednesday with about 200 other people. From talking to them in the hallway, seemingly all of them got ticketed by State Police on the same stretch of interstate highway, and they had also called in to request court supervision and were told to show up here, with little other info.

Suprise! When my turn came talking to the States Attorney, he offered that, at this point, I could either plead guilty and pay an increased fine plus court costs of $250 in exchange for 6 months court supervision, or go to jury trial and be subjected to the maximum fine for speeding (15-20MPH over the limit) of $1000 plus $2500 costs. He also added under his breath that "by the way, it's very rare that somebody wins a jury trial traffic court case in this county without a really great lawyer." So I asked, "Can't I just pay the original $75 fine and plead guilty." "No sir, you've already incurred court costs by coming here." Jesus! I guess talking to some random lady on the phone for 30 seconds is worth about $175 these days. Like every other person present, I took the plea and Court supervision deal instead of the potential $3500.

It was a real eye opening experience though. During the hour or so I was sitting there, I watched the judge dole out about $75K in court costs and fines to various speeders. Never once during the hour did the judge or anyone else ever mention any dangers of speeding or even suggest that speeding was particularly wrong in any way. He just explained to each person in turn that they now owed various sums of money to the court, and most importantly, how soon could they pay it? Clearly a collection and accounting process, not a crime and punishment process. The Judge seemed far more responsible for confirming how much money would be collected from each victim and when, then for punishing anybody for a crime of any sort. Three speeding tickets in a year is supposed to be automatic suspension of lic.in this state, but I noticed the people on their third, fourth, fith and sixth tickets were all still given court supervision too, in exchange for substantially increased fines.

Even the guy caught speeding while driving on suspended Lic. for DUI and having suspended registration with no insurance, just got 1 year court Supervision and "How soon can you pay your fines of $3500 plus court costs?" Personally, I don't really want that guy driving near me, WTF?

That's when it really hit me...if your in jail, it not only costs the state lots of money, it's much harder to rack up more fines and court costs...and since more than 70% of crimes are committed by repeat offenders, it's just really bad business to put dangerous criminals in jail or even take away drivers licenses from chronic speeders. Those are cash cows! It is clearly in the best interests of Police, Lawyers and Court officials etc. to keep criminals free and still committing crimes. On top of which it's way easier. Likewise it's better to keep repeat speeders out driving so they can get more fine $$. Without repeat offenders, you have 70% less revenue and that makes it really hard to pay the bills.

So as a personal protest of the corrupt system, I have sold all my sports cars and motorcycles and have purchased a new Toyota Prius, which I will now drive everywhere, always traveling at least 5-10MPH slower than the posted speed limit, coming to a full stop at all stop signs and yellow or red traffic lights. Since I believe that this practice is actually far more dangerous than speeding ever was, I expect to be killed in a traffic accident or a road rage incident here shortly, but what the hell, it's for a good cause.

All I can say is that the court depends on people to be outright ignorant of their rights. And in traffic court, even really good lawyers are useless because they try to argue the facts of the case while failing to realize that due process doesn't exist!!! Sure, you might get railroaded by that court...but they are not the end of the line. I just beat a ticket in appeal. The traffic court failed to provide due process...in which the traffic court told me "I had no right to due process in traffic court" and they also told me I could not appeal the decision! Both are outright lies!!! The average person thinks that the courts will properly inform you of your rights and that they won't be lied to. They depend on you to be ignorant, wanting to minimize how much time you spend on it, and threaten you with the big bad things that will happen to you if you don't "cooperate." You get out in rural areas, and they make you think they can do anything they want..and they may/will probably try thinking you are like every other moron that came thru the court before you.

As RD likes to say....just because they do it, doesn't make it actually legal. Our traffic court system is so streamlined these days that it is basically impossible for them to provide due process. But...you have to know exactly what to do, and when to do it...because if you don't, you basically give them a pass to ignore the law and your rights.

 

[TBI]

All I can say is that the court depends on people to be outright ignorant of their rights. And in traffic court, even really good lawyers are useless because they try to argue the facts of the case while failing to realize that due process doesn't exist!!! Sure, you might get railroaded by that court...but they are not the end of the line. I just beat a ticket in appeal. The traffic court failed to provide due process...in which the traffic court told me "I had no right to due process in traffic court" and they also told me I could not appeal the decision! Both are outright lies!!! The average person thinks that the courts will properly inform you of your rights and that they won't be lied to. They depend on you to be ignorant, wanting to minimize how much time you spend on it, and threaten you with the big bad things that will happen to you if you don't "cooperate." You get out in rural areas, and they make you think they can do anything they want..and they may/will probably try thinking you are like every other moron that came thru the court before you.

As RD likes to say....just because they do it, doesn't make it actually legal. Our traffic court system is so streamlined these days that it is basically impossible for them to provide due process. But...you have to know exactly what to do, and when to do it...because if you don't, you basically give them a pass to ignore the law and your rights.

What the fuck does any of that have to do with Alcoa wheels and gold leaf lettering? :rules

 

[HolyMoly]

What the fuck does any of that have to do with Alcoa wheels and gold leaf lettering? :rules

Well...if Maxwedge keeps paying $3500 for tickets, they will upgrade to 24K gold billet wheels and won't f-around with that Alcoa junk!!!!

 

[TBI]

Well...if Maxwedge keeps paying $3500 for tickets, they will upgrade to 24K gold billet wheels and won't f-around with that Alcoa junk!!!!

Either that or the city will be able to afford to finish his driveway

 

[Crazyhippy]

Don't even start on the salary of a fireman:skull
Ridiculous.

98% of the time...

It's the other 2% you have to consider, and there is not enough $ in the world for that.:bowdown:

 

[TBI]

98% of the time...

It's the other 2% you have to consider, and there is not enough $ in the world for that.:bowdown:

That's crazy..... Hippy

 

[mbrown2]

As for the Alcoas "which really wasn't supposed to be the focus here" I'm sure there are off brands that would build the rim for less and if there isn't then RiverDave should go where the money is being spent and start building those

Nord, ask the guys at Station 1 in Tijuana where they got their painted rims they likely have to re-paint every 5yrs driving the cost higher than alloy...

Maybe they make/sell Cowboy boots cheaper from where they got their truck from...

 

[Deleted Account]

Nord, ask the guys at Station 1 in Tijuana where they got their painted rims they likely have to re-paint every 5yrs driving the cost higher than alloy...

Maybe they make/sell Cowboy boots cheaper from where they got their truck from...

I bet they got that from LA in the early 60's...

 

[John McGuinness]

Forget the alcoa's. That's chump change. Put firepersons on 3-8 hour shifts like the rest of the free world and really save some coin. Paying people to sleep and go shopping doesn't seem like the best way to keep cost down.

 

[Yellowboat]

98% of the time...

It's the other 2% you have to consider, and there is not enough $ in the world for that.:bowdown:

here is the thing with that...


we have 2 local FDs, one city, one county. The average pay for the city FD is 65k . The average pay for the county is 117k.

now when in comes to the dangers of the job, the city is several times over more dangerous, high rises, 100+ year old buildings, narrow streets, etc, etc.

The city also has 10+ year old trucks, where as the county replaces them ever 7 years.

So forgive me if I say the county FD is way over paid and is wasting money on new trucks.

 

[Crazyhippy]

That's crazy..... Hippy

I might be (and probably am) crazy... But if my house is on fire, i'm grabbing the wife (and i get to pick where:boobeyes , the dogs, and i'm getting the fuck out.

It takes a special kind of mental case to go into a burning building:bowdown::thumbsup:bowdown:

 

[jetboatmatt]

Hey Al Bundy quit selling cowboy boots!!!!!! LA County fire is hiring go get an app Nord lets see you do this job!!!!


Oh and to who ever said they should work three 8 hour shifts, do the math on how many more guys you need to hire and pay for all the benefits and retirement and all the extra gear. But you probably knew that you genius!!!

 

[RiverDave]

Hey Al Bundy quit selling cowboy boots!!!!!! LA County fire is hiring go get an app Nord lets see you do this job!!!!

Contrary to popular belief not everybody "wants" to be a fireman.

Oh and to who ever said they should work three 8 hour shifts, do the math on how many more guys you need to hire and pay for all the benefits and retirement and all the extra gear. But you probably knew that you genius!!!

I think the point was, to not have the benies, and retirement? I dunno though..

RD

 

[Nord]

Hey Al Bundy quit selling cowboy boots!!!!!! LA County fire is hiring go get an app Nord lets see you do this job!!!!


Oh and to who ever said they should work three 8 hour shifts, do the math on how many more guys you need to hire and pay for all the benefits and retirement and all the extra gear. But you probably knew that you genius!!!

I'm too old

I'm 32 and the academy takes what....... 4 years? Even if it took 2-3 years my age wouldn't be motivating for hire.

 

[ROC]

I'm too old

I'm 32 and the academy takes what....... 4 years? Even if it took 2-3 years my age wouldn't be motivating for hire.

Dude. You are NOT too old. In fact, some may say that hiring someone with your age and life experience is better than hiring a young 21-22 year old like when I got hired. With age comes (hopefully) maturity. We get youngsters with Bachelor degrees, fire officer certs (years of school), licensed medics and fire academy.........and they're only 24 years old. But, they lack the life experience and street smarts I feel they need to be great firemen. Living at home with mom and dad while going to the academy and getting your degree has it's benefits, it also has it's downfalls. You can't buy life experience.

Academy's don't take 4 years. I don't know exacty how long they are now, but, I do know that part-time academy's are offered for working folk like yourself. Weekends mostly.

Damn, get hired somewhere close to home and you can still keep your store. Double dip, most of us do/have.

 

[Nord]

Dude. You are NOT too old. In fact, some may say that hiring someone with your age and life experience is better than hiring a young 21-22 year old like when I got hired. With age comes (hopefully) maturity. We get youngsters with Bachelor degrees, fire officer certs (years of school), licensed medics and fire academy.........and they're only 24 years old. But, they lack the life experience and street smarts I feel they need to be great firemen. Living at home with mom and dad while going to the academy and getting your degree has it's benefits, it also has it's downfalls. You can't buy life experience.

Academy's don't take 4 years. I don't know exacty how long they are now, but, I do know that part-time academy's are offered for working folk like yourself. Weekends mostly.

Damn, get hired somewhere close to home and you can still keep your store. Double dip, most of us do/have.

I couldn't get away from the store. Our friend Dennis told me the same thing saying I was good with people. I just couldn't take the risk not to be picked up.