Sheriffs ticket volunteer firefighter suspected of flashing emergency lights at friend

Where's the fire?

It was not on West O Street outside the Pla Mor Ballroom early Monday morning, but that didn't stop an Ithaca volunteer firefighter from flashing his red and blue emergency lights, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Daniel A. Simon, 21, was ticketed after investigators say he flashed the lights at a vehicle he was following, which was being driven by a friend.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said a deputy at the Pla Mor, 6600 W. O St., to check on a report of a woman who had cut her hand, saw Simon pull out of the dance hall's parking lot at about 12:30 a.m., turn eastbound onto West O Street, turn on his emergency lights and get close to the vehicle in front of him.

Turns out Simon knew the other driver, and an incident report says investigators think he was "playing around."

The deputy who pulled over Simon's Chevrolet K2500 pickup learned his permit for the emergency lights expired at the end of 2009. The deputy seized the lights and the expired permit, according to the report, which also notes that Simon passed a sobriety test.

He was cited and released for following too closely and for violating Nebraska State Statute 60-6, 233, which pertains to the permitted use of rotation or flashing red and blue lights.

The light are to be used only "while actually en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency" and that permits to use the lights must be renewed annually.

Simon's status with Ithaca's volunteer fire department was not known Monday.

Reach Cory Matteson at 402-473-7438 or [email protected].

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