New York, NY – News Reporter: Mayor Bloomberg Used Emergency Lights In Traffic.

New York, NY – The mayor had criticized public officials who use lights and sirens to get to photo opportunities or other non-emergencies as we reported here.

Now Randal C. Archibold, a national correspondent for Newspapers, recalled a Sunday in August 2003, when the mayor did resort to using his lights to get from the the Ecuadorean parade in Queens to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in the Bronx: “a small group of reporters accepted a ride in one of the ‘chase’ S.U.V.’s, after we complained we would never get there in time by subway.” The cars, including the mayor’s, put on flashing lights and stepped up the speed.

How fast, I don’t remember, but it seemed over the limit at points, and they did go through at least one or two red lights At one point they tailed an ambulance, with its lights and sirens on, to get through traffic…
He had reason for urgency; it was at a time when he was seeking to bolster Latino support. I am certain they used emergency lights and at least the S.U.V. we were in blew the horn — you know that electronic honking police cars make — here and there as it proceeded through red lights.
We were going fast enough to pass traffic but certainly not 90 or anything close to that. I didn’t feel unsafe and frankly was grateful for the ride! [NYTimes Blog]