Conviction For Following Emergency Vehicles Too Closely

On May 10th, Stuart Goldman was found guilty of following fire apparatus too closely in federal court in Alexandria and sentenced to a fine of $1,500. Last October, Goldman was following behind a Fairfax County ambulance and fire truck that were responding with emergency lights activated to a reported traffic accident on the parkway. Traffic was yielding to the emergency vehicles, which were traveling up the middle of the two northbound lanes. Goldman was following ten to twelve feet behind the ambulance for between a half and three-quarters of a mile. The ambulance then stopped and EMS personnel on board asked Goldman to stop following so closely. The ambulance then continued to the accident, where Park Police officers were notified of the incident. Sergeant Frank Barwinczak stopped Goldman and cited him.