Verena Dobnik, The Associated PressNEW YORK -- If two New York City lawmakers get their way, the long, droning siren from police cars, fire trucks and ambulances that has been part of the city's soundtrack for generations -- WAAAAAhhhhhhh -- would be replaced by a high-low wail similar to what's heard on the streets of London and Paris -- WEE-oww-WEE-oww-WEE-oww.
Noise is consistently among the most frequent complaints to the city's hotline, with many calls about the loud sirens that blare 24/7, wake people from their slumber and cause dogs to howl in unison. If approved in a council vote --which has yet to be scheduled-- the legislation would require sirens on all emergency vehicles to transition within a two-year period.
At community board meetings, Mount Sinai's Emergency Medical Services Director Joseph Davis played various siren options to find out which one locals preferred.