Fire Chief James Allen said he was only trying to do his job when he decided to close the southbound right-hand lane on the Meadowbrook State Parkway after a collision occurred in the center lane around 9 a.m.
"It wasn't safe," he told The Patch. "The weather wasn't good and cars were slipping and sliding all over the place. I had a victim and I trying to make it as safe as possible. I have to keep my guys safe too."
The trooper insisted Allen allow the right- and left-hand lanes to handle the flow of traffic.
When the fire chief disagreed, the trooper threatened to have him arrested and ultimately issued the citation.
A new "move over" law went into effect in New York this year and Allen said the safety of first responders needs to be considered.
"In this case, no one could move over because the accident was in the center lane, but I had to make the scene secure."
New York State Police did not returned calls by The Patch seeking comment.
