Township of Teaneck, NJ Article VII First Aid, Rescue and Ambulance Squads

[Added by Ord. No. 34-2020, 1-5-2021]

Sec. 21-49 Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply to this article:

FIRST AID, RESCUE OR AMBULANCE SQUAD

An agency, association or other entity which provides first aid, rescue or ambulance services, whether or not it receives remuneration for such services.

Sec. 21-50 Licenses.

(a) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which directly serves residents of the Township of Teaneck or which responds or is called to respond to medical emergencies occurring within the Township of Teaneck shall be required to obtain an annual license from the Health Officer of the Teaneck Department of Health and pay the annual license fee as set forth in this article or as may be amended from time to time pursuant to the current fee ordinance of the Township of Teaneck.

(b) Upon issuance of a license, the licensee shall receive a decal which shall be affixed to the windshield of each vehicle used to directly serve residents of the Township of Teaneck or to respond to medical emergencies occurring within the Township of Teaneck evidencing that such first aid, rescue or ambulance squad is properly licensed and that the vehicle has been inspected in accordance with this article.

(c) The Township of Teaneck shall charge an annual license fee in an amount as set forth in Appendix III, Fees and Charges for Certain Township Services, of Chapter 2 of this Code.

[Amended by Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022]

(d) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article shall be required to enter into a written memorandum of understanding with the Township of Teaneck that specifies the parameters of where and when they will respond as a condition of obtaining a license or any annual renewal thereof. Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article and has been issued a current valid license by the Department of Health shall be required to enter into such memorandum of understanding within 30 days of the effective date of this amendatory ordinance.[1]

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

[1] Editor's Note: "[T]his amendatory ordinance" refers to Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022, which ordinance enacted this Subsection (d).

(e) The licensing requirements hereunder shall not apply to any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad transporting patients from locations outside of the Township of Teaneck to medical facilities within the Township of Teaneck or to such patients' residences within the Township of Teaneck, or to paramedic advanced life support units dispatched by Mobile Intensive Care Communications (MICCOM), an emergency medical dispatching service affiliated with the Hackensack University Medical Center, to assist any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad licensed hereunder.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

(f) In addition to being subject to any fines or penalties set forth in this article, any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad failing to comply with the requirements of this article may have its licensed revoked or denied.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

Sec. 21-51 Requirements.

(a) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article shall have its rescue equipment and vehicle inspected by the New Jersey Department of Health or the EMS Council of New Jersey on an annual basis. No first aid, rescue or ambulance squad required to be licensed under this article shall operate within the Township of Teaneck unless its vehicles and equipment pass the inspection of the state for certification of vehicle(s), equipment and personnel as required under N.J.A.C. 8:40-2.6.

[Amended by Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022]

(b) This inspection is not required for first aid, rescue or ambulance squads which do not directly serve residents of the Township of Teaneck and respond to medical emergencies occurring within the Township of Teaneck but which do transport individuals from other municipalities to medical facilities within the Township of Teaneck or to such individuals' residences within the Township of Teaneck.

(c) All active members of any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad who operate within the Township of Teaneck must maintain the following certifications/licenses:

(1) A valid CPR certification at the level of "professional rescuer" as approved by the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services.

(2) Bloodborne pathogens (BBP).

(3) New Jersey driver's license.

(4) Emergency medical technician (EMT) (must maintain as per New Jersey Department of Health requirements).

(d) The Coordinator of the Teaneck Office of Emergency Management or his/her designee shall serve as the individual responsible for monitoring first aid, rescue and ambulance squads required to be licensed under this article. The Coordinator of the Teaneck Office of Emergency Management is authorized to establish rules and regulations concerning the inspection of these vehicles. No fee shall be charged for these inspections by the Township of Teaneck.

(e) Immediately upon receipt of any call for service and before initiating a response to a call for service within the Township of Teaneck, any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article shall notify the Township of Teaneck Police Department [via telephone by dialing the following designated telephone number: [phone]] of the nature of the call, the name of the caller and the address to which the response is being made.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

(f) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article shall not advertise any phone number other than 911 for emergency response in Teaneck (defined as any response with emergency lights and/or sirens), in accordance with N.J.A.C. 17:24-10.3.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

(g) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article shall only quarter/house/park emergency vehicles (when not in use) in locations permissible under N.J. Title 39 and the Township Code.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

(h) Any first aid, rescue or ambulance squad which is required to be licensed under this article, and its members while on duty, shall comply with all applicable state and municipal laws, statutes and ordinances.

[Added by Ord. No. 40-2022, 9-20-2022]

Sec. 21-52 Indemnification and insurance.

No first aid, rescue or ambulance squad required to be licensed under this article shall receive a license to operate within the Township of Teaneck without first executing an agreement with the Township that it will defend, indemnify and hold the Township harmless against liability for any and all claims for damage to property or injury to or death of persons arising out of or resulting from the operation of the first aid, rescue or ambulance squad within the Township of Teaneck. All first aid, rescue or ambulance squads required to be licensed under this article shall maintain a general liability insurance policy in the amount of $2,000,000, which shall name the Township of Teaneck as an additional named insured.

Sec. 21-53 Compliance with other licensing requirements.

All ambulances or other vehicles used by a first aid, rescue or ambulance squad required to be licensed under this article to transport individuals for medical assistance shall meet all relevant and applicable standards adopted by the State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) for licensing ambulances, as set forth in N.J.A.C. 8:40-1.1 et seq. Compliance with this section may be demonstrated by participating in any voluntary inspection program offered by OEMS.

Sec. 21-54 Violations and penalties.

A first aid, rescue or ambulance squad in violation of any section of this article shall be subject to the general penalties set forth in Sec. 1-6 of the Code of the Township of Teaneck.