The following words and phrases are defined as follows for the purpose of this article:
Ambulance.
A vehicle for emergency care which provides a driver compartment and a patient compartment to accommodate two (2) emergency medical technicians and two (2) litter patients so positioned that at least one patient can be given intensive life support during transit; which carries equipment and supplies for optimal emergency care at the scene as well as during transport, for two-way radio communication, for safeguarding personnel and patients under hazardous conditions and for light rescue procedures; and which is designed and constructed to afford maximum safety and comfort, and to avoid aggravation of the patient’s condition, exposure to complications and threat to survival. “Primary units” are emergency ambulances in first line use and “backup units” are reserve units to be used in case all primary units are in use. Backup units shall meet the standards and be equipped in the same manner as primary units.
Ambulance operator.
The person, partnership or corporation holding a city emergency ambulance permit.
Ambulance, transfer.
A vehicle meeting the requirements of a “basic life support emergency medical services vehicle” under the rules of the department of state health services and which vehicle shall be used to transport patients under a physician’s care, from one medical facility to another medical facility, from a medical facility to a private residence, or from a private residence to a medical facility under conditions which do not ordinarily constitute emergency circumstances as that term is defined in this article.
Attendant.
Trained and qualified EMT graduate responsible for the operation of an ambulance and the care of the patients whether or not the attendant also serves as a driver. He shall be certified by the department of state health services within sixty (60) days after employment.
Attendant-driver.
A person who is qualified as an attendant and a driver. “Driver” means an individual who drives an ambulance.
Attendant’s permit.
A city emergency ambulance attendant’s permit.
Direct call.
A request for emergency ambulance service made by telephone or other means directly to the holder of an emergency ambulance permit, his agents or employees.
Driver’s permit.
A city emergency ambulance driver’s permit.
Emergency circumstances.
The existence of circumstances in which the element of time in giving emergency medical care and transporting the sick or injured for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of such person.
Emergency service.
This shall include the emergency ambulance trip to the place of emergency, the rendering of first aid and assistance and the trip to the hospital.
Nonprofit emergency service.
This includes emergency first aid and emergency rescue type service by nonprofit organizations when the injured or ill are not conveyed in the first aid or rescue vehicle.
Operator’s license.
A city emergency ambulance operator’s license.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-31; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-126; Ordinance 8525, sec. 1, adopted 1/26/1984; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
(a) 
Any person violating, or failing to comply with, any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(b) 
Each day that any violation of, or failure to comply with, this article is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate and distinct offense under this section and shall be punishable as such hereunder; provided, however, that the court may, in appropriate cases, stay the cumulation of penalties.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-55; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-127; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
It is the intent of this article that the citizens of the city shall at all times have adequate and necessary ambulance service, and to this end the chief of police is authorized to generally supervise and enforce this article and prescribe recommendations to the city council from time to time in order to insure that the operators of ambulances or ambulance services hereunder shall be able to render such public service.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-50; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-128; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
An emergency ambulance operator’s license shall keep a daily manifest for each vehicle upon which shall be recorded the date, time of day, response time, place of origin, destination and charges for each trip made by such vehicle. Such records shall be kept and maintained in a permanent file and made available for inspection at reasonable hours by the chief of police.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-51; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-129; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
Each operator shall furnish to the city manager a full, complete and composite quarterly report in writing showing its operations during the preceding three (3) months for the emergency ambulance service. This shall include the emergency vehicle records referred to in section 24.08.004. Such report shall be due twenty (20) days after the end of each ninety (90) days of operation. The reports shall include accurate information relating to revenues, expenses, the status of delinquent and uncollectable accounts and call statistics including date, time of day, response time, emergency location and any other data deemed necessary by the city manager so that the city will have sufficient financial and operational information. Each operator shall keep detailed and completely separate books, records and operating statistics of the emergency ambulance operations, excluding any and all other business enterprises in which the operator may be engaged, which will be subject during reasonable business hours to examination and audit by the city. Each operator shall continuously revise and update its forms and improve time taking measures of calls, dispatching and the like so as to constantly improve its operations.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-54; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-134; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
No emergency ambulance shall be operated on the public streets of the city unless it complies with the following requirements:
(1) 
Each ambulance shall, at all times when in use as such:
(A) 
Be suitable for the transportation of patients from the standpoint of health, sanitation and safety, and be maintained in suitable premises;
(B) 
Contain equipment and supplies conforming with the standards, requirements and regulations provided for in this article, which equipment shall be in proper and good condition for such use;
(C) 
Ambulances shall meet the standards for ambulances recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Publication No. 1071-C-3 entitled “Medical Requirements for Ambulance Design and Equipment,” said publication being hereby incorporated by reference as a part of this article as if fully copied herein in detail, a copy of which publication shall be filed as part of the city secretary’s records;
(D) 
Be equipped with a two-way radio which transmits and receives on frequencies designated for use by the Federal Communications Commission between each vehicle and the operator’s base station. Radio communication to and from such ambulances shall be the sole responsibility and expense of the operator who shall dispatch emergency vehicles in coordination with and by the knowledge and approval of the police dispatcher. In addition, a two-way radio complying with FCC rules and regulations or its equivalent, shall be installed by the operator for communications between each vehicle and the police dispatcher.
Each ambulance vehicle shall further have capability to communicate with hospitals and other emergency services from ambulance units.
The operator shall provide at its expense straight line telephone connection to the police department, which shall be manned twenty-four (24) hours per day every day.
(2) 
The emergency ambulance has no serious impairment of any safety feature resulting from an accident or otherwise.
(3) 
The emergency ambulance is equipped with the following:
(A) 
First aid supplies as recommended by the department of state health services for ambulance licensing.
(B) 
In addition to necessary equipment and supplies for emergency ambulances as recommended by the department of state health services and the city health department, all emergency ambulances shall further contain necessary supplies and equipment for emergency medical trained personnel, including but not limited to “Essential Equipment for Ambulances” as recommended by the Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons, which recommendation is hereby adopted.
(4) 
Have one or more attendants in addition to the driver who comply with section 24.08.082.
(5) 
A schedule of the approved rates, charges and fees posted in a conspicuous place within the ambulance.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-41; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-130; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
The driver of any ambulance, when on an emergency run, may use red lights, horns and sirens and may proceed in the manner and at the speed provided for in this code and the state laws, but shall not be granted any further privileges hereunder.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-46; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-131; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any licensed operator to respond to a direct call without first having called the police emergency dispatcher immediately upon receipt of such direct call, giving the location of the patient and having received clearance from said dispatcher to make said emergency call.
(b) 
On notification of a direct emergency call, the police emergency dispatcher shall authorize and direct the licensed operator to make said call and shall inform all persons subsequently reporting said call that the emergency call is already being responded to by the assigned licensed operator, provided, in cases where additional ambulances are needed, the emergency dispatcher shall authorize the making of such calls by such other operators as are needed.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-52; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-132; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)
The operator on an emergency call shall carry the patient to the hospital selected by the patient or his family. In the event no preference is indicated or cannot immediately be made, the patient shall be carried to the nearest hospital with facilities capable of treating the patient’s injury or illness. Violation of this section will be grounds for suspension of an operator’s license.
(1959 Code, sec. 31-53; Ordinance 7162, sec. 1, adopted 10/23/1975; 1983 Code, sec. 27-133; Ordinance 2011-O0113, sec. 1, adopted 11/16/2011)