For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
Ambulance.
Any motor vehicle used, designed, redesigned or constructed and equipped for the transportation of sick or injured persons.
Emergency.
Any circumstance that calls for an immediate action and in which the element of time in transporting the sick, wounded or injured for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of any person. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, general accidents, traffic accidents, acts of violence resulting in personal injury, sudden illness or any condition requiring transport to a hospital or other medical facility.
Emergency call.
Any request for an ambulance that is made by telephone or other means of communication in circumstances which are or have been represented to be an emergency requiring emergency pre-hospital care or transport to a hospital or other medical facility. Neither ambulance transports scheduled more than 48 hours in advance nor transports to a nursing home or to a patient’s residence constitute an emergency medical service or an emergency call.
Emergency medical service.
Services used to respond to a need or perceived need for medical care and to prevent death or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.
Interlocal cooperative agreement (agreement).
The contract with the county adopted by the city providing for emergency ambulance service in the city and county.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.01)
Any person or persons, firm or corporation which violates any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined as provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense, and each violation hereof shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense and shall be punishable as such.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.99)
Pursuant to Tex. Health and Safety Code section 774.003(b), the city’s emergency ambulance service provider shall be that entity approved by the city and the county to provide exclusive emergency ambulance service in the county. Upon approval by the city of said exclusive agreement, said ambulance service shall be the exclusive emergency medical service provider for the city for the term specified in said agreement.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.02)
All emergency calls for emergency ambulance service within the city limits shall be directed to and responded to solely by the city’s approved emergency medical service provider for emergency ambulance service.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.03)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to furnish, operate, advertise or otherwise engage or profess to be engaged in the operation of an ambulance upon the streets of the city unless said person is:
(1) 
A member of the city’s emergency medical service provider officially on duty;
(2) 
An employee of a political subdivision or agency of the state;
(3) 
A person providing service to or from a hospital located in the city going to or from a medical facility located outside of the city limits; or
(4) 
Any person meeting requirements of the state for personnel, vehicles and equipment who responds to a request of the fire department, the city’s emergency ambulance service provider, or city emergency management to lend assistance when a major disaster or other occurrence results in emergency calls exceeding the capacity of the city emergency medical service provider.
(b) 
Nothing in this section prohibits a person from transporting an individual by private vehicle to a hospital or other medical facility in an emergency situation.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.04)
Emergency medical service shall be available to all persons within the city limits. The service shall also be available to persons in other portions of the county wherein the point of origination or destination is within the city limits.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.05)
Any person who uses the emergency medical services of the city shall pay the emergency medical services provider for such services. Charges for emergency medical services shall include, but not be limited to, standing time, standby time, oxygen, medication and other related expenses incurred by the emergency medical services provider.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.06)
(a) 
The city council expressly reserves the right, power, and authority to fully regulate and fix, by resolution, the rates and charges for the services of the emergency medical service provider.
(b) 
Any agreement to provide the city emergency ambulance service shall minimally require compliance with standards established by the department of state health services for emergency medical service vehicles.
(1999 Code, sec. 36.08)