The following words and phrases, as used in this article, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meaning:
Ambulance.
Any motor vehicle that is especially designed or constructed and equipped or used for the transportation of patients, excluding a helicopter, aircraft or wheelchair van.
Ambulance service contractor.
That entity which is currently under contract with San Augustine County, and the Hospital District, and which the city agrees to allow to be the exclusive provider of ambulance service within its regulated service area, pursuant to the interlocal agreement to provide ambulance service in the area covered by the interlocal agreement.
Person.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, governmental entity, or other group or combination acting as a unit.
Regulated service area.
The corporate limits of the city.
(Ordinance 250 adopted 3/13/2001)
(a) 
No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motor vehicle for ambulance purposes nor furnish, conduct, maintain, advise [advertise] or otherwise be engaged in the business or service of the transportation of ambulance patients within the regulated service area unless such person is the ambulance service contractor as defined herein. No person shall knowingly solicit ambulances regulated herein except from the ambulance service contractor.
(b) 
This article shall not apply to any ambulance or ambulance service provider which is:
(1) 
Rendering assistance to patients in the case of a major catastrophe or emergency in which the contractor’s ambulances are insufficient or unable to handle;
(2) 
Transporting a patient who is picked up from a location beyond the regulated service area and transported to a location within the regulated service [area];
(3) 
Transporting a patient who is picked up from a location beyond the regulated service area and is only incidentally passing through the regulated service area;
(4) 
Transporting a patient who is picked up from a location within the regulated service area and transported to a location beyond the regulated service area, providing said ambulance or ambulance service initially transported said patient in the regulated service area and is making the return trip; or
(5) 
Providing standby special events coverage without received compensation.
(c) 
This article shall not apply to:
(1) 
An ambulance owned and operated by the federal or state government; or
(2) 
A privately owned vehicle not ordinarily used in the business of transporting persons who are sick, injured, wounded, incapacitated or helpless.
(d) 
Violations of this section are hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance, and in addition to the general penalty of this code may be prohibited and abated in an action at law or in equity.
(e) 
The ambulance service contractor shall be selected as set forth in the EMS interlocal agreement between the County of San Augustine, the Hospital District of San Augustine and the City of San Augustine.
(Ordinance 250 adopted 3/13/2001)