(a) 
It shall be unlawful:
(1) 
To knowingly give false information to induce the dispatch of an ambulance or aeromedical transportation unit.
(2) 
To perform duties as an ECA, EMT, paramedic or emergency ambulance dispatcher without current credentials issued by the office of the medical director, unless participating in a training program approved by office of the medical director;
(3) 
To permit a person to work as an ECA, EMT, paramedic or emergency ambulance dispatcher without current credentials issued by the office of the medical director, unless participating in a training program approved by office of the medical director;
(4) 
To use, or cause to be used, any ambulance service other than the authority, except as permitted in subsection (b) below;
(5) 
For any person or entity other than the authority to provide ambulance service within this jurisdiction, unless pursuant to a written agreement with the authority;
(6) 
For any person to provide medical transportation originating in the service area without a permit issued by the authority;
(7) 
For any agency to provide first responder services without a first responder permit issued by the authority, unless pursuant to a first responder agreement with the authority or a written automatic aid or mutual aid agreement with this jurisdiction;
(8) 
To use an ambulance for the transportation of persons other than in connection with the transportation of a patient.
(b) 
It shall be a defense to any alleged violation of this section that a vehicle is being used or service is provided solely in any of the following manners:
(1) 
As a privately owned vehicle not ordinarily used in the business of transporting persons who are sick, injured, wounded, incapacitated or helpless;
(2) 
Rendering service as an ambulance at the request of the EMS communications center upon the declaration of a disaster by this jurisdiction, the state, or the United States; or a declaration of a major catastrophe or extreme system overload by the chief executive officer of the authority;
(3) 
Any ambulance owned or operated by the federal or state government;
(4) 
Ambulance mutual aid calls when rendered pursuant to an ambulance mutual aid agreement approved by the authority;
(5) 
Special event ambulance standby coverage, so long as such service is provided without charge by an emergency medical services volunteer provider, as defined in Texas Health and Safety Code section 773.003(13), or the authority has first declined to provide coverage and the entity providing coverage has been issued a permit by the authority;
(6) 
Wheelchair transport services for persons other than patients, when the service is not provided by ambulance; and
(7) 
Medical transportation of a patient where the transport originates outside the service area.
(Ordinance 88-03-1, exh. A, sec. 6, adopted 6/14/88; Ordinance 03-01, exh. A, sec. 6, adopted 9/10/03; Ordinance 20-02 adopted 7/21/20)
(a) 
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of section 6.03.051 shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 (Texas Penal Code section 12.23).
(b) 
This section does not serve to limit any other remedies available to the jurisdiction in law or equity.
(c) 
Each violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 88-03-1, exh. A, sec. 7, adopted 6/14/88; Ordinance 03-01, exh. A, sec. 7, adopted 9/10/03; Ordinance adopting Code; Ordinance 20-02 adopted 7/21/20)
When the driver of an emergency medical response vehicle has reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency exists, as determined by the EMS communication center, the vehicle shall be treated as an “authorized emergency vehicle” within the meaning of chapter 546 of the Texas Transportation Code and shall be exempt from traffic laws as provided therein.
(Ordinance 20-02 adopted 7/21/20)