Prior ordinance history: Ord. Nos. 77-31 § 1 (part), 77-68, 78-12, 80-24, 80-43, 84-25, 85-60, §§ 1, 2, and 89-22, § 1.
For purposes of this chapter, the terms listed below are defined as follows:
"Ambulance"
means every motor vehicle constructed, modified or equipped for the purpose of transporting, on an emergency basis, passengers who are in immediate need of emergency aid, and, on a nonemergency basis, passengers who are nonambulatory but not in need for emergency aid. The word ambulance is expressly distinguished from vehicles operated by public entities serving the same purpose as described above.
"Certificate"
means the certificate of compliance required by section 3-31.
"Emergency"
means a life-threatening or other condition requiring immediate medical attention.
"Nonemergency"
means any condition which is not an emergency and which does not require the provision of medical care during transport, such as interfacility transfers and other similar medical transportation.
"Wheelchair bus"
means a private owned motor vehicle especially designed, constructed, or equipped for the purposes of transporting wheelchair passengers on a nonemergency basis.
"Permit"
means an ambulance provider's permit issued by the County of San Diego.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
It is a misdemeanor to operate any ambulance or wheelchair bus without a certificate of compliance. It is also a misdemeanor for any person to operate an ambulance or wheelchair bus without complying with each of the requirements of this chapter, including the equipment requirements of sections 3-40 and 4-49.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
(a) 
All ambulances and wheelchair buses operated within the city shall comply with section 2416 and 2501 of the California Vehicle Code, Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, to the extent such sections apply, shall comply with all of the requirements of the California Highway Patrol for such vehicles, and the San Diego County Ambulance Ordinance.
(b) 
In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the fire chief or designee is authorized and empowered to inspect any ambulance or wheelchair bus to ascertain whether the provisions of this chapter or the requirements of subsection (a) of this section are being violated. The fire chief shall have the authority to ensure that all violations are corrected in a timely manner.
(c) 
No person shall obstruct or interfere with any of the inspections required by this section.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
(a) 
A licensee shall, at all times while such license is in effect, maintain in force, furnish and file with the city, at its own expense, a general comprehensive liability insurance policy.
(b) 
Such policy shall be with a company authorized to do business in the state, and in a form satisfactory to the city attorney.
(c) 
Such policy shall protect the city, its boards, commissioners, officers, agents and employees against liability for loss or damages for personal injury, death and property damage occasioned by the operations of the licensee.
(d) 
The minimum liability limits of the policy shall be set by resolution of the city council from time to time.
(e) 
Such policy shall contain a provision that written notice of any cancellation or reduction in coverage of the policy shall be delivered to the city 30 days in advance of the effective date thereof. If such insurance is provided by a policy which also covers the licensee or any other entity or person than those above named, then such policy shall contain the standard cross-liability endorsement.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
The use of any ambulance company to provide emergency services shall be at the sole discretion of the fire chief. On a rotational basis, all such ambulance companies shall:
(a) 
Respond to any request for emergency service by the fire or police departments within the following times:
(1) 
Within 10 minutes of receiving the call 90% of the time, and
(2) 
Within 15 minutes of receiving the call 95% of the time, and
(3) 
Within 25 minutes of receiving the call 100% of the time;
(b) 
For the purpose of calculating the times specified in subsection (a) of this section, the response time shall commence when the department has completed relaying the dispatch information to the ambulance company and terminate when the ambulance arrives on the scene to which it was dispatched;
(c) 
Not charge to the city a fee for any call by the fire or police departments.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
Any holder of a certificate for an ambulance shall:
(a) 
Immediately notify the city's emergency communication center of:
(1) 
Any request for ambulance transportation for a medical emergency within the city, or
(2) 
Any medical emergency which may be determined to exist upon response to a call for nonemergency transportation;
(3) 
Any Code 3 responses (red lights and siren) passing through any part of the city.
(b) 
Carry out instructions of an authorized representative of the city fire department at the scene of a medical emergency.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
(a) 
Any ambulance certificate holder which has provided emergency services at the request of the fire department shall submit unabridged, computer-generated dispatch reports to the fire department on a monthly basis. These reports shall show all emergency responses within the city limits for the month, sorted by response type and number of minutes to respond. All such reports shall be submitted no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of each month following the month reported.
(b) 
On the basis of the reports required by subsection (a) of this section, and any other relevant evidence, the fire chief shall determine compliance with the response times set forth in section 3-5. The failure to meet required response times for two consecutive rotational periods shall be grounds for revocation of the certificate under section 3-36.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
No certificate holder or any of its agents or employees shall operate or permit to be operated an ambulance unless the certificate holder makes available upon request the rates for services provided.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94; Ord. No. 94-25, § 1, 6-22-94)
No person shall advertise or offer a vehicle licensed under this chapter by the use of any name other than that under which the certificate was granted.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
No person shall operate or permit to be operated a wheelchair bus for the purpose of transporting, on an emergency basis, passengers who are in immediate need of emergency aid. No person shall operate or permit to be used a wheelchair bus for transportation unless such user is physically handicapped and by virtue thereof requires this type of transportation. Such limitation shall not apply to an attendant or companion who shall accompany a handicapped person on the trip.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)