Prior ordinance history: Ord. No. 77-31, § 1 (part), 77-66 § 1, 89-22 § 2.
No person shall engage in the business of operating any ambulance or wheelchair bus within the city without first having obtained an ambulance permit from the County of San Diego. The Red Cross or any public entity operating an ambulance or wheelchair bus shall not be required to obtain such a certificate.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
All persons applying to the fire department for a certificate shall file a sworn application therefor containing information as follows:
(1) 
A copy of the county permit application;
(2) 
A copy of the permit to operate issued by the county;
(3) 
A description of each such vehicle, including the make, model, year of manufacture and license number by the state, and county permit;
(4) 
A policy of insurance as required by section 3-4 as it relates to emergency vehicles;
(5) 
A copy of the City of Escondido business license;
(6) 
Such other information as the council may, in its discretion, require.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
The fire chief or his designee may, in his discretion, grant a certificate to any applicant who, in his opinion, is entitled to a certificate, except that no certificate shall be granted to any person who shall not have fully complied with all of the requirements of this chapter prior to the proposed date of commencement of the operation of the service for which application for such certificate is made.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
The following shall be prima facie grounds for denial of a certificate as required by this article:
(1) 
The applicant or one of the partners, if the applicant is a partnership, or one or more of the officers of the corporation, if the business be a corporation, or one or more of the stockholders, if the policy of such corporation will be directed, controlled or managed by such stockholder, or stockholders, has been convicted of a felony, unless two years shall have elapsed since discharge from a penal institution, or after having been placed upon probation, during which period of time record shows there is no evidence of the probable commission of other felonies;
(2) 
The applicant or one of the partners, if the applicant is a partnership, or one or more of the officers of the corporation, if the business is a corporation, or one or more of the stockholders, if the policy of the corporation will be directed, controlled and managed by such stockholder, or stockholders, has violated or otherwise failed to meet the provisions of this chapter;
(3) 
The applicant or one of the partners, if the applicant is a partnership, or one or more of the officers of the corporation, if the business is a corporation, or one or more of the stockholders, if the policy of such corporation will be directed, controlled or managed by such stockholder or stockholders, demonstrates by past conduct in the same business, or in another similar business where such high duty of care is owed to the public, which conduct is so unsatisfactory that his certification would be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
No person shall be issued a certificate for the operation of an ambulance unless each vehicle to be operated thereunder shall:
(1) 
Be operated by no fewer than two persons, a driver and attendant, during emergency calls. Both shall be currently certified by the proper issuing authority as an EMT-1, EMT-II, EMT-D, or EMT-P. All drivers shall hold a valid California DMV ambulance driver's license.
(2) 
Be equipped in full compliance with the requirements of County of San Diego ambulance equipment inventory.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)
Certificates may be suspended or revoked by the fire chief after notice and a hearing. The city council may, at its discretion, review the decision of the fire chief and may modify the decision if it deems it appropriate. The city council may take additional testimony if it so chooses. Grounds for revocation or suspension are as follows:
(1) 
The past service record of the certificate holder is so unsatisfactory as to be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, including failing to provide adequate duty ambulance service pursuant to section 3-5;
(2) 
The certificate holder violated, violates or otherwise fails to meet the provision of this chapter;
(3) 
The certificate holder ceases or has ceased to operate any ambulance service or wheelchair bus service for a period of 30 consecutive days without having obtained permission for cessation of such operation from the council;
(4) 
The certificate holder commits, or has committed, any of those acts which are grounds for revocation of the county permit, and/or such county permit has been suspended or revoked.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94; Ord. No. 98-07, § 1, 4-8-98)
Certificates which have been suspended or revoked shall, forthwith, be surrendered to the clerk of the city, and the operation of any vehicle or vehicles covered by such certificate shall immediately cease.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94; Ord. No. 98-07, § 1, 4-8-98)
The applicant shall provide the current county permit and any changes submitted to the county.
(Ord. No. 94-10, § 1, 4-6-94)