There shall be service charges for each person who requests
an emergency medical response or who medically requires and receives
the benefit of emergency medical treatment or transportation in an
ambulance dispatched by the city. Such service charges shall be, and
not exceed the maximum permitted by the county of Los Angeles general
public ambulance rates, as they now exist or as amended, plus all
applicable related charges including, but not limited to, consumable
supplies. In the event a person receives any emergency medical assessment
but is not transported, there shall be a charge reflecting the cost
to provide such assessment, but in no event shall the charge be less
than one hundred dollars. All charges under this chapter shall be
applicable regardless of whether the ambulance dispatched by the city
is city-owned, owned by another public agency or commercially owned.
Multiple patient service charges shall be prorated when applicable.
(Prior code § 17-24; Ord. 5247 § 1, 2000; Ord. 5265 § 1, 2000)
A.
The
service charges imposed by this chapter shall be the legal obligation
of each person transported or receiving benefit of an emergency medical
response pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and shall be
payable directly to the city or its designated representative upon
presentation of a bill for such service.
B.
In the
event of the transportation of a minor, the service charges shall
be the legal obligation of the minor's parent(s), legal guardian(s),
or (in the absence of a parent or legal guardian), any other person(s)
who authorized the transportation or an emergency response for the
benefit of said minor.
(Prior code § 17-25; Ord. 5247 § 1, 2000)
A.
The city may collect the service charges authorized by section 2.92.010 directly, or it may contract or arrange for the public or private collection of such charges. The procedure by which such service charges shall be collected will be as mutually agreed upon in writing between the city and the collecting agency or entity. In the absence of such agreed upon procedures, the city may collect the service charges directly as provided for in this chapter.
B.
Such
agreed upon procedures may be changed, modified or altered from time
to time, provided any such changes, modifications or alterations are
contained in a writing signed by the city and the collecting agency
or entity.
(Prior code § 17-28; Ord. 5031 § 3, 1993; Ord. 5247 § 1, 2000)
The service charges, authorized by section 2.92.010, upon being incurred, shall be deemed a civil debt owed to the city. Such debt shall be collectible through any lawful means, including court action, initiated by either the city attorney or any contracting agency or entity authorized by the city to initiate such collection or court action, or through small claims court, at the discretion of the city.
(Prior code § 17-29; Ord. 5031 § 4, 1993; Ord. 5247 § 1, 2000)
For each person who is charged a service charge under section 2.92.010, the fire chief (or the fire chief's designee for such purpose) shall have the discretion to waive all or part of such fee, after consideration of any of the following:
A.
Whether
the call was falsely initiated without consent or knowledge of the
alleged subject of the call;
B.
Whether
the call was initiated by mistake, but in good faith;
C.
Whether
the persons receiving such emergency or medical services were all
part of the same family or household and the nature and extent to
which services were provided to each member of such family or household;
or
D.
Whether
a pattern or conduct is present which could constitute an abuse or
misuse of the emergency response system.
(Prior code § 17-26; Ord. 5031 § 1, 1993; Ord. 5247 § 1, 2000)
