(A) It shall be unlawful for any ambulance provider or person to furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise be engaged or profess to be engaged in the transportation of patients within the county or operation of ambulance services that originate in the county, unless such person or entity shall have first obtained and shall currently hold a valid franchise granted pursuant to this chapter or is exempted from a franchise pursuant to this chapter. Each ambulance used by the person or entity shall hold a valid permit issued by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) as an ambulance and carry and be able to provide a minimum of EMT level care, through the paramedic level. The franchisee shall operate at the level approved by the county, as described in the county treatment protocols.
(B) No person shall drive an ambulance, attend a patient in an ambulance, or permit an ambulance to be operated when transporting a patient within the county unless he or she holds a currently valid credential as an EMT (emergency medical technician), advanced EMT or paramedic issued by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services.
(C) No franchise shall be required for:
(1) Privately owned vehicles not used in the business of transporting patients.
(2) A vehicle rendering services as an ambulance in case of a mass casualty incident, when the permitted ambulances based in the locality of the mass casualty are insufficient to render the services required.
(3) Any ambulance operated by a hospital system that is physically located within the geographic boundaries of Davidson County and is used for the sole purpose of hospital to hospital transportation of their current patients or specialty care transports.
(4) Ambulances owned and operated by an agency of the United States Government or this county.
(Ord. passed 10-28-14; Ord. passed 2-27-18; Ord. passed 11-12-19; Ord. passed 2-27-23)