(A) Operation of emergency ambulances. The driver of an emergency ambulance, when responding to an authorized emergency call or transporting an emergency patient, shall comply with all applicable state laws and city ordinances pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles.
(B) Use of emergency signals by transfer ambulances. It shall be unlawful for any operator of a transfer ambulance to utilize audible and visual emergency signals, except where circumstances reasonably dictate that the transfer of a non-emergency patient has suddenly without warning become an emergency, in which situation such driver may exercise all of the privileges set forth in division (A) above.
(C) Response requirements. The holder of a non-emergency transfer permit shall not deny timely response, treatment or transportation to an appropriate medical facility to anyone or any facility in the city due to age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, medical condition or based on an actual or perceived inability to pay for services rendered pursuant to the permit. In addition, the holder of a non-emergency transfer permit shall make available to the city, upon the city’s request, ambulances and personnel necessary for standby and assistance during emergencies occurring in the city, and shall:
(1) Maintain 24-hour transfer service; and
(2) Own or lease, and operate a store front within the city limits, available for storage of permitted ambulance(s). Only one business per store front shall be allowed.
(D) Public storage. No permittees shall store any vehicle or ambulance on public streets or public rights-of-way in the city or operate its main place of business or storage facility in a private residence.
(E) Firearms prohibited on transfer ambulances. Firearms are prohibited aboard all transfer ambulance vehicles, except when in the possession of a certified law enforcement officer who is not an employee of the permitted company and who may be required to accompany a patient to a medical facility.
(F) Staffing of emergency ambulances. Each permitted emergency ambulance vehicle shall be staffed on every call by at least two persons having EMT certification, one of whom shall be certified at the EMT-paramedic level.
(1998 Code, § 46-34) (Ord. 14-11, passed 5-21-2014; Ord. 2022-12, passed 7-6-2022)
Penalty, see § 35.99