Chapter 5.50
PRIVATE AMBULANCES
Sections:
5.50.060 Ambulance driver/attendant’s license.
5.50.070 Standards for ambulance drivers and attendants.
5.50.090 Licenses nontransferable.
5.50.100 Violations basis for suspension.
5.50.010 Definitions.
A. For the purpose of this chapter, the terms set forth hereinbelow shall be defined as follows:
1. “Advanced first aid” means a course of instruction recognized by the American Red Cross, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, the United States Bureau of Mines, or fire service training.
2. “Ambulance” means an emergency vehicle designed and used to transport the ill and injured and to provide facilities and equipment to treat patients before and during transportation.
3. “Ambulance attendant” means that person who has responsibility for the care of the patients, both before and during transportation.
4. “Ambulance driver” means that person who drives an ambulance.
5. “Ambulance operator” means a person who owns one or more ambulance and operates them as a private business.
6. “Ambulance service” means any persons or corporations as hereinafter defined who operate any private emergency service for hire, within the City of Sunnyside, including being stationed in the City of Sunnyside and/or being dispatched from within the City of Sunnyside or being dispatched to points within the City of Sunnyside to provide transportation of those who are ill or injured; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any ambulance service which shall enter the City of Sunnyside while delivering those ill and/or injured patients who are transported from points outside of the City limits of the City of Sunnyside, or from transferring patients from a Sunnyside medical facility to medical facilities outside of the City of Sunnyside. The provisions of this chapter shall, further, not apply to any ambulance service which provides only occasional nonemergency ambulance service within the City of Sunnyside.
7. “Communications systems” means two-way mobile radio communication between ambulances, dispatchers, hospitals and other agencies as needed or required.
8. “Emergency equipment” means such facilities and equipment to be used in the treatment of persons injured, ill or incapacitated.
9. “Emergency medical care” or “emergency medical service” means such medical treatment as may be rendered to persons injured, ill or incapacitated at the scene of such injuries, illness or incapacitation.
10. “Emergency medical technician” means a person who has successfully completed a prescribed course of instruction and who has achieved a demonstrable level of performance and competence to treat victims of severe injury or other emergency conditions.
11. “Emergency run” means the operation of an emergency vehicle or ambulance with red lights and/or siren.
12. “First aid vehicle” means an emergency vehicle primarily designated and used to carry first aid equipment and individuals trained in first aid for emergency medical procedures.
13. “Medical attendant” shall mean “emergency medical technician.”
14. “Patient” means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
15. “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or group of individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.
B. In addition to the above definitions, the definitions contained in RCW 18.73.030 and WAC 248-17-020 are adopted by this reference and are incorporated herein. [Ord. 1549 § 1, 1986.]
5.50.020 License required.
A. All persons or companies providing ambulance service in the City limits of the City of Sunnyside shall be required, prior to any such operations, to obtain a license for the ambulance service and for each ambulance or emergency vehicle used within the City limits of the City of Sunnyside. Such licenses shall be filed with the Sunnyside City Clerk. An application for such license shall be made upon forms provided by the City of Sunnyside. The application shall contain the following information:
1. Name, home address and telephone number of the applicant.
2. Business name under which the ambulance service is to be operated, together with the business address and telephone number.
3. In the case of a corporation, the name and address of the officers and directors of said corporation, and in the case of a partnership, the names and addresses of each general or limited partner.
4. A description of each ambulance or emergency vehicle, making available the model, make, manufacturer, serial number, together with the current State license number, color scheme or insignia, name or monogram and any other distinguishing marks.
5. The location and description of the place or places from which the ambulance service is maintained, from which it shall operate, and the number of licensed medical attendants or other employees to be employed for the operation of the same.
B. A condition of licensing shall be that the applicant has fulfilled and continues to comply with all the requirements of the laws of the State of Washington, including, but not limited to, Chapter 18.73 RCW and Chapter 248-17 WAC, as those chapters currently exist or are hereinafter amended, pertaining to emergency medical care and transportation services and ambulance rules and regulations, and further that said person has complied with the requirements of the City of Sunnyside, with respect to regulation of emergency vehicles and ambulances.
C. The fees for the license shall be in accordance with business licensing and fee requirements provided in Chapter 5.52 SMC. [Ord. 1617, 1987; Ord. 1549 § 2, 1986.]
5.50.030 Inspections.
Prior to the issuance of such licenses, and periodically thereafter, the Fire Chief or his designee shall inspect each emergency vehicle or ambulance to ascertain whether or not the ambulance or emergency vehicle and/or its equipment are in compliance with all State, local and federal laws. Written reports of the instruction warranting condition and proper functioning of such vehicle, equipment and accessories shall be made at such location and time as can be conveniently arranged; however, such inspections shall be made not less than once every six months, or as necessary, the reports of which shall be filed with the City of Sunnyside Fire Chief. If any ambulance or emergency vehicle is not in service for a period of 10 days or more, said vehicle shall be re-inspected prior to being placed back into service within the City of Sunnyside. [Ord. 1549 § 3, 1986.]
5.50.040 Insurance.
The applicant shall be required to file, as a condition of conducting an ambulance service business or operating an ambulance within the City of Sunnyside, Washington, a certificate of insurance, a copy of his liability insurance policies, or certified copies of the same, together with evidence of premium payments issued by a responsible insurance company, which insures against all claims for bodily injury, death and property damage, arising out of the operation of said ambulance service or first aid vehicles and the care of patients. The limits of such liability insurance policy shall not be less than $500,000, combined single limit liability coverage. The insurance policy shall contain the provision that the City of Sunnyside shall be notified in case of change in the policy or cancellation. [Ord. 1567 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1549 § 4, 1986.]
5.50.050 Required equipment.
A. Ambulances and emergency vehicles shall have the following equipment:
1. Sirens, emergency vehicle lamps and radio equipment which complies with the laws of the State of Washington, the rules and regulations of the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the rules and regulations of the City of Sunnyside.
2. Two-way mobile radio communication systems capable of providing communication between the ambulance and its dispatcher, and between the ambulance and the hospital and between the ambulance and fire/police emergency dispatch center. The radio equipment shall include scanning capabilities to monitor all required channels.
3. Each emergency vehicle shall meet all State, federal and local laws governing minimum vehicle safety requirements, including but not limited to lights, tires, batteries and maintenance.
B. The ambulance attendant or the ambulance driver shall communicate, by radio, with the Fire/Police Dispatch center notifying the dispatch center any time an ambulance is running on an emergency run within the City limits of the City of Sunnyside. Failure to so notify the dispatch center shall be a violation of this chapter. [Ord. 1549 § 5, 1986.]
5.50.060 Ambulance driver/attendant’s license.
Each ambulance driver or ambulance attendant shall be required to be licensed by the City of Sunnyside. Application for license shall be made on forms furnished by the City Clerk, and shall contain the following information:
A. The applicant’s full name, current residence, prior place of residence, telephone number and length of time he/she has resided in Yakima County.
B. The applicant’s date of birth, height, weight, color of hair and eyes.
C. Prior convictions for any felonies.
D. Prior convictions or bail forfeitures for any moving traffic violations for the last three years.
The Fire Chief may deny an ambulance driver/attendant license under the provisions of this section where such person has been convicted of a felony prior to said application, or when such individual has been convicted or has forfeited bail in connection with any major traffic violations, negligent driving, or numerous moving traffic violations within the past three years.
E. The applicant’s training and experience in the transportation of patients and whether he has been previously licensed as a driver or attendant of any other ambulance company, and whether any such license has ever been revoked or denied to said applicant. [Ord. 1549 § 6, 1986.]
5.50.070 Standards for ambulance drivers and attendants.
Each ambulance which is available for responding to calls and which operates within the City of Sunnyside shall have available for immediate response one medical attendant who shall have in his or her possession a Washington State approved current “Emergency Medical Technician” certificate, or a certificate showing a higher level of training and medical response proficiency. This certificate shall be in the possession of each ambulance attendant or driver at all times while on duty. Any other ambulance attendants or drivers responding with such ambulances shall have in their possession a Washington State approved advanced first aid card. This first aid card shall be in the possession of said additional attendants or drivers at all times while on duty.
Each ambulance attendant or ambulance driver shall be 18 years of age, or older, at the time of the issuance of the license. [Ord. 1549 § 7, 1986.]
5.50.090 Licenses nontransferable.
Licenses issued under this chapter shall be personal to the recipient thereof and cannot be transferred to any other person, nor can any vehicle be used by any licensee which is not licensed to the licensee except as may be provided, in agreement, to deal with emergencies. [Ord. 1549 § 9, 1986.]
5.50.100 Violations basis for suspension.
In addition to the other remedies available to the City for violation of City ordinances, any violation of the provisions of this chapter may result in the suspension of the ambulance operator’s license or the ambulance attendant’s/driver’s license, upon proof of the violation being shown to the Sunnyside Fire Chief. In the case of the possibility of an operator’s, driver’s or attendant’s license being suspended or revoked, notice shall be provided to the operator, driver or attendant indicating the basis of possible suspension or revocation. The operator, driver or attendant shall be given an opportunity to respond to the possible violation before the decision by the Fire Chief, regarding possible suspension or termination is made. [Ord. 1549 § 10, 1986.]
5.50.110 Appeals.
Appeals from the decision of the Fire Chief, with respect to denial, suspension or termination of licenses, shall be appealable to the City Council; provided, however, that notice of appeal shall be filed with the City Council within 20 days of the date of the decision of suspension or revocation of such license.