§ 7.16.100. Ambulance operator—Prohibited acts.

A.

No ambulance operator shall:

1.

Fail to dispatch an ambulance within a reasonable time in response to an emergency call from a public agency or authorized emergency transportation operator for that geographical area, unless such entity is immediately advised of a delay in responding to a call;

2.

Fail, neglect, or refuse to disclose to any entity requesting an emergency response that an ambulance is not available, if indeed an ambulance or appropriate staffing therefore is not then available;

3.

Fail, neglect, or delay to provide transportation of the patient to the most accessible and appropriate medical facility in accordance with state law and with department of health services policies in an emergency case;

4.

Use a scanner or radio monitoring device for the purpose of responding to an emergency call when not authorized or requested to respond to that call by the appropriate public safety agency;

5.

Use a red light and siren (i.e., Code 3 or emergent operation) for response to calls received as nonemergencies;

6.

Permit the operation of an ambulance in any manner contrary to the provisions of this title or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto and any section of the California Vehicle Code, Titles 13 and 22 of the California Code of Regulations, the Federal Aviation Regulations, and the statutes, rules, and regulations of the Medicare and MediCal programs;

7.

Perform the services of a paramedic advanced life support or critical care transport provider unless that operator has first been approved for the provision of such services by the local EMS agency;

8.

Fail to respond to emergency and nonemergency calls within the time parameters set forth in Section 7.16.050 of this chapter, except as may otherwise be specified either in a county contract with the operator or in other sections of this chapter;

9.

Provide paramedic advanced life support critical care transport services to any person or institution under any circumstances without a contract with the county for the provision of such services; and

10.

Respond to any emergency call that would normally be considered an emergency 9-1-1 call for the authorized emergency transportation operator for that geographical area, unless the call is from either a public entity or such authorized emergency transportation operator requesting backup services. If, upon arrival at the scene of pickup in response to a call for nonemergency services, and after assessment of the patient it is determined that a higher level of prehospital care intervention is needed, the appropriate 9-1-1 dispatching agency shall be notified immediately.

B.

The commission of any prohibited act, as set forth in this chapter, by an operator or operator's employee or agent shall subject the operator to the imposition of administrative fines pursuant to Section 7.16.125, et seq., of this code in addition to any other applicable administrative, civil, or criminal remedy.

(Ord. 2011-0031 § 9, 2011: Ord. 96-0067 § 10, 1996: Ord. 88-0181 § 16, 1988: Ord. 83-0017 § 3 (part), 1983: Ord. 11806 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5860 Ch. 4 § 1021, 1951.)