The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1973-1506 ORDINANCE NO. A5 AN ORDINANCE relating to licenses and business regulations; requiring a license for, and regulating operations of, ambulance service businesses; imposing a penalty for violations; and amending Sections 5.09.010, 5.09.060, 5.09.130 and 5.09.140 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Section 5.09;010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "5.09.010 Ambulance Service Business License Re.uired -- Cabulance License -- Exclusion. A. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of conducting an ambulance service to carry or transport to or from any place in the City of Yakima any sick, injured or physically handicapped person not susceptible to being carried by conventional transportation methods without first obtaining and being the holder of a valid ambulance service busi- ness license pursuant to this chapter; provided, a limited ambu- lance service business license, to be known as a cabulance license, may be issued for conducting the business of transport- ing for hire physically handicapped persons in non emergency situations. The holder of such a cabulance license shall comply with all provisions and requirements of this chapter except cer- tain rules and regulations as provided by Section 5.09.130 of this chapter. B. The requirements of this chapter pertaining to a cabu- lance license do not apply to any operator of a nursing home in transporting patients to or from that nursing home, where such transportation service is incidental to the services provided by that nursing home, and where such transportation service is not performed for others than patients of that nursing home." Section 2. Section 5.09.060 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby .amended to read as follows: "5.09.060 Ambulance Driver and Attendant Permit Required. Except as provided by Section 5.09.130 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate or use any vehicle as an ambulance or serve as an attendant therein unless such person is the holder of a valid ambulance driver and attendant permit_ issued pursuant to this chapter, or the holder of a temporary per - mit, which the City Clerk is hereby authorized to issue, provided that such a temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to • exceed thirty days from its date of issue and shall be issued only while an application is pending for an ambulance driver and atten- dant permit." Section 3. Section 5.09.130 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "5.09.130 Rules and Regulations. There are hereby established the following rules and regulations pertaining to ambulance service within the City of Yakima: 1. Equipment. (1) All vehicles used for emergency ambulance service must be in good mechanical condition and available twenty- four hours per day, seven days per week. All vehicles used for emergency ambulance service must be equipped with the 111' following minimum emergency equipment: (a) Emergency work lights, red lights and siren, as approved by the Washington State Highway Safety Com- mission; (b) Two -way shortwave radio; (c) Fire extinguisher and flashlight; (d) First aid equipment as follows: An approved standard twenty -four -unit first aid kit as prescribed by the American Red Cross. One cot -size wheeled stretcher with mattress. One emergency folding stretcher. Oxygen inhalation equipment, including resuscitator with aspirator. • Sufficient clean linen and blankets for two parties. (2) All vehicles used to transport physically handi- capped persons by virtue of a cabulance license shall be equipped with one or more wheelchairs, wheelchair retaining locks for each wheelchair and a seat belt for each wheel- chair, which retaining locks and seat belts shall be securely fastened on each wheelchair occupied while the vehicle is in operation. Such vehicles are not required to be equipped for emergency ambulance service as required by this section; and such vehicles shall not be used for emergency ambulance service unless so equipped for emergency ambulance service. 2. Personnel. (1) All ambulances engaged in emergency ambulance ser- vice must be manned by a crew of at least two persons, to consist of a driver and an attendant. During times when a patient is being transported, at least one attendant must ride in the back of the ambulance with the patient. (2) A vehicle engaged in transporting physically handi- capped persons by virtue of a cabulance license may be operaed by a driver who is not the holder of an ambulance driver and attendant permit provided a person who holds such a permit serves as an attendant in the vehicle while it is so engaged. When such a vehicle is operated by . a driver who holds such a permit, no further attendant is required for such vehicle. - 2 - 3. Operation of Ambulances. All ambulances operated by virtue of an ambulance service business license or a cabulance license must be operated in a sane and sensible manner. Excessive speeding, reckless driving or indiscriminate use of sirens is pro - hibited. Handling of the ambulance must be governed at all times by rules of safe driving consistent with prompt and efficient service. 4. Operation of Business and Processin• Calls. (1) Except as to operators of a limited ambulance ser- • vice business operating to a cabulance license, all operators of an ambulance service business shall maintain a main office with telephones to be listed with the Police Department, and shall have equipment and attendants avail - able twenty -four hours per day, seven days per week, and available to the public through telephone or radio communi- cation. Further, such ambulance service operators shall notify the Police Department if, at any time, ambulance vehicles are not available for call. The Police Department shall be immediately notified in the event an ambulance res- ponds to a call where evidence of foul play or public disas- ter is present. (2) The business premises, vehicles and equipment of all ambulance service business operations, including those operated by virtue of a cabulance license, shall be open to inspection by the City Manager, City Clerk, the chiefs of the Yakima Police Department and Yakima Fire Department, and other city officials or employees designated by the City Manager, at all reasonable times. 5. Operators of all ambulance services operated by virtue • of an ambulance service business license or a cabulance license shall file with the City Clerk a schedule of rates charged by the business. In the event of any change in rates, the revised schedule shall be filed with the City Clerk at least twenty -four hours prior to the effective time of such change. 6. Any change in personnel or equipment used in conducting an ambulance service business by virtue of an ambulance service business license or a cabulance license shall be reported immediately by the license holder to the City Clerk." Section 4. Section 5.09.140 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "5.09.140 Penalty for Violations. Any person, firm or cor- poration convicted of violating any provisions, er failing to comply with any requirement, rule or regulations, of this chapter, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty • Dollars ($250.00) for each offense. Each day of any such viola- tion or failure to comply shall constitute a separate offense." Section 5. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty days after its passage, approval and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. - 3 - • R S PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this j 7' day of 4p// , 1973. M ayr ATTEST. Zi City Clerk • • - 4 -