Chapter 4.24
Ambulance Service--Licenses1
Sections:
4.24.030 Licenses required for ambulance service.
4.24.040 Application for ambulance operator's license.
4.24.050 Required ambulance equipment.
4.24.060 Ambulance operator's liability insurance.
4.24.070 Duties of license officer.
4.24.110 Provisions not applicable.
4.24.010 Short title.
This chapter shall be referred to and known as Chapter 4.24 of the Montesano Municipal Code. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.020 Definitions.
The following terms and phrases whenever used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
(1) "Ambulance" shall be as defined in Laws of 1973, Ex. Sess., Chap. 208. The word "ambulance" may not be used, in part or in its entirety, by any vehicle except as herein defined. The provisions of this act shall not be deemed applicable to operators of a nonemergency type service, such as a convalescent service for the transportation of sick or invalid persons;
(2) "Ambulance service" means any person who operates an ambulance within the city of Montesano;
(3) "Attendant" means a person trained and qualified pursuant to Laws of 1973, Ex. Sess., Chap. 208;
(4) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group of individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind;
(5) "License officer" means the city clerk of the city of Montesano;
(6) "Advisory committee" means a committee as defined in Section 4.24.080. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.030 Licenses required for ambulance service.
No person shall operate an ambulance service in the city of Montesano unless licensed by the city. Commencing January 1, 1976, the license shall be issued pursuant to Laws of 1973, Ex. Sess., Chap. 208. The license must be renewed every year. The city license shall not be issued or renewed unless:
(1) The applicant has fulfilled all requirements of this chapter, including the consent of inspections as required and any applicable statutes of the state of Washington; and
(2) The applicants demonstrate capability and willingness to provide adequate service in the designated area; and
(3) The applicant demonstrates that each ambulance contains the equipment as required by this chapter; and
(4) The applicant files a copy of a liability insurance policy showing evidence of noncancellable coverage as specified in this chapter; and
(5) The applicant files proof that all attendants are certified as hereinafter required by this chapter; and
(6) The advisory committee and city council has considered the need for an ambulance service in the area where the applicant intends to operate. (Ord. 957 §(part), 1974).
4.24.040 Application for ambulance operator's license.
Applications for ambulance operator's licenses when issued by the city shall be made at the office of the city clerk upon forms eliciting such information as the city clerk deems reasonably necessary to a fair determination of compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.050 Required ambulance equipment.
(a) Each person licensed as an ambulance service shall maintain at least two fully equipped, manned and operable ambulances which shall be stationed in Hoquiam. Such ambulances may serve other areas within Grays Harbor County without the necessity of additional vehicles to conform to this section.
(b) Each ambulance shall be equipped with the following:
(1) Sirens and emergency vehicle lamps, which shall conform with the rules and regulations issued under RCW 46.37.194, which shall be used only in conformity with RCW 46.61.035, and applicable local municipal ordinances;
(2) A two-way radio communication system capable of providing communication between the vehicles and hospital emergency rooms and the licensee's headquarters. The licensee's dispatch headquarters shall be staffed on a twenty-four hour basis, with a telephone dispatcher and a radio dispatcher qualified to process any and all calls. The telephone operator and the radio operator may be the same person;
(3) Medical equipment, including, but not limited to, an equipment inventory equal to that published by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons in their most recent Bulletin entitled "Essential Equipment for Ambulances," three copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk. The list of equipment required may be changed or added to from time to time by resolution of the city council;
(4) Each ambulance and its equipment shall be maintained in a sanitary manner and in good operating condition as determined by the vehicle inspection procedures set forth in RCW 46.32. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.060 Ambulance operator's liability insurance.
(a) No ambulance operator's license shall be issued under this chapter, nor shall such license be valid after issuance, nor shall any ambulance be operated in the city of Montesano, unless there is at all times in force an insurance policy, in amounts recommended by the advisory committee as sufficient and established by resolution of the city council which insures the owner of such ambulance, and his agents (including ambulance attendants and conditional ambulance attendants), against all claims for personal injury, deathb and property damage arising out of the operation of the ambulance and the care of patients, and that the insurance policy be issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the state of Washington.
(b) The insurance policies shall be submitted to the license officer or his designee for approval prior to the issuance of each ambulance operator's license. Satisfactory evidence that such insurance is at all times in force shall be furnished to the license officer, in such form as he may specify, by all licensees required to provide such insurance under the provisions of the chapter.
(c) Every insurance policy required hereunder shall contain a provision for a continuing liability thereunder to the full amount thereof, notwithstanding any recovery thereon, that the liability of the insurer shall not be affected by the insolvency or the bankruptcy of the assured, and that until the policy is revoked, the insurance company will not be relieved from liability on account of nonpayment of premium, failure to renew license at the end of the year, or any act or omission of the named insured.
(d) Every insurance policy required hereunder shall extend for the period to be covered by the license applied for and the insurer shall be obliged to give not less than thirty days' written notice to the license officer and to the assured before any cancellation or termination of the policy earlier than its expiration date and the cancellation or other termination of any such policy shall automatically revoke and terminate the licenses issued for the ambulances covered by such policy, unless another insurance policy complying with the provisions of this section shall be provided and be in effect at the time of such cancellation or termination. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.070 Duties of license officer.
(a) The license officer, upon the recommendation and subject to the approval of the advisory committee created by this chapter, may promulgate, revise, or rescind such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to administer the provisions of this chapter and to perform the duties assigned to the license officer, in conformity with the intent and purpose of this chapter.
(b) An authorized representative of the license officer shall make such regular inspections as he deems necessary, and shall make such reports relative to conditions existing at such times and in such manner as the license officer may direct. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.080 Advisory committee.
(a) The mayor of the city of Montesano shall appoint an advisory committee composed of the following:
(1) One medical doctor;
(2) A representative from ambulance company serving Montesano;
(3) City of Montesano fire chief;
(4) First aid captain of the Montesano fire department;
(5) A member from the city council.
(b) The advisory committee shall prepare and recommend to the city council and whatever other regulatory as necessary, standards, regulations, and procedures relating to emergency medical service for their adoption, and shall review those standards, regulations and procedures annually to keep them up-to-date.
(c) The advisory committee appointments shall be for a term of six years, and members of the committee shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and shall keep permanent minutes of all meetings to record actions taken. (Ord. 957 §1(part), 1974).
4.24.090 Reports.
(a) Each licensee of an ambulance hereunder shall maintain accurate records, upon such forms as may be provided or prescribed by, and containing such information as may be required by the license officer, concerning the transportation of each patient within the city of Montesano or from one place herein to another place within or beyond its limits. Such records shall be available for inspection by the license officer at any reasonable time.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply with equal force in case the patient dies before being so transported in such ambulance or dies while being transported therein, or at any time prior to the admission of the patient to the hospital. (Ord. 957 (part), 1974).
4.24.100 State law governs.
The Laws of 1973, Ex. Sess., Chap. 208 shall govern if its provisions exceed those herein set forth. (Ord. 957 (part), 1974).
4.24.110 Provisions not applicable.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to ambulance service or any ambulance merely passing through Montesano or providing backup or assistance temporarily while the regular ambulance service is occupied elsewhere. (Ord. 957 §(part), 1974).
4.24.120 Penalties.
(a) Any person wilfully violating or failing to comply with any provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to the penalties imposed by the laws of the state of Washington for commission of misdemeanors. In any event, the fine may not exceed five hundred dollars or imprisonment in the city jail for a term exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) Each day that any violation of, or failure to comply with, this chapter is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate and distinct offense under this section and shall be punishable as such hereunder; provided, however, that the court may, in appropriate cases, stay the cumulation of penalties. (Ord. 957 §1 (part), 1974).
For further provisions relating to ambulance service-- See Chapters 2.72 and 2.76 of this code.