Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 48-10 Vehicle Compliance

(a) All ambulances must display, in a type and manner specified by the permit officer, all of the following:

(1) The business name of the ambulance service provider.

(2) The word "Ambulance."

(3) The level of ambulance service provided: basic life support, limited advanced life support, advanced life support or critical care transport.

(4) An ambulance that provides advanced life support may display the words "Paramedic Unit" in lieu of the words advanced life support.

(5) The phrase "FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 9-1-l."

(b) No vehicle may display the words "Ambulance," "Medic," "Paramedic," "Emergency Medical Services," "Emergency Transport Services," "EMS" or any derivative of those terms unless the ambulance is properly permitted by the LEMSA.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) All ambulances and emergency response vehicles shall be equipped with properly operating equipment that allows voice communication at all times with the county's communication center and with all other ambulance service providers in Contra Costa County.

(b) All ambulances and emergency response vehicles shall be equipped with the minimum communications equipment required by LEMSA policy or standards.

(c) All ambulances and emergency response vehicles shall be equipped with a LEMSA-approved global positioning system mapping device.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) All permitted ambulances and vehicles are subject to an annual inspection by the permit officer to determine if:

(1) The ambulance or emergency response vehicle is properly maintained and ambulances are equipped for the provision of ambulance service.

(2) The description of the ambulance required by Section 48-8.012 (a)(l3) is accurate.

(3) The ambulance or emergency response vehicle contains communications devices installed pursuant to LEMSA standards and policies, and that the communications devices are in good working order.

(4) The ambulance or emergency response vehicle is in compliance with the California Highway Patrol standards with a valid inspection report on file.

(5) The ambulance or emergency response vehicle is in compliance with all local, state and federal requirements that apply to the operation of ambulances and emergency response vehicles.

(6) The ambulance or emergency response vehicle is sanitary and in good working condition and does not otherwise pose a risk to the public's health or safety.

(7) Ambulance service providers holding a current, valid ambulance permit upon adoption of this ordinance will be subject to annual inspections beginning one year from the date of issuance of their current permit or renewal of certificate of operation, whichever comes first.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) An ambulance or vehicle that passes an inspection will be issued an inspection decal that expires the earlier of one year from date of issuance or on the same day that the certificate of operation expires. The date of issuance for an initial inspection decal is the date the initial inspection is successfully completed and a certificate of operation is issued. The decal must be prominently displayed on the ambulance or emergency response vehicle at all times and in the manner prescribed by the permit officer.

(b) A vehicle inspection decal may be renewed no earlier than sixty days before it expires. Notwithstanding early renewal, the new vehicle inspection decal shall not become effective until expiration of the current vehicle inspection decal.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) An ambulance service or operator of an emergency response vehicle shall allow the permit officer to inspect any ambulance or emergency response vehicle being operated in Contra Costa County, at any time, with or without advance notice.

(b) An intermittent inspection does not supplant the required annual inspection.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), the permit officer may, in the permit officer's sole discretion, waive the annual inspection if the intermittent inspection occurs within sixty days before the certificate of operation expires and the ambulance meets the requirements of this division.

(d) An ambulance service provider's failure to cooperate with an inspection will be deemed an inspection failure pursuant to Section 48-10.012.

(Ord. No. 2024-23, § III(Exh. A), 12-3-24; Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) If a vehicle fails an annual or intermittent inspection, the ambulance service provider must immediately remove the ambulance or emergency response vehicle from service until the ambulance or emergency response vehicle has been re-inspected and the permit officer has authorized its return to service.

(b) No ambulance or emergency response vehicle that has been removed from service due to an inspection failure shall transport patients or respond to calls for service.

(c) An ambulance or emergency response vehicle that has been placed out of service or is not otherwise available to respond to emergency calls shall not be driven upon a public roadway unless it displays the words "Out of Service" in at least four-inch black letters on the rear, left and right sides of the ambulance or emergency response vehicle.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).

(a) No person may operate or cause another to operate an ambulance or emergency response vehicle if any of the following conditions exist:

(1) The vehicle does not meet the minimum requirements for operation as set forth by the California Highway Patrol or if it no longer complies with any provision of the Vehicle Code or Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2) The vehicle is not furnished with the minimum equipment required by the LEMSA.

(3) The permit officer determines that the vehicle is not in a clean, sanitary condition.

(4) The permit officer determines that the vehicle is not in a safe mechanical condition.

(b) The ambulance service provider shall immediately notify the permit officer if an ambulance or emergency response vehicle ceases to meet the minimum requirements for operation as set forth by the California Highway Patrol or if it no longer complies with any provision of the Vehicle Code or Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations.

(Ord. No. 2022-21, §§ II, III, 6-21-22).