Indian Wells Municipal Code Art. III Ambulance Drivers

It is unlawful for any person to drive, operate or use any vehicle as an ambulance for pay or hire unless such person is the holder of a valid driver's permit issued to him in accordance with this Article. No such permit shall be issued to any driver unless such applicant holds a valid chauffeur's license issued by the State. Such permit shall be issued by the City Clerk and in the form of a wallet card with photograph of the permittee and thumb print affixed, which must be carried by the driver at all times while operating an ambulance.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

No ambulance driver's permit shall be issued to any person unless such person shall;

(a) Be twenty-one (21) years of age or over;

(b) Be of sound physique, good eyesight and not subject to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble, color blindness or other infirmity of body or mind, which might render him unfit for the safe operation of an ambulance;

(c) Be able to speak, read and write the English language;

(d) Not have been convicted, within a period of one (1) year prior to application of the offense, of reckless driving and/or driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, as these offenses are defined by the Vehicle Code of the State;

(e) Not be addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor or narcotics;

(f) Submit to fingerprinting by the Sheriff's Department and furnish full-face and profile photographs, two inches (2") square, which shall be affixed to the application.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

Application for a driver's permit shall be made to the Sheriff's Department and no permit shall be granted until the permit fee established by resolution of the City Council has been paid to the City Clerk. Driver's permit shall expire on December 31st of each year.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

Any driver's permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be revoked or suspended by the City Manager either temporarily or permanently upon proof that the holder has been convicted of an offense involving driving a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or while under the influence of a narcotic, or for reckless driving, as the same is defined by the Vehicle Code of the State, or while actually operating such ambulance while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a narcotic drug, or any other offense defined as a felony by the Vehicle Code of the State.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

No holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity as provided in this Chapter shall permit the operation of any ambulance in emergency service unless either the operator thereof or an attendant on duty therein possesses a current advanced American Red Cross first aid certificate and is trained in the use of all resuscitation equipment installed in the ambulance.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

No permittee shall allow an ambulance to be operated in service unless:

(a) The driver meets the qualifications and training required by the California Administrative Code, as the same is now written or hereafter amended. The driver shall be trained and competent in the proper use of all safety and emergency equipment and supplies referred to in Section 9.84.240 of this Chapter. The driver shall hold a certificate as an Emergency Medical Technician IA (EMT IA), unless the permittee has been specifically exempted from this requirement by the State and the County;

(b) The driver is accompanied by an attendant, unless the permittee has been specifically exempted from this requirement by the Health Officer. The ambulance attendant shall be trained and competent in the proper use of all safety and emergency equipment and supplies referred to in Section 9.84.240 of this Chapter, and shall hold a certificate as an Emergency Medical Technician IA (EMT IA). The ambulance attendant shall occupy the patient compartment while transporting any person in apparent need of medical attention;

(c) At least one (1) attendant holds a certificate as MIC paramedic issued by the Health Officer, if the vehicle is being used as an ALS ambulance;

(d) At least one (1) attendant holds a certificate as an EMT 11, if the vehicle is being used as a LALS ambulance.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)

(a) An ambulance driver or ambulance attendant who is a California licensed physician or an MIC nurse certified by the Health Officer shall be exempt from the emergency medical training requirement set forth in Section 9.84.240 of this Chapter.

(b) The provisions of Section 9.84.240 of this Chapter shall not apply during any "state of war emergency," duly proclaimed "state of emergency" or "local emergency" as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code.

(Ord. 192 § 1, 1982)