Inglewood Municipal Code § 8-75 Wheel Chair Buses. Permit Required

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a wheel chair bus business in the City without first obtaining a permit so to do from the Permits and Licenses Committee.

The procedures governing the application for permits generally as set forth in Article 3 of this Chapter shall govern the application for a permit to operate a wheelchair bus business. The application shall include the following information:

(1) the name and address of the applicant;

(2) his financial status, including the amounts of all unpaid judgments against the applicant and the nature of the transaction or acts giving rise to said judgment;

(3) the experience of the applicant in the transportation of wheelchair patients or in this type of service;

(4) the number of vehicles to be operated or controlled, the location of proposed depots or terminals, the color scheme or insignia to be used to designate the vehicles, and the type of vehicles to be used;

(5) any facts which the applicant believes is significant to prove the necessity for the granting of a permit;

(6) such other information as the Committee may require.

Before any permit to operate a wheelchair bus is issued, the applicant shall be required to file with the City Council and thereafter keep in full force and effect, a policy of insurance in such form as the Council may deem proper, executed by an insurance company approved by the Council, insuring the public against any loss or damage that may result to any person or property from the operation of any vehicle used in such business, provided the maximum amount of recovery in such policy of insurance specified, shall not be less than the following sums:

Any person may, in lieu of the aforesaid policy of liability insurance filed with the Permits and Licenses Committee in such form as the Council may deem proper, executed by a responsible and solvent corporation authorized to conduct a bonding insurance business under the laws of the State of California, which bond shall be conditioned upon the payment of all final judgments which may be rendered against any such person for damages on account of injuries to property or person, including both passengers and the public, occasioned by the operation of any motor vehicle used in such wheelchair bus business, and which bond shall be in an amount graduated according to the number of motor vehicles owned or offered for hire in such business according to the following scale:

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a wheelchair bus:

(1) Unless each passenger is secured to wheelchairs by means of a safety belt attached either to the wheelchair or to the wheelchair bus, and the wheelchair in which each passenger is sitting is secured or immobilized in such a manner that it will not move when starting, stopping or turning.

(2) Except when the inside of the vehicle is adequately padded with rubber matting or carpeting so as to protect such passenger from striking bare metal or any other dangerous object.

(3) Unless the Chief of Police approves the padding, matting or carpeting in the passenger compartment of said bus.

(4) Unless the passenger in the wheelchair bus shall face forward during the movement of the vehicle.

(5) Unless the vehicle is:

(a) Maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(b) Designed and equipped to transport no more than four individuals in wheelchairs.

(c) Maintained in first-class mechanical condition and subject to inspection by the Police Department at any time.

(d) Identified in such a manner as to clearly indicate that the vehicle is used for wheelchair transportation.

(e) Equipped with side loading ramp for patients.

(f) Equipped with a fire extinguisher of a type to meet the standards set forth by the Fire Chief.

(g) Equipped with a standard first aid kit.

No permit shall be granted for wheelchair bus service unless the depot operating location should be within the City of Inglewood, or in such close proximity that service is available to users within a reasonable time.

It shall be unlawful for any person to demand, receive or arrange for compensation for service of a wheelchair bus, in any amount, rate or compensation other than the charges or rates approved by the Permits and Licenses Committee.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use a wheelchair bus for transportation unless such person is physically handicapped and by virtue thereof requires such transportation.

It shall be unlawful for any permittee to permit or for any person to operate a wheelchair bus unless the operator thereof or an attendant on duty therein possesses an advanced American Red Cross First Aid Certificate or an Advanced First Aid Certificate issued by the United States Bureau of Mines, and the Operator thereof holds a valid California driver's license and has complied with all requirements and standards for operators of ambulances prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to the provisions of Section 2512 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

(Ord. 1799 5-8-69)

The Chief of Police may suspend the operation of any wheelchair bus not being operated in compliance with this Section for a period of ten days in which time proceedings in revocation may be brought before the Permits and Licenses Committee in the manner designated in Article 3 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 1799 5-8-64)