Visalia Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Ambulance Services

Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:

“Ambulance” means any vehicle certified by the California Highway Patrol that is specifically constructed, modified, equipped, designed and used and operated for transporting sick, injured, convalescent, infirm, or otherwise incapacitated persons.

“Convalescent transport vehicle” means any vehicle that is specifically constructed, modified, equipped, designed and used and operated for transporting patients not requiring emergency services.

“Licensee” means any person or business entity having a valid license issued by the county of Tulare to operate an ambulance and/or convalescent transport vehicle within a defined area of the county of Tulare.

“Patient” means a wounded, injured, sick, invalid, convalescent or otherwise incapacitated person.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust or estate.

“Service area” means the geographic area in the county of Tulare in which a licensee is licensed by Tulare County to provide ambulance and/or convalescent transport service. (Prior code § 4525)

It is unlawful for any person, either as an owner, agent, employee, or otherwise, to operate, conduct or otherwise be engaged in the business of providing ambulance services or convalescent transport services in the city, or to transport patients in the city by means of an ambulance or convalescent transport vehicle or to operate the same upon the public streets within the city, without having a license or permit issued by the county of Tulare authorizing the licensee or permittee to provide such services within the service area of the county of Tulare, within which the city is located. (Prior code § 4526)

Any licensee of the county of Tulare may provide ambulance or convalescent transport services within the city under the following circumstances:

A. Upon request by any person, public safety agency, or other licensee, when an ambulance or convalescent transport vehicle licensed by the county of Tulare for the service area in which the city is located, is not immediately available;

B. To provide ambulance or convalescent transport service to any person from a point outside the city to a point inside the city;

C. To provide return ambulance or convalescent transport service to any person who initially used the licensee's services for transportation to a destination inside the city from a point outside the city;

D. To provide standby ambulance or convalescent transport services on a contract basis for special events of limited duration, including, but not limited to circuses, carnivals, outdoor festivals, fairs, rodeos, and athletic events. (Prior code § 4527)

This chapter shall not apply to the following:

A. Any person or organization providing ambulance or convalescent transport services on a nonprofit volunteer basis;

B. Ambulance or convalescent transport services supplied by a political subdivision of the state of California or the United States;

C. Ambulance or convalescent transport service from a location outside the county of Tulare, regardless of destination;

D. Any ambulance or convalescent transport service during any state of war emergency, state of emergency, or local emergency, as those terms are defined in the Government Code of the state of California. (Prior code § 4528)

Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter which are declared to be unlawful, shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in the Municipal Code of the city.