Chapter 4 - AMBULANCES (EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE VEHICLES)#
Footnotes:
- --- (1) ---
- Editor's note— Ord. No. 84-32, adopted Dec. 11, 1984, amended the Code by adding provisions designated as Ch. 4, §§ 4-1—4-11, to read as herein set out.
Cross reference— Licenses generally, Ch. 20; motor vehicles and traffic, Ch. 24; vehicles for hire, Ch. 36.
State Law reference— Ground ambulance specifications, 12 VACS 5-31-810; ground ambulance staffing requirements, 12 VACS 5-31-1230; EMS vehicle permit requirement, 12 VACS 5-31-640.
Sec. 4-1. - Definitions.#
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the following prescribed meanings, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle). Any privately or publicly owned vehicle that is specially designed, constructed, or modified and equipped and is intended to be used for and is maintained or operated to provide immediate medical care to or to transport persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
Attendant. Any person riding in attendance with a patient.
Call; run. The act of progressing with an ambulance to the scene of need and transporting a patient to his destination.
Permit. A document issued by the city council licensing the operation of ambulances (emergency medical service vehicles) within the City of Hopewell.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-2. - Permit—Required.#
No person shall operate or cause to be operated an ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) within the city without first having applied for and obtained a permit from the city council authorizing such operation. Nonprofit volunteer rescue squads licensed by the State of Virginia, and on-site ambulance services provided by businesses without charge for their employees and personnel, which services are not also offered to the general public except pursuant to a mutual aid agreement with the city, shall be exempt from this permit requirement.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84; Ord. No. 98-35, 8-11-98)
Sec. 4-3. - Same—Application.#
All persons applying to the council for a certificate for the operation of an ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) shall file with the council an application therefor, stating as follows:
(1) The name and address of the owner, and in the event that the owner is a corporation, a certified copy of the articles of incorporation.
(2) The number of vehicles actually owned and the number of vehicles actually operated by such owner on the date of such application, if any.
(3) The make, type, year of manufacture, serial number, and equipment therein for each ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) owned or operated by the applicant for a permit.
(4) Whether there are any liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances on such ambulance (emergency medical service vehicles), and if so, the amount and character thereof.
(5) Copies of permits issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the applicant and for each ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) used by the applicant.
(6) Copies of certificates issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for each emergency medical care attendant employed and/or to be used by the applicant.
(7) And such other information as the council may in its discretion require.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-4. - Same—Procedure for granting.#
(a) Hearing on application. Upon receipt of an application for a permit, the city council shall fix a time and place for hearing the applicant. No permit shall be granted unless the council shall find, after hearing that the public convenience and necessity require the proposed ambulance service. In determining whether the public convenience and necessity require the operation of an ambulance or ambulances for which application for a permit is made, the council will consider and investigate the statements made in the application; the adequacy of existing ambulance service; the financial responsibility, experience, and character of the applicant; the public need for additional service; the ability of existing holders of a permit to provide any necessary additional service, and any other factors pertinent to such determination.
(b) Issuance. Upon finding that the public convenience and necessity require the proposed ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle), the council shall grant to the applicant a permit upon the terms and conditions prescribed by this chapter, and any other terms and conditions that council may specify; provided that the applicant shall have complied with all the provisions of this chapter and Article 5, Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-5. - Same—Term.#
In order that any applicant granted a permit may justify the capital investment essential to the adequate and efficient ambulance service required in the public interest, the term of any permit granted shall be one (1) year; provided that any permit granted may be suspended or revoked by the council after a hearing held upon thirty (30) days' notice to any permit holder for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter. If upon such hearing the council shall find that the permit holder has corrected any deficiencies and has brought himself into compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the permit shall not be suspended or revoked. No permit granted may be sold, assigned, or transferred, nor in any way vest in any person other than the applicant to whom the permit is granted, any rights or privileges under such permit.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-6. - Same—Existing ambulances (emergency medical service vehicles).#
Every owner operating a licensed ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) in the city on November 1, 1978, shall be deemed, in the absence of evidence and finding by the council to the contrary, to be operating under public convenience and necessity and, provided that all other requirements of this chapter have been met, the council shall grant a permit to such owner or owners upon written request therefor.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-7. - Ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) specifications.#
All vehicles used as ambulances (emergency medical service vehicles) shall conform to all of the specifications and requirements as prescribed by the state of board of health and shall possess a valid permit issued by the state health commissioner.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-8. - Drivers and attendants.#
(a) Qualifications. No person shall be employed or act as an ambulance (emergency medical service vehicle) driver or attendant unless such person shall meet the qualifications as prescribed by the state board of health and be certified by the state health commissioner.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-9. - Insurance required.#
(a) Every owner operating ambulances (emergency medical service vehicles) under a permit shall submit to the city council evidence of public liability and property damage insurance in force with an insurance company licensed to conduct business in this state in the following amounts:
| Coverage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined bodily injury and property damage | $1,000,000.00 |
(b) Such owner shall also show the city is named as an insured on such policies.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-10. - Rates and charges.#
(a) The holder of a certificate under this chapter may charge such rates as the council may approve from time to time by resolution.
(b) Any owner or operator charging in excess of the rates approved by the city council shall be in violation of this chapter and shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each such violation.
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-11. - Penalty.#
Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor, subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(Ord. No. 84-32, 12-11-84)
Sec. 4-12. - Service fees for emergency ambulance transport.#
(a) As required by law, it is hereby determined and declared that the exercise of the powers and duties set forth herein is necessary to assure the provision of adequate and continuing emergency services and to preserve, protect, and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply to ambulance charges:
(1) Basic life support (BLS) Medical treatment or procedures services provided to a patient will be as defined by the applicable national, state, and local scope of practice for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Basic.
(2) Advanced life support level 1 (ALS-1): Services will be medical treatment or procedures provided to a patient beyond the scope of an EMT-Basic, as defined by the applicable national, state, and local scope of practice for the EMS Education and Practice Blueprint.
(3) Advanced life support level 2 (ALS-2): Services are defined as advanced life support (ALS) services provided to a patient, including any of the following medical procedures: (i) manual defibrillation/cardioversion; (ii) endotracheal intubation; (iii) central venous line; (iv) cardiac pacing; (v) chest decompression; (vi) surgical airway; (vii) intraosseous line; and (viii) the administration of three (3) or more medications.
(4) Ground transport mileage (GTM): Will be assessed in statute mile from the location where the patient is picked up to a hospital or other facility where a patient is transported.
(c) The rates for emergency ambulance transport services by the City of Hopewell are as follows. The then-current schedule of rates will be published by Hopewell Fire & EMS:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| BLS (nonemergency) | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| BLS (emergency) | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| ALS (nonemergency) | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| ALS-1 | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| ALS-2 | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| Treat/No Transport | 135% of Medicare allowable |
| GTM (ground transport mile) | 135% of Medicare allowable per loaded mile in addition to transport charges |
(d) Reasonable fees may also be charged for services provided by Hopewell Fire & EMS and which are not covered by the Medicare Allowable Fee Schedule. These fees must reflect the actual cost to the City and will be published by Hopewell Fire & EMS.
(e) The city manager is hereby authorized and directed to establish rules and regulations for the administration of the charges imposed by this section, including, but not limited to, a subscription program for city residents and payment standards for those persons who demonstrate economic hardship, as permitted by applicable law. Initially the annual subscription program will be offered at a cost of sixty-nine dollars ($69.00) per household, which funds will be used to defray expenses for emergency ambulance transport.
Fund allocation: Funds collected will be allocated to the Hopewell Fire & EMS budget in support of EMS training, equipment, and supplies as well as for the purchase of department apparatus.
(Ord. No. 2002-19, 1-14-2003; Ord. of 09-09-2025)
State Law reference— For subsection (a), See Va. Code 32.1-1111.14.