§1135.2. Qualifications to operate emergency medical response vehicles; vehicle requirements; equipment; penalties

A.(1) No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an emergency medical response vehicle as an emergency vehicle on any street, alley, or public way or place in the state unless the vehicle is staffed with at least one individual who is a licensed emergency medical responder.

(2) No person shall provide services in any capacity on an emergency medical response vehicle unless he is at least a licensed emergency medical responder, or a holder of a certificate of licensure as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, or is a physician or surgeon licensed to practice medicine by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, a licensed respiratory therapist, a licensed nurse practitioner, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed occupational therapist. No person shall provide services in any capacity on these vehicles without holding an American Heart Association Health Care Provider, or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer, or the equivalent cardio-pulmonary resuscitation certification that has been approved by the Louisiana Department of Health.

B. No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an emergency medical response vehicle as an emergency vehicle which:

(1) Does not carry with it equipment, in fully operational condition, for emergency medical response consistent with the scope of practice for emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1133.14. Each emergency medical response vehicle provider shall develop and maintain a written policy identifying the equipment required to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph. At a minimum, the policy shall identify the basic trauma equipment, drugs, suction and oxygen equipment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation equipment, and any other equipment required by law that shall be maintained on the emergency medical response vehicle.

(2) Is not marked with the company name or logo on both sides and the rear and does not have fully visible and audible warning signals in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health.

(3) Does not meet the minimum motor vehicle safety standards as prescribed in the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Act, R.S. 32:1302 et seq.

(4) Is not insured in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:1135.9.

(5) Is not owned or leased by the certified ambulance service operating the vehicle.

C.(1) The Louisiana Department of Health or its designee shall be empowered to conduct inspections of emergency medical response vehicles. The department shall certify such vehicles and shall have the authority to deny, probate, suspend, or revoke certifications. The department shall also have the authority to report any violations to the appropriate district attorney's office.

(2) Certification issued by the Louisiana Department of Health shall serve as authorization of the ambulance service to operate the emergency medical response vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

D. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both. The penalty prescribed by this Subsection shall be doubled for any subsequent offense.

Acts 1997, No. 297, §2; Acts 2012, No. 789, §2, eff. June 13, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 184, §2(A); Redesignated from R.S. 40:1235.1 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S; Acts 2018, No. 557, §1.