California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 2 - Department of the California Highway Patrol
Chapter 5 - Special Vehicles
Article 1 - Ambulances
Section 1104 - Dispatching Responsibilities

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 1104

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

Ambulance owners, drivers, dispatchers, and other persons directing the dispatch or operation of ambulances shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) Delays. Every person who dispatches an ambulance shall do so promptly or inform the person requesting such service of any delay, with the reasons therefor, and obtain the consent of the requestor before dispatching an ambulance under any circumstances that could delay it.

(b) Restrictions on Directing Use of Red Light and Siren. No person shall direct or request the use of the siren and red warning light (Code 3 operation) unless such person has reasonable cause to believe that speed in providing emergency ambulance service is essential to save a life, prevent undue suffering, or to reduce or prevent disability.

(c) Restrictions on Dispatch of Ambulances. The dispatch of an emergency ambulance where ambulance transportation is readily available from two or more ambulance services shall be in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) An ambulance service receiving an emergency call from a private person requesting an ambulance at the scene of a motor vehicle accident shall notify the appropriate law enforcement or other public agency dispatch center of the call. An ambulance shall be dispatched only upon instructions from that agency.

(2) When the dispatch of an ambulance is normally coordinated by a single public agency, an ambulance service receiving an emergency call from a private person requesting an ambulance at the scene of a motor vehicle accident shall notify he appropriate public agency dispatch center of the call. An ambulance shall be dispatched only upon instructions from the agency.

(3) No public or private ambulance service shall cause or permit any ambulance to be dispatched on the basis of information obtained by monitoring a radio frequency assigned to a law enforcement or other public agency except by specific request of, or prior arrangement with, the coordinating agency responsible for dispatching emergency ambulances.

Note: Authority cited: Section 2512, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 2504, 2512 and 2542, Vehicle Code.

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