Trans 309.03 Inspections and Enforcement.
SECTION 10. Trans 309.03 (1g) is created to read:
Trans 309.03 (1g) Ambulance service providers based out of state but operating in Wisconsin shall have their home state’s most current inspection on file with the department and shall comply with all Wisconsin motor vehicle legal requirements including ch. Trans 305, s. 347, Stats., and this chapter. SECTION 11. Trans 309.03 (3) (a) is amended to read:
Trans 309.03 (3) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), if upon inspection a vehicle is found to be unsafe or improperly constructed or equipped for use as an ambulance, or if the ambulance service provider's license has been revoked, the inspector shall attach an "OUT OF SERVICE" sticker to the glass in the rear door of the vehicle. A vehicle may not be put in service as an ambulance while the sticker is so displayed. Except as provided in par. (b), the “OUT OF SERVICE” sticker displayed shall be re-inspected by and shall have the sticker removed by an employee of the division of state patrol or authorized agent of the service provider at the direction of the division of state patrol employee prior to reuse as an ambulance. The “OUT OF SERVICE” sticker shall not be removed until may be removed only by a department authorized inspector and only after the deficiencies noted on the inspection report have been corrected, or the ambulance provider’s license has been reinstated., and the vehicle has been reinspected and approved by the department.
SECTION 12. Trans 309.03 (3) (b) 1. is amended to read:
Trans 309.03 (3) (b) 1. If a vehicle that has been declared "out of service" or is no longer able to serve as an ambulance, the owner or lessee of the vehicle shall remove the "OUT OF SERVICE" sticker and all special ambulance markings and features from the vehicle, including all of the following:
SECTION 13. Trans 309.03 (3) (b) 1. a. is amended to read:
Trans 309.03 (3) (b) 1. a. The warning, flood lights and siren unless the vehicle is being converted for use as another kind of authorized emergency vehicle. The current owner or lessee must physically remove all lighting equipment required by s. Trans 309.15 (2), the siren and public address equipment required by s. Trans 309.17 and all lettering and markings required by s. Trans 309.19. Ambulance lighting shall be brought into compliance with vehicle general lighting requirements in ch. 347, Stats. and ch. Trans 305. SECTION 14. Trans 309.03 (4) is amended to read:
Trans 309.03 (4) If upon inspection a vehicle is found defective or deficient but, in the judgment of the inspector, may nevertheless be operated as an ambulance without seriously affecting the safe transportation of sick, injured, disabled persons or general public, the inspector shall note the deficiency on the ambulance inspection report and shall specify the time, not to exceed 30 days, in which the ambulance service provider is required to correct the defect or deficiency. The inspector may require proof of correction of the defect or deficiency in writing. If the defect or deficiency is not corrected within the time allowed, the vehicle may not be used as an ambulance.
SECTION 15. Trans 309.03 (5) (j), 309.03 (5) (k), 309.03 (5) (m), 309.03 (5) (n), 309.03 (5) (o), 309.03 (5) (p), 309.03 (5) (q), 309.03 (5) (r), 309.03 (5) (s), and 309.03 (5) (t) are created to read:
Trans 309.03 (5) (j) A malfunctioning or inadequate environmental climatic control system.
Trans 309.03 (5) (k) A malfunctioning or inadequate cot or cot securement system.
Trans 309.03 (5) (m) Inoperative complete front, side or rear emergency lighting.
Trans 309.03 (5) (n) An inoperative siren.
Trans 309.03 (5) (o) Carbon monoxide concentrations within the vehicle greater than 10 ppm (parts per million) above the outside ambient carbon monoxide concentration.
Trans 309.03 (5) (p) A malfunctioning or inadequate steering system.
Trans 309.03 (5) (q) Belts that are damaged, contaminated by oil or improperly adjusted.
Trans 309.03 (5) (r) A defective or inadequate suspension system.
Trans 309.03 (5) (s) The ambulance exceeds the GVWR as set by the OEM.
Trans 309.03 (5) (t) The ambulance exceeds the GAWR as set by the OEM.
SECTION 16. Trans 309.03 (7) is amended to read:
Trans 309.03 (7) The penalty for violating sub. (5) (a) to (h) or (j) to (t) is a forfeiture of up to $50.00 per violation. The penalty for violating sub. (5) (i) is a forfeiture of up to $100.00. The penalty for violating sub. (6) is a forfeiture of up to $200.00.
SECTION 17. Trans 309.03 (8) and 309.03 (9) are created to read:
Trans. 309.03 (8) (a) The ambulance service provider shall notify the inspector as soon as possible if an ambulance is involved in a motor vehicle crash which involves serious injury or death.
(b) If an ambulance is being placed back into service after being involved in a crash the ambulance service shall notify the inspector and shall provide proof of the repairs in writing before being placed back into service.
Trans 309.03 (9) (a) The department shall consider the age, condition, and equipment of ambulances before granting approval for their continued use. The department shall not permit the use of any ambulance for emergency medical purposes which is deemed to be unsafe or unfit for such service.
(b) In construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the act, omission or failure of any officer, agent, servant or other person acting for or employed by the registered owner or the lessee of the ambulance is deemed to be the act, omission or failure of such registered owner or lessee. This subsection does not apply to violations of ch. 346, Stats. SECTION 18. Trans 309.04 (1) is amended to read:
Trans 309.04 Specialized emergency medical care vehicles. (1) In recognition of their highly specialized design, construction, equipment and function, mobile intensive care transport units, critical care transport units and intensive care vehicles designed and equipped for neonatology medical services, that are used only for transportation of patients between hospitals, are exempt from the vehicle equipment standards prescribed in ss. Trans 309.09 to 309.11, 309.14, 309.15 (3), 309.18 and 309.19 and subch. III.SECTION 19. Trans 309.06 is amended to read:
Trans 309.06 (1) Any person selling or leasing any new or used vehicle that is intended to be used as an ambulance shall provide the purchaser or lessee with a written notice stating that the vehicle complies with the requirements of ss. Trans 309.09 to 309.16. SECTION 20. Trans 309.06 (2) is created to read:
Trans 309.06 (2) An ambulance may be loaned or leased to an ambulance service provider by an ambulance manufacturer or dealer in order to avoid a hardship on that ambulance service provider and the emergency medical service needs of the community or communities it represents. The ambulance service must notify the inspector or department that they are obtaining the ambulance, the reason why and approximate duration as soon as possible. The loaned or leased ambulance must be temporarily replacing, not more than six months, an ambulance inspected and approved by the department under this chapter. If the ambulance service needs the use of a loaned or leased ambulance for any period of time greater than six months, approval must be granted by the department’s inspector. The entity loaning or leasing the ambulance must ensure the ambulance complies with the requirements of ss. Trans 309.09 to 309.16. The ambulance service receiving the loaned or leased ambulance must comply with all the applicable requirements of this chapter, except for those requirements of this chapter the ambulance service provider receiving the loaned or leased ambulance and the department inspector’s joint agreement in writing can be waived. SECTION 21. Trans 309.07 (5) is amended to read:
Trans 309.07 (5) The right to continue operation of an ambulance for which a variance has been granted or recognized under this section is not transferable to any other person or vehicle and a copy of the variance must be carried in the ambulance at all times.
SECTION 22. Trans 309.08 (1) is amended to read:
Trans 309.08 (1) REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE. At the time of inspection, the service provider shall open to inspection the proof of current registration and insurance on each ambulance to be inspected. The proof of registration and insurance or copies of it each shall be carried in each ambulance and be available upon request of the inspector.
SECTION 23. Trans 309.08 (2) is repealed.
SECTION 24. Trans 309.08 (3) and 309.08 (4) are created to read:
Trans 309.08 (3) MAINTENANCE. Ambulance service providers shall maintain their ambulances as specified by the original equipment manufacturers or OEM. Vehicle service or maintenance records shall be maintained by the ambulance service for the life of the ambulance and shall be made available to the department upon inspection.
Trans 309.08 (4) CRASH REGISTER. Ambulance Service Providers shall keep a written or electronic register of each crash their vehicles are involved in. The register shall include crash number issued by investigating agency, date, location, driver name, number of injuries, number of fatalities and vehicles towed.
SECTION 25. Trans 309.10 is amended to read:
Trans 309.10 Doors. An ambulance shall have 2 unobstructed door openings in addition to the doors for the driver cab compartment. There shall be at least one door opening on the right forward side and a single door or double doors at the rear of the patient compartment. A forward hinged single door, double doors or a sliding type door shall have a minimum right side door opening of 30 inches in width, and 54 inches in height for Types I, IAD, and III and IIIAD ambulances and 42 inches in height for Type II ambulances. The opening shall provide clearance to allow access and removal of a patient strapped to a long spine board. Single or double rear loading doors shall cover a clear opening of not less than 46 inches in height and 44 inches in width for Types I, IAD, and III and IIIAD ambulances, and the manufacturer's standard for Type II ambulances. The ambulance body doors shall be equipped with not less than 250 square inches of safety glass area per door. Doors shall be designed for easy release from both the interior and exterior of the ambulance, but an accidental opening shall be prevented by an interlocking system that functions even when doors are not completely closed. Each door shall have effective compression or overlapping seals to prevent the entry of dust, water and air. Doors may contain recessed compartments to the interior for storage of supplies and devices.
