EMSA Says State Law Negates Riverside Ambulance Rule
The state Emergency Medical Services Authority last month said that California law overrules Riverside's policy requiring non-emergency ambulances to apply for franchise agreements to operate in the city. For 40 years, the city has restricted "retail" ambulances by requiring them to prove there is a need for their services in Riverside. However, Howard Backer -- director of EMSA -- said, "The justification for 'need and necessity' cannot be used by the city of Riverside to limit the provision of ambulance services."
- "RIVERSIDE: State Agency Faults City Ambulance Restrictions" (Robinson, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 2/13).