Chapter 8.34 - PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES ABUSE

Sections:

8.34.010 - Purpose.#

The city has experienced repeated calls from citizens for emergency medical services when no real emergency exists and has repeatedly responded to public health emergencies generated by repeated negligent or criminal activities at a single location. Further, responding to such nonemergency calls or repeated negligent or criminal activities at a single location requires the use of public safety personnel and equipment so that they are not readily available in the event of a real emergency. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to reduce such abuse and misuse of emergency medical services provided by the city, thus keeping personnel and equipment available for use in real emergency situations, conserving energy, and reducing costs.

(Ord. No. 2020-06, § VI, 6-3-2020)

8.34.020 - Unlawful request of service.#

A.

Any person who shall repeatedly request that the public safety personnel of the city respond to unnecessary, false, or capricious requests for assistance, or for nonemergency situations, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

B.

For the purpose of this section, nonemergency situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.

Alcohol intoxication;

2.

Minor lacerations;

3.

Minor contusions and sprains;

4.

Minor illnesses;

5.

Insect and animal bites not deemed emergencies;

6.

Rash, skin disorders, hives without dyspnea (difficulty of breathing);

7.

Home delivery to avoid doctor and hospital services;

8.

Venereal disease;

9.

Patients seeking nonemergency transportation;

10.

Forehead and scalp lacerations only;

11.

Cold syndrome;

12.

Sore throat;

13.

Earache;

14.

Hiccough;

15.

Nervousness/anxiety;

16.

Toothache;

17.

Minor bruises;

18.

Non-life-threatening overdoses;

19.

Non-life-threatening self-inflicted injuries; and

20.

Similar injuries of a medically insignificant nature that do not require emergency care on an expedited basis.

C.

Any property owner or business owner of a property or business, as applicable, at which public safety personnel are required to investigate or respond to more than three (3) circumstances of negligent or criminal behavior in any 180-day period shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for excessive use of public safety personnel and shall be liable for all public safety personnel costs incurred for each response to the property.

(Ord. No. 2020-06, § VI, 6-3-2020)

8.34.030 - Assessment of costs.#

A.

For each call to a nonemergency situation (as defined in the preceding section) made and for which emergency medical personnel arrived, the responsible person shall be assessed the cost associated with the emergency response, as included in the city's consolidated fee schedule.

B.

For the purposes of this section, excessive use of public safety personnel is established after public safety personnel responds to circumstances of negligent or criminal behavior at or associated with a property more than three (3) times in any 180-day period

C.

The requirement of fees under this section does not foreclose the possibility of criminal prosecution for conduct described in this section.

(Ord. No. 2020-06, § VI, 6-3-2020)