Sec. 19a-181. (Formerly Sec. 19-73cc). Inspection and registration of ambulance, invalid coach and authorized emergency medical services vehicle. Suspension or revocation of registration certificate.

(a) In addition to the inspection required under subsection (b) of this section, each ambulance and invalid coach used by an emergency medical service organization shall be inspected to verify such ambulance or invalid coach has met the minimum standards prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Such inspection shall be conducted (1) in accordance with 49 CFR 396.17, as amended from time to time, and (2) by a person (A) qualified to perform such inspection in accordance with 49 CFR 396.19 and 49 CFR 396.25, as amended from time to time, and (B) employed by the state or a municipality of the state or licensed in accordance with section 14-52. A record of each inspection shall be made in accordance with section 49 CFR 396.21, as amended from time to time. Each inspector, upon determining that such ambulance or invalid coach meets the standards of safety and equipment prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall provide notification to the emergency medical services organization in such manner and form as said commissioner designates. The Commissioner of Public Health shall affix a safety certificate sticker in the rear compartment of such ambulance or invalid coach in a location readily visible to any person.

(b) Each authorized emergency medical services vehicle used by an emergency medical service organization shall be inspected by the Department of Public Health to verify the authorized emergency medical services vehicle is in compliance with the minimum standards for vehicle design and equipment as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Each inspector, upon determining that such authorized emergency medical services vehicle meets the standards of safety and equipment prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall affix a compliance certificate in the rear compartment of such vehicle, in such manner and form as said commissioner designates, and such sticker shall be so placed as to be readily visible to any person. The Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner's designee may inspect any rescue vehicle used by an emergency medical service organization for compliance with the minimum equipment standards prescribed by said commissioner.

(c) Each authorized emergency medical services vehicle shall be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to chapter 246. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a certificate of registration for any such authorized emergency medical services vehicle unless the applicant for such certificate of registration presents to said department a compliance certificate from the Commissioner of Public Health certifying that such authorized emergency medical services vehicle has been inspected and has met the minimum safety and vehicle design equipment standards prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Each vehicle registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles in accordance with this subsection shall be inspected by the Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner's designee not less than once every two years on or before the anniversary date of the issuance of the certificate of registration.

(d) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend or revoke the certificate of registration of any vehicle inspected under the provisions of this section upon certification from the Commissioner of Public Health that such ambulance or rescue vehicle has failed to meet the minimum standards prescribed by said commissioner.

(P.A. 74-305, S. 10, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 8, 18; P.A. 98-195, S. 9; P.A. 14-231, S. 11; P.A. 15-242, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 75-112 replaced references to standards of office of emergency services and commission on hospitals and health care with references to standards of commissioner; Sec. 19-73cc transferred to Sec. 19a-181 in 1983; (Revisor's note: In 1995 the word “Medical” was added editorially by the Revisors to correct reference to “Office of Emergency Services” and in 1997 references throughout the general statutes to “Motor Vehicle(s) Commissioner” and “Motor Vehicle(s) Department” were replaced editorially by the Revisors with “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles” or “Department of Motor Vehicles”, as the case may be, for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 98-195 transferred authority over ambulance services from the Office of Emergency Medical Services to the Commissioner of Public Health; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “or rescue vehicle used by an ambulance or rescue service” with “invalid coach and intermediate or paramedic intercept vehicle used by an emergency medical service organization”, adding provisions re inspections and making technical and conforming changes; P.A. 15-242 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to intermediate or paramedic intercept vehicle and registration, replacing provision re safety certificate and sticker to be provided and affixed by inspector with provision re notification by inspector to commissioner and sticker to be affixed by commissioner and making technical changes, added new Subsec. (b) re inspection by Department of Public Health, added Subsec. (c) re registration with Department of Motor Vehicles and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d).