DOH Inspections on the road

[nycemt728 49]

So today I passed a new Ford Interceptor with lights on pulled off to the side of the road. When I got a closer look, it said State EMS. The inspector was in the process of checking a commercial agency's supervisor/first response vehicle. My questions is this, what authority if any do they have to pull over a vehicle? Inspect, by all means, but is there legal precedent for the DOH to pull over a vehicle? I have always of inspectors doing their work in ER bays or ambulance stations/bases. I'm assuming most people would pull over out of courtesy, but are they required to do so? Was this simply because there can't be a patient in a response vehicle?

[RWC130 594]

State EMS can do inspections at any time as long as you do not have a patient on board

or responding to an emergency.

It is common to perform the inspections at ER bays or Stations (as you mentioned)

but I have also seen roadside ones being performed very similar to a traffic stop.

State EMS vehicles are equipped with Red Lights/Siren so pulling over would not be

a courtesy, It's the law.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Deleted: Not even going to get involved.

Edited July 5, 2015 by SageVigiles

[velcroMedic1987 330]

State EMS can do inspections at any time as long as you do not have a patient on board

or responding to an emergency.

It is common to perform the inspections at ER bays or Stations (as you mentioned)

but I have also seen roadside ones being performed very similar to a traffic stop.

State EMS vehicles are equipped with Red Lights/Siren so pulling over would not be

a courtesy, It's the law.

This generates some interesting questions.

Why do NYS DOH BEMS vehicles even have red lights and sirens? Are they authorized emergency vehicles? (This creates an even more interesting question, why?)

Does the State of NY have an EMS agency code and inspect their own vehicles as "emergency ambulance service vehicles"?

Given the inherent danger of roadside stops, why on Earth would a state EMS rep decide to "pull over" another EMS vehicle on the side of the road? Couldn't he follow them to their base or hospital? What was the "emergency"? (I don't think this is an emergency operation under NYS law.)

If someone refuses to pull over for the DOH buff mobile what if anything can be done to them? They're not a peace or police officer are they?

Vehicle and Traffic

§ 101. Authorized emergency vehicle. Every ambulance, police vehicle

or bicycle, correction vehicle, fire vehicle, civil defense emergency

vehicle, emergency ambulance service vehicle, blood delivery vehicle,

county emergency medical services vehicle, environmental emergency

response vehicle, sanitation patrol vehicle, hazardous materials

emergency vehicle and ordnance disposal vehicle of the armed forces of

the United States.

Vehicle and Traffic

§ 114-b. Emergency operation. The operation, or parking, of an

authorized emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is engaged in

transporting a sick or injured person, transporting prisoners,

delivering blood or blood products in a situation involving an imminent

health risk, pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the law, or

responding to, or working or assisting at the scene of an accident,

disaster, police call, alarm of fire, actual or potential release of

hazardous materials or other emergency. Emergency operation shall not

include returning from such service.

Vehicle and Traffic

§ 115-c. Emergency ambulance service vehicle. An emergency ambulance

service vehicle shall be defined as an appropriately equipped motor

vehicle owned or operated by an ambulance service as defined in section

three thousand one of the public health law and used for the purpose of

transporting emergency medical personnel and equipment to sick or

injured persons.

[vtach39680 23]

Is anyone actually positive that an inspection was being done? Is it possible that the DOH inspector stopped to offer assistance?

[10512 214]

Is anyone actually positive that an inspection was being done? Is it possible that the DOH inspector stopped to offer assistance?

This is a more likely scenario than stopping someone for an inspection.

[velcroMedic1987 330]

I hope that's the case!

Is anyone actually positive that an inspection was being done? Is it possible that the DOH inspector stopped to offer assistance?

I hope that's the case!

[FF1 172]

Who cares?

keep your bus properly stocked and have your personel have their cards on their person at all times. Period

[nycemt728 49]

Not 100% but the inspector and employee were rummaging through equipment in the back together... not an ambulance and no patient so no medical assistance necessary but could he have been playing AAA? Sure, but if he wasn't my original question still remains. I agree they can inspect anytime anywhere, that is clear, but no one has provided a law that specifically empowers them to pull over a vehicle on the road. As best I can tell it would appear to a grey area that is open to their interpretation.

[vtach39680 23]

III) Vehicle Inspections:

Inspections of emergency medical services vehicles may be conducted by representatives of the Department of Health anytime the vehicles are in service. For a vehicle to be considered Out of Service it should be in compliance with Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Policy.

a) Spot/Quick Check;

Vehicle inspections may, at the discretion of the Department representative, consist of a Quick Check or a full vehicle inspection.

The "Quick Check" attempts to verify twenty-four (24) items of the required equipment and supplies found in Part 800 of the State Health Code. These items are generally used to treat patients suffering from life threatening illness or injury. Any ambulance found missing these minimum standards may be removed from service, and a full vehicle inspection conducted.

Complete Vehicle Inspection;

Any vehicle operated by an ambulance service as an ambulance shall be required to be in complete compliance with the applicable sections of 10 NYCRR Part 800, unless otherwise authorized by the Commissioner pursuant to Part 800.25 or 800.27.

Edited July 9, 2015 by vtach39680