WESTMINSTER : 6% Hike in Ambulance Fees, $6 Raise in Parking Fines to Go Before Council

Higher fees for ambulance services and fines for parking violations will be considered tonight by the City Council.

Ambulance fees will rise by about 6% under the proposal, and fines for parking violations would increase by $6.

If approved, the fees will take effect immediately, officials said.

Since last year, the city has provided ambulance services from two fire stations, although a private company on contract with the city provides the ambulances, drivers and equipment. The Fire Department manages the program.

Under the proposed rates, the use of an ambulance would cost $242.75, up $17.45. Mileage fees would be 25 cents more per mile to $10.05.

It will cost $40.90 to call an ambulance between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., up $1, and patients would have to pay an additional $1 for the use of an oxygen mask. Charges for supplies also will increase by 30 cents.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors recently approved higher fees for ambulance services, which became the basis for the city’s new rates, officials said.

Police Sgt. James Waller said the proposed $6 increase in parking fines will allow the city to recover the cost for processing parking citations.

He said the city pays a private firm $1 to process each citation, and $5 more to the county for every parking citation. But while the city incurs all the costs, Waller said the state-mandated Parking Enforcement Program has no provision for the city to recover fees paid to other entities.

“This will allow us to recoup our costs,” Waller said. “We hope it also becomes a deterrent so that people obey the traffic laws.”

He said that local police issue 16,000 to 18,000 citations a year.

The largest fine--$63--will be charged to vehicles parked on fire lanes.

Those parked on intersections and along curbs will be fined $43.