Lax Vehicle Laws in Texas Creates Confusion

AN AMBULANCE-LOOKING PARTY CAR is creating some confusion and anger in Fort Worth, Texas, this week.  The curiosity showed up in a parking lot of an apartment building and generated some questions from the local news stations.

KVUE-TV

The apparently converted former-ambulance still has the flashing red/blue light bar on the cab along with the mirrored decal on the hood.  Along the side is a mighty star of life and in big letters:  DFW RESCUE with Cougar & Kitten written out in smaller script (DFW are commonly used to connote the Dallas – Ft. Worth region).  A peek through the rear windows reveals an array of lounge-bar leather seating and a dance pole.

KVUE-TV

NBC5 News made some phone calls:

A public database shows the truck was registered just last month to Fort Worth chiropractor Joe Ysbrand at the address of the medical clinic on Camp Bowie where he works.

"It's a limo," he said in a telephone interview.  (Yeah, right… a limo ….FG)

Asked what it's used for, he said, "There's a couple doctors who use it. We don't rent it… We just take friends and family out, that's about it."

Later, an attorney who claimed to work for the owner of the vehicle called NBC 5 to say Ysbrand doesn't actually own it — even if that's what the registration shows. The attorney, Fletcher Johnson, said, "It was inadvertent. They filled out the paperwork incorrectly."  (Oh, sure …. the bone-crusher just didn't understand what 'Your Name' means and accidentally wrote down his buddy's address?…FG)

Johnson wouldn't identify who does own the truck and added that it's not intended to look like a real ambulance. (Except for the flashing lights and ambulance decals all over the red body….FG)  The owners plan to use it for corporate and sporting events and even children's parties, he said.  (Children's parties?  With bar seating and a dance pole?  Where did they find this lawyer, at the Sleezeball wing of the state bar? ….FG)

Did we mention that this ambulance that is NOT owned by the bone-crusher, but registered to him at his work address, is also parked in front of HIS apartment building?

All of this is disconcerting to the local ambulance service, MedStar.  They are worried about both the reputation of their firm as well as the possibility that people will naturally think it's a real ambulance and expect it to stop and accidents and stuff.

KVUE-TV gives us a good look at the non-ambulance for cougars in this video report:

The Fort Worth police say that it is perfectly ok to have flashing red and blue lights on your truck, just so long as you don't turn them on.  Apparently there are no laws restricting the usage of ambulance decals of all sizes on your personal vehicle, either.  Don't mess with Texas.

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