(a) Before any horse may be used in a non- motorized passenger transport service, the operating authority permit holder must furnish the director with:
(1) a state certificate of veterinarian inspection identifying the horse by description or photograph and showing that the horse has been examined at least once within the preceding six months by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Texas who specializes in equine medicine;
(2) proof that the horse has had tetanus, rabies, and Eastern-Western encephalitis vaccinations; and
(3) photographs showing identifying markings of the horse.
(b) A horse used in a non-motorized passenger transport service must:
(1) be appropriately shod to work on paved streets; if a horse loses a shoe while working, an "easy" type boot may be used to finish the scheduled work day;
(2) not have any open wound, oozing sore, cut below skin level, or bleeding wound;
(3) not have evidence of lameness, such as but not limited to head bobbing or irregular rhythm;
(4) be offered not less than five gallons of drinking water at least every two hours;
(5) have at least a 10-minute rest period after every 50 minutes worked;
(6) not work longer than eight hours in a 24-hour period with a minimum of 12 hours rest;
(7) have all harnesses properly fitted and in good repair with no deficiencies that could reasonably be deemed a safety hazard;
(8) be properly cleaned with no offensive odors or caked dirt or mud;
(9) wear a special sanitary device for containing animal excrement;
(10) not work when the outside temperature exceeds 99 degrees Fahrenheit, or the thermal heat index exceeds 150, as measured by the National Weather Service at Love Field; and
(11) be examined at least once every six months by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Texas who specializes in equine medicine and receive a state certificate of veterinarian inspection, which must be submitted to the director.
(c) The director, or a designated representative of the department, may require the operating authority or driver of a horse-drawn carriage to remove from service any horse that appears to be ill, overtired, undernourished, overloaded, injured, or lame or whose health or life, in the opinion of a veterinarian or qualified equine animal services officer, is in imminent danger. To reinstate a horse removed from service, the horse must be re-examined and a new state certificate of veterinarian inspection issued for the horse by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Texas and specializing in equine medicine, which certificate must be submitted to the director.
(d) A person commits an offense if he harasses or startles, or attempts to harass or startle, any horse while the horse is pulling a carriage or at rest or otherwise treats a horse inhumanely while it is working in a non-motorized passenger transport service.
(e) An operating authority and driver shall use a trailer to transport a horse to a job location in the city that is more than three miles from the location where the horse is stabled.
(f) For purposes of this section, a horse is considered to be working any time it is on a public street or sidewalk, or other public right-of-way, during any hour of operation of the non-motorized passenger transport service that is authorized by and on file with the director. (Ord. Nos. 29596; 30240; 31689)
(a) An operating authority shall maintain for all non-motorized passenger transport vehicles operating under its permit, and a driver shall maintain for the non-motorized passenger transport vehicle he is driving for hire, the following equipment in good condition:
(1) head-lights;
(2) tail-lights;
(3) flashing lights;
(4) a braking system approved by the director;
(5) rubber on all wheels;
(6) a “slow moving vehicle” sign attached to the rear of the vehicle;
(7) evidence of insurance required by Division 5 of Article II of this chapter;
(8) the company name and a unit number conspicuously located on the rear of the vehicle in letters not less than two inches high;
(9) a vehicle permit or temporary permit placed in a manner and location approved by the director;
(10) any other equipment required to comply with all applicable federal and state laws; and
(11) any other special equipment that the director determines to be necessary for the service to be operated.
(b) An operating authority and driver shall, at all times, keep each non-motorized passenger transport vehicle clean and free of refuse and in safe operating condition.
(c) A non-motorized passenger transport vehicle must not have any cracks, broken or missing parts, or other visible damage. All wheels must be firmly attached to the hub of a vehicle and all springs, axles, and supporting structures of each vehicle must be intact. (Ord. 29596)
In addition to the information required by Section 47A-2.1.2 of this chapter, to obtain an operating authority permit for transportation-for-hire service offered by non-motorized passenger transport vehicles, the verified application statement filed with the director must include:
(1) the number of horses the applicant proposes to use in the operation of the service with a description or photograph and a state certificate of veterinarian inspection for each horse; and
(2) the proposed routes to be offered. (Ord. 29596)