For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BUSINESS LICENSE. A certificate of public convenience and necessity granted to the owner of a vehicle for hire business by the city.
COUNCIL. The City Council.
DRIVER. Any person who drives a taxicab.
DRIVER’S PERMIT CARD. A card issued by the Inspector to a taxicab driver for display within a taxicab indicating that driver has been approved to drive a taxicab.
INSPECTOR. The Inspector of Taxicabs of the city.
OWNER. Any person who has control of the operation or maintenance and collection of the revenue of a vehicle for hire business and to whom a business license for the operation of a vehicle for hire business has been issued.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, association, corporation or other organization owning or operating or proposing to operate any taxicab within the city.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any place that is generally open to and used by the public or a substantial group of the public, whether it be publicly or privately owned, including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, highways, alleys, rights-of-way, public vehicular areas and parking lots, transportation facilities, theaters, restaurants, ships, bowling alleys, schools and school grounds, places of business and amusement, playgrounds, parks, similar areas that are open to the public and other common areas open to or accessible to the public.
RATE CARD. The card provided by the owner of a taxicab which is approved by the Inspector and which describes the schedule of fares, approved by the City Council, charged by the taxicabs.
TAXICAB. Any motor vehicle, seating nine or fewer passengers, operated upon any street or highway on call or demand, accepting or soliciting passengers indiscriminately for hire between such points along streets or highways as may be directed by the passenger so being transported.
TAXICAB PERMIT or VEHICLE FOR HIRE PERMIT. A privilege license issued and required for each vehicle operated under a business license.
(G.S. § 20-87.1-b)
(2005 Code, § 86-19) (Ord. 05085, passed 8-8-2005; Ord. 1011, passed 1-25-2010)