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Fort Worth, TX Code of Ordinances
FORT WORTH, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
OFFICIALS of the CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
PART I: THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
PART II: CITY CODE
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 2.5: RETIREMENT
CHAPTER 3: AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT
CHAPTER 4: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
CHAPTER 5: AMBULANCES/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
CHAPTER 6: ANIMALS AND FOWL
CHAPTER 7: BUILDINGS
CHAPTER 8: CABLE COMMUNICATION SERVICE
CHAPTER 9: COMMUNITY FACILITIES AGREEMENTS
CHAPTER 10: COURTS
CHAPTER 11: ELECTRICITY
CHAPTER 11.5: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 12: EMERGENCY REPORTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 12.5: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COMPLIANCE
CHAPTER 13: FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
CHAPTER 14: RESERVED
CHAPTER 15: GAS
CHAPTER 16: HEALTH AND SANITATION
CHAPTER 17: HUMAN RELATIONS
CHAPTER 18: LAKE WORTH
CHAPTER 19: LIBRARIES
CHAPTER 20: LICENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 21: RESERVED
CHAPTER 22: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 23: OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 24: PARK AND RECREATION
CHAPTER 25: RESERVED
CHAPTER 26: PLUMBING
CHAPTER 27: POLICE
CHAPTER 28: PUBLIC UTILITIES
CHAPTER 29: SIGNS
CHAPTER 29.5: SMOKING
CHAPTER 30: STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
CHAPTER 31: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 32: TAXATION
CHAPTER 33: TREES, SHRUBS, ETC.
CHAPTER 34: VEHICLES FOR HIRE
CHAPTER 35: WATER AND SEWERS
CHAPTER 36: RESERVED
APPENDIX A: ZONING REGULATIONS
APPENDIX B: CODE COMPLIANCE
APPENDIX C: RESERVED
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE
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§§ 34-198—34-199 RESERVED.
ARTICLE VI: GROUND TRANSPORTATION FOR HIRE
Editor’s note:
   Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, adopted June 28, 2016, repealed and replaced §§ 34-200 through 34-214 and repealed §§ 34-215 through 34- 349. Former §§ 34-200 through 34-349 derived from Ord. 21389-08-2014, § 1, adopted August 19, 2014 and Ord. 21986-12-2015, § 3, adopted December 8, 2016. See also the Code Comparative Table.
DIVISION 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 34-200 SCOPE OF ARTICLE.
   (a)   This article governs the operation of all vehicle for hire services in the corporate limits of the city.
   (b)   This article does not apply to a vehicle for hire service or to a person operating a vehicle for hire service that is:
      (1)   Transporting a person from a point outside the corporate limits of the city to a destination inside the corporate limits of the city if the vehicle for hire leaves the corporate limits of the city without receiving a new passenger inside the corporate limits of the city and the vehicle for hire service is licensed by another governmental entity;
      (2)   Operated under state or federal authority unless subject to the city's regulatory authority; or
      (3)   Operated by a funeral home in the performance of funeral services.
   (c)   Nothing in this article shall excuse a vehicle for hire service from complying with the rules, regulations and fees required by the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board. A vehicle for hire service's compliance with the rules, regulations and fees required by the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board shall not excuse the vehicle for hire service from complying with this article.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-201 DEFINITIONS.
   The following terms, when used in this article, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
   CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. The area of Fort Worth bounded on the east by I-35W; on the south by a line one-half block south of Vickery Boulevard and extending west to the centerline of I-30; on the west by a line extending north and south with the east property line of the City of Fort Worth Water Treatment Plant to West Tenth Street and along West Tenth Street to the Clear Fork of the Trinity River and along the Clear Fork to the Trinity River; on the north by the center of the Trinity River to the extension of Jones Street and thereafter by Bluff Street, as set forth in Appendix A, to the City Code, Zoning Regulations.
   CITY. The City of Fort Worth.
   CITY COUNCIL. The governing body of the City of Fort Worth.
   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION. A sworn and notarized certification signed by an applicant for an operating license or a licensee.
   DIRECTOR. The director of the city's transportation and public works department.
   DRIVER. Any individual who drives or operates a vehicle for hire in the corporate limits of the city to provide vehicle for hire services.
   GROUND TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR or COORDINATOR. An employee of the ground transportation office designated by the director to administer and enforce the ground transportation program.
   GROUP CYCLE. A non-motorized vehicle with the carrying capacity of 16 passengers operating on a pre-arranged and predetermined schedule with fixed pickup and destination points.
   HAILABLE SERVICE. A motorized vehicle for hire service that can be immediately summoned by a passenger communicating in person with the driver of the vehicle.
   HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE. A chauffeured non-motorized vehicle drawn by a horse and used to transport persons for hire that typically operates in designated areas or on approved routes.
   LICENSEE. A person, association or corporation that is licensed to operate a vehicle for hire service under this article.
   MOTORIZED VEHICLE FOR HIRE. Every vehicle for hire that is self-propelled.
   NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLE FOR HIRE. Every vehicle for hire that is propelled by a human or an animal, including but not limited to group cycles, horse-drawn carriages, and pedicabs.
   OPERATING LICENSE. A license issued by the city authorizing a vehicle for hire service to operate within the corporate limits of the city.
   PEDICAB. A non-motorized vehicle with three or more wheels propelled by human power or human-assisted power with seating for one or more passengers.
   PERSON. An individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, trust, partnership, or two or more persons having joint or common economic interest.
   STREET. Any street, alley, lane, right-of-way or highway within the corporate limits of the city.
   SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR OWNERSHIP. Any business entity that is owned or controlled by 51% or more of the same persons who own or control another business entity.
   TAXIMETER. A device that mechanically or electronically computes and registers in dollars and cents for viewing by the passenger, the fare based upon the distance traveled, the time the vehicle for hire is engaged, or any other basis for charges which are specified in the rates of fares set by the city council for hailable vehicle for hire services.
   VEHICLE. A device that can be used to transport or draw persons or property on a public street within the corporate limits of the city.
   VEHICLE FOR HIRE. Every motorized or non-motorized vehicle that is chauffeured that transports passengers over city streets for a fare or compensation. The term VEHICLE FOR HIRE shall not include:
      (1)   Vehicles operated by a transportation authority or transit authority in accordance with state or federal law;
      (2)   Vehicles involved in an organized car pool not available to the general public;
      (3)   A vehicle being operated pursuant to a franchise, grant of privilege or permit issued by the city under its authority outside of this article; or pursuant to permission duly granted by proper authority of the city under its authority outside of this article for a vehicle to operate over a regular route upon a set schedule; a vehicle being operated as a chartered bus not available to the general public and under a contract to carry 12 or more passengers; or any vehicle that is not available to the general public;
      (4)   Vehicles being used as ambulances; or
      (5)   Vehicles rented or leased for self-operation by the person who drives the vehicle, unless such a vehicle is transporting persons for compensation.
   VEHICLE FOR HIRE SERVICE. The business of offering transportation to customers in one or more vehicles for hire in exchange for a fee or compensation.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-202 OPERATING LICENSES.
   (a)   It shall be unlawful for a person to drive or operate a vehicle for hire in the corporate limits of the city unless the driver and vehicle for hire are operating under a valid operating license.
   (b)   It shall be unlawful for a person to employ, permit or allow another to drive, operate or cause to be operated any vehicle for hire in the corporate limits of the city unless that person is a licensee in possession of a valid operating license.
   (c)   Any person desiring to operate a vehicle for hire service in the corporate limits of the city shall submit an application for an operating license on a form provided by the ground transportation coordinator. The applicant must be the person who will own, control, or operate the proposed vehicle for hire service or who will own, control, or operate the digital network or application through which drivers provide the proposed vehicle for hire service. No application shall be considered for approval unless it meets all the requirements of this article. Each application must contain the following:
      (1)   The name and address of the applicant, if a natural person, or, if a corporation, its name, date and place of incorporation, address of its principal place of business and the names of all its officers and directors together with their respective business addresses, as well as a copy of the articles of incorporation, the trade name, if any, under which the applicant proposes to operate and the address of the place or places of business from which the applicant proposes to operate;
      (2)   A nonrefundable operating license fee must be submitted with the application; and
      (3)   The compliance certification required by this article.
   (d)   Upon receipt of a completed application for an operating license in compliance with this article and payment of the required fee, the ground transportation coordinator shall issue an operating license to the applicant, unless the applicant is prohibited by this article from receiving an operating license.
   (e)   Except as provided in § 34-213, an operating license shall commence on the date of issuance and shall expire two years from the date of issuance. A licensee shall apply for a new operating license at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the operating license.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-203 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION.
   (a)   A compliance certification shall be submitted to the ground transportation coordinator with each application for an operating license and one year after the issuance of each operating license.
   (b)   A compliance certification shall contain the following language:
      (1)   I certify that within the past 12 months, the undersigned has conducted a national criminal background and driver's license check on each driver who will operate a vehicle for hire under the operating license to verify that the driver meets the qualifications in Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code.
      (2)   I certify that the undersigned will conduct a national criminal background and driver's license check before allowing any new driver to operate a vehicle for hire under the operating license who has become associated with the undersigned since the last compliance certification to verify that the driver meets the qualifications in Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code.
      (3)   I certify that the undersigned shall not allow any person to operate a vehicle for hire under the operating license if the person does not meet the qualifications in Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code.
      (4)   I certify that within the past 60 days, the undersigned has verified that all vehicles that will operate as a vehicle for hire under the operating license are covered by an insurance policy that meets the requirements of Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code and comply with the vehicle inspection and emission testing requirements of the State of Texas.
      (5)   I certify that before allowing any new vehicle to operate as a vehicle for hire under the operating license that has become associated with the undersigned since the last compliance certification, the undersigned shall verify that the vehicle is covered by an insurance policy that meets the requirements of Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code and complies with the vehicle inspection and emission testing requirements of the State of Texas.
      (6)   I certify that the undersigned shall not allow any vehicle to operate as a vehicle for hire under the operating license if the vehicle is not covered by an insurance policy that meets the requirements of Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code, or the vehicle does not comply with the vehicle inspection and emission testing requirements of the State of Texas.
      (7)   I hereby certify that the undersigned shall comply with all requirements of Chapter 34, Article VI, of the city code and federal, state and municipal laws in providing vehicle for hire services in the corporate limits of the city.
   (c)   A licensee commits an offense and the operating license is subject to revocation in accordance with the provisions of this article if the licensee knowingly fails to submit a compliance certification to the ground transportation coordinator one year after the issuance of an operating license.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016; Ord. 22489-11-2016, § 1, passed 11-1-2016, eff. 11-4-2016)
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