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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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§ 34-208 DRIVER QUALIFICATIONS.
   (a)   To qualify as a driver, a person must:
      (1)   Hold a valid driver's license or operator's license issued by any state of the United States, Washington D.C., or any territory of the United States;
      (2)   Not be under indictment, have charges pending, have been convicted, or have been placed on probation or deferred adjudication for the following offenses:
         a.   Criminal homicide as described in Tex. Penal Code Chapter 19;
         b.   Aggravated kidnapping as described in Tex. Penal Code § 20.04;
         c.   An offense involving trafficking of persons as described in Tex. Penal Code Chapter 20A;
         d.   Continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children as described in Tex. Penal Code § 21.02;
         e.   Indecency with a child as described in Tex. Penal Code § 21.11;
         f.   Improper relationship between educator and student as described in Tex. Penal Code § 21.12;
         g.   Sexual assault as described in Tex. Penal Code § 22.011;
         h.   Aggravated sexual assault as described in Tex. Penal Code § 22.021;
         i.   Sale or purchase of a child as described in Tex. Penal Code § 25.08;
         j.   Aggravated robbery as described in Tex. Penal Code § 29.03;
         k.   Sexual performance by a child as described in Tex. Penal Code § 43.25;
         l.   Employment harmful to children as described in Tex. Penal Code § 43.251;
         m.   Possession or promotion of child pornography as described in Tex. Penal Code § 43.26;
         n.   Electronic transmission of certain visual material depicting a minor as described in Tex. Penal Code § 43.261;
         o.   Intoxication manslaughter as described in Tex. Penal Code § 49.08;
         p.   Criminal attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any offense described in subsections (a)(2)a. through (a)(2)o.; and
         q.   An offense under the laws of another state, federal law or another country in which the elements of the offense under the laws of that state, federal law or country are substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed in subsections (a)(2)a. through (a)(2)p.;
      (3)   Except as provided by subsection (2), not be under indictment, have charges pending or within the previous seven years have been convicted of, released or discharged from probation, parole or deferred adjudication for any felony offense as defined by the laws of this state, another state, federal law or the law of another country;
      (4)   Except for an offense that is punishable by a fine only, not be under indictment, have charges pending or within the previous three years have been convicted of, released or discharged from probation, parole or deferred adjudication for any misdemeanor offense as defined by the laws of this state, another state, federal law or the laws of another country;
      (5)   Within the previous three years, not have been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication or deferred disposition for an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding 100 miles per hour;
      (6)   In any ten year period, not have been convicted of or placed on probation or deferred adjudication for three or more offenses in which the elements of the offense involve the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
      (7)   Not be required to register as a sexual offender under the laws of this state, another state, federal law or the laws of another country; and
      (8)   Not have been convicted of, or placed on deferred adjudication or deferred disposition within the previous three years for more than three moving traffic violations arising out of separate transactions within any 12 month period.
   (b)   A driver shall not operate a vehicle for hire for the purpose of providing vehicle for hire services if the driver does not meet the driver qualifications in this section.
   (c)   A licensee shall not intentionally, knowingly or recklessly allow a person to operate a vehicle for hire to provide vehicle for hire services if the person does not meet the driver qualifications in this section.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-209 INSPECTION OF RECORDS.
   (a)   The city may make a written request to a licensee to inspect the licensee's records relating to a driver or the licensee if the city receives a complaint or information that a driver or licensee does not meet the requirements of this article.
   (b)   A licensee shall make the requested records available for inspection by the city at a location within the corporate limits of the city, within ten calendar days of the licensee receiving a written request from the city.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-210 REQUIREMENTS FOR HAILABLE SERVICE.
   No person shall provide hailable service unless:
   (a)   A taximeter is installed in the vehicle that accurately calculates the rate of fare; and
   (b)   The name of the licensee and rate information is permanently displayed on the outside of the rear door or front door, in letters not less than two and one-half inches in height and not less than five-sixteenths inch wide.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-211 RATES AND FARES FOR HAILABLE SERVICE.
   (a)   All persons providing hailable service shall comply with this section.
   (b)   No person providing hailable service shall charge a fare that exceeds the following maximum rates:
      (1)   General fare:
         a.   Initial meter drop: $2.25.
         b.   Each one-ninth mile: $0.20.
         c.   Traffic delay per one through one-half minutes: $0.45.
         d.   Each extra passenger (up to manufacturer's rated seating capacity): $2.00.
      (2)   Gasoline surcharge:
         a.   A gasoline surcharge may be added to the fare when the average weekly retail price of regular grade gasoline in the State of Texas exceeds $2.00 per gallon as determined by the United States Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.
         b.   The gasoline surcharge will be calculated in $0.50 increments and applied per trip. For every $0.50 increase or decrease in the average price per gallon of gasoline above the $2.00 threshold, the per trip surcharge fee will be adjusted $0.50 up or down to reflect the change in the average gasoline price as shown by the following chart:
 
Average price of gasoline (per gallon)
Amount of surcharge (per trip)
$2.00 or less
No surcharge
$2.01 to $2.50
$0.50
$2.51 to $3.00
$1.00
$3.01 to $3.50
$1.50
Each additional $0.50 increase in the average per gallon price of gasoline
Additional $0.50 per trip
 
   (c)   A flat rate of $40.00 may be charged for a trip originating in the Central Business District and terminating at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, provided that such flat rate is not in excess of the maximum meter rate.
   (d)   No person shall demand an additional charge for luggage, bags or parcels being carried by a passenger or passengers.
   (e)   Nothing in this section shall prohibit a vehicle providing hailable service from charging a rate or fare that is less than the maximum amounts allowed by this section.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-212 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES FOR HIRE.
   (a)   The director shall have the authority to establish rules governing the location, routes and operating hours of non-motorized vehicles for hire.
   (b)   Before adopting, amending or abolishing a rule, the director shall hold a public hearing on the proposal.
   (c)   The director shall fix the time and place of the hearing, and shall provide notice of the hearing in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, (Chapter 551, Tex. Government Code, as amended). In addition, the director shall notify each licensee of the hearing using the licensee's last known address on file with the ground transportation coordinator. The licensee's failure to receive notice of the hearing shall not invalidate any rule established by the director. A copy of each rule shall be on file in the city secretary's office.
   (d)   After the public hearing, the director shall notify each licensee of the director's action and shall post an order, adopting, amending or abolishing a rule on the official bulletin board at City Hall and on the city's website for a period of not fewer than ten calendar days. The order becomes effective immediately upon expiration of the ten calendar day posting period.
   (e)   It shall be unlawful for a person to violate a ruled adopted by the director in accordance with this section.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-213 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.
   (a)   Except as otherwise provided by this article, a valid operating license that was issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance shall continue to be valid until the operating license expires.
   (b)   Except as otherwise provided by this article, a licensee who holds a valid operating license that was issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance shall not be limited to the number of vehicles for hire specified in the operating license. The licensee may operate an unlimited number of vehicles for hire under the operating license as long as the licensee complies with the remaining provisions of this article for each vehicle for hire operated under the operating license.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-214 ENFORCEMENT.
   The director, the director's designee, and the ground transportation coordinator are primarily responsible for the enforcement of this article and are authorized to issue warning and citations to any person violating this article. The Fort Worth police department, the Fort Worth city marshal's office, or any other peace officer shall also have the authority to enforce this article and are authorized to issue warnings and citations to any person violating this article.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)
§ 34-215 CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
   (a)   A violation of any provision of this article is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00. Each separate occurrence of a violation or each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
   (b)   If an offense defined under this article does not include a culpable mental state, then a culpable mental state is not an element of the offense and the offense shall be one of strict liability.
   (c)   The issuance of a citation shall not limit the director's authority to revoke an operating license or the city's ability to pursue civil remedies as provided by state law.
(Ord. 22308-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-28-2016, eff. 10-1-2016)