761.041 INTRA-CITY FLAT RATE SERVICE.
(a) Notwithstanding any other rates set forth herein, there is hereby established and recognized an intra-City flat rate transportation service and fare. The operator of a flat-rate transportation service shall be the holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity as provided in this chapter and must satisfy all the provisions for the operation of a vehicle in connection with the operation of a flat rate transportation service except the following provisions:
(1) Section 761.21(c) requiring that the full name, monogram or insignia of the transportation service company be displayed on each side and rear of each vehicle in letters at least three inches high, or in the case of a monogram or insignia, not less than eight inches high, shall not be required for vehicles while engaged in flat rate service.
(2) Section 761.23 requiring continuous service shall not apply to flat rate service. The minimum hours of operation of an intra-City flat rate transportation service shall be Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
(3) Subsection 761.31(k) requiring a lighted sign atop the exterior of the vehicle which shall not be required for vehicles while engaged in flat rate service.
(4) Section 761.35 requiring a taximeter shall not be required for vehicles while engaged in flat rate service.
(5) Section 761.09 insofar as amendments to a certificate of public convenience and necessity are concerned.
(6) Section 761.21 relating to a color scheme shall not be required for vehicles while engaged in flat rate service.
(Ord. 96-2-21. Passed 2-28-96.)
(b) Intra-city flat rate transportation service shall be available to passengers between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from a point within the corporate limits of the City of Hamilton to another point within said corporate limits regardless of distance at a fare to be determined by the operator of the flat-rate transportation service, provided that the fare is consistent for like passengers similarly situated.
More than one passenger may be transported in a single trip, and more than one passenger may be picked up or dropped off during a trip.
(c) The City Manager, or his designate, is hereby authorized to establish a system of rules and regulations and institute a process for the selling and redemption of credit tokens for the purpose of defraying all or part of the flat rate fare referenced in subsection (b) hereof. A credit token shall be worth three dollars ($3.00) per trip to a qualified passenger who:
(1) Presents the vehicle operator with a credit token purchased from the City of Hamilton,
(2) Signs the flat rate vehicle operator's trip sheet indicating his identity, address, and telephone, and
(3) Indicates the street address of the embarking and disembarking points, and
(4) Pays to the operator the difference between the worth of the token and the fare determined by the operator as referenced in subsection (b) hereof.
Each qualified passenger who presents such a token on an intra-City trip shall be entitled a credit of three dollars ($3.00) on the flat rate fare established by subsection (b) hereof. The maximum discount available to each qualified passenger per intra-City flat rate fare trip shall be three dollars ($3.00). (Ord. 97-3-22. Passed 3-12-97.)
(d) A "qualified passenger or qualified person" eligible to use a credit token must meet one or more of the following definitions:
(1) "Elderly" means any person sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
(2) "Disabled" means any person with a physical or mental disability which is a substantial handicap to employment and which is of a nature that vocational rehabilitation services may reasonably be expected to render him fit to engage in a gainful occupation consistent with his capacities and abilities, and any person with a physical or mental disability that constitutes a substantial handicap to employment for whom vocational rehabilitation services are necessary to determine his rehabilitation potential.
(e) The operator of a intra-City flat rate vehicle, who would otherwise constitute a qualified passenger or qualified person, shall not be entitled to utilize credit tokens while engaged in the operation of a flat rate vehicle.
(f) Misuse or abuse of the intra-City flat rate token system shall be grounds to revoke or suspend the vehicle operator's license or the certificate of public convenience and necessity of any parties engaged in such abuse or misuse.
(g) The following rules shall apply to intra-City flat rate transportation service:
(1) All certificate of public convenience and necessity holders and all operators of intra-City flat rate transportation vehicles shall accept transit tokens in lieu of actual cash payment equal to three dollars ($3.00) for all intra-City flat rate fares. The City shall not provide reimbursement for transit tokens in lieu of actual cash payment equal to three dollars ($3.00) for any fare where the point of embarking lies within the City of Hamilton but the point of disembarking lies outside the City of Hamilton.
(2) No holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity holder or operator of intra-City flat rate transportation vehicles will increase his usual and customary fare for a contracted ride merely because the transported individual makes payment by means of a credit token.
(3) No holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity, and no operator of an intra-City flat rate transportation vehicle may purchase, sell or otherwise obtain credit tokens from any token vendors.
(4) No holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity and no operator of intra-City flat rate transportation vehicle shall submit any credit tokens for reimbursement unless such credit tokens were received by the operator and certificate holder as a result of providing actual intra- City transportation services to a qualified passenger, which passenger tendered a transit token in full or partial payment for the contracted intra- City flat rate trip.
(5) No holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity and no operator of an intra-City flat rate vehicle shall be entitled to reimbursement for any transit token unless it is accompanied by a signed daily trip record showing when, from who, and the points of embarking and disembarking for all credit tokens received.
(6) A holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity and all operators of intra-City flat rate transportation service vehicles shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 US 2000 (d)) and will not deny transportation to any person on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. All certificate of public convenience and necessity holders and all operators of intra-City flat rate transportation service vehicles further argree to comply with Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, office of the Secretary, Part 27, entitled "Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial Assistance", and, toward that end, will not deny transportation services to any handicapped person solely by reason of his or her handicap.
(Ord. 96-2-21. Passed 2-28-96.)