For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY. The City of Harker Heights, Texas.
COUNCIL. The City Council of Harker Heights, Texas.
CRUISE or CRUISING. The movement of unoccupied taxicabs or limousines over the public streets of the city in search of, or soliciting passengers for hire, except however, unoccupied taxicabs or limousines proceeding to answer a telephone call for taxicab or limousine service from an intended passenger and taxicabs or limousines returning by a most direct route after having discharged a passenger or passengers, to the garage where such taxicab or limousine is housed, or to its regularly established stand, shall not be considered CRUISING.
DEMAND-RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICE. Transportation services provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Services are upon a shared-ride basis and are dependent upon availability of vehicles during the time the passenger has requested. DEMAND-RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICES may be operated in one of two ways: for next day service and non-routine trips, or by subscription. Subscription demand response transit services will require a passenger needing the same trip at the same time on the same day at least once a week. All of the provisions of this chapter relating to limousine service are applicable to DEMAND-RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICE, save and except that a van may be utilized, provided the manufacturer's rated seated capacity does not exceed 15 passengers.
DRIVER. Every person in actual charge of the operation of a taxicab or limousine, whether as owner, or as agent, servant, or employee of the owner.
LIMOUSINE. A luxury sedan with a manufacturer's rated seating capacity of not more than 15 passengers, used for the transportation of passengers for hire from a location in the city to another location either inside or outside the city, having a driver furnished as part of the service, and which operates on a prearranged basis only whereby such prearrangement is made no less than one hour in advance of the time transportation is to begin. Expressly excluded from this definition are limousines used exclusively in connection with funeral services and free shuttles offered by hotels, motels, and area attractions.
OWNER. Any person who has the control, direction, maintenance, or the benefit of the collection of revenue derived from the operation of taxicabs or limousines on or over the streets or public ways of the city, except a “driver” as defined in this section.
PERSON. Includes both singular or plural, and shall mean and embrace any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, or society, and where criminal prosecution may lie the officers of any corporation shall jointly and severally be subject to prosecution as being included with the term PERSON.
STREET OR STREETS. Any alley, street, avenue, boulevard, drive, or highway commonly used for the purpose of public travel within the incorporated limits of the city.
TAXICAB. Every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle other than a limousine used for the transportation of passengers for hire over the public streets of the city, and not over a defined or fixed route, and irrespective of whether or not the operations extend beyond the city limits, at rates for a distance traveled, or for wait-time or both, or at rates per hour, per day, per week, or per month, and such vehicle is routed under the direction of such passenger or passengers or such person or persons hiring the same.
(Ord. 94-36, passed 8-23-94)