(1) Definitions. In this Chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) Motor Bus. A motor-propelled vehicle equipped to seat more than 7 persons and operated on the streets for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire.
(b) Passenger Carrier. Any individual, partnership, association, or corporation which operates, on the streets of the City, a street railway, taxicab, or motor bus or any other vehicle carrying passengers for hire.
(c) Street Railway. Any electrically driven vehicle or system of electrically driven vehicles running on rails laid on the street or connected to overhead electric wires, operated on the streets for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire.
(d) Taxi. Any vehicle designed to seat not more than 7 persons used for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire.
(2) City Immunity. No passenger carrier shall have recourse against the City or any person acting under authorization by the City for any stoppage of service, delay or inconvenience to such passenger carrier resulting from any improvements, repairs or alteration being made upon or to any street.
(3) Lost Articles. 638 The driver of any vehicle carrying passengers for hire shall turn over any property left in the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle who shall either turn over the property to the Police Department or hold the property until claimed and identified by its owner.
(a) Penalty. The penalty for the violation of this subsection is a fine of ten dollars ($10).
(4) Dogs Accompanying the Blind. 639 No passenger carrier shall refuse to transport a dog accompanying a blind person when the dog is properly muzzled and on a leash.
(a) The penalty for violation of this subsection is a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
Notes
637 | Amended, Bill No. 758 (approved July 24, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1081. |
638 | Source: 1922 Ordinances, p. 391. |
639 | Source: 1937 Ordinances, p. 435. |
(1) Definitions.
(a) Animal Drawn Carriage or Carriage. Any type of vehicle used for carting or delivery of goods or transportation of passengers which is drawn by an animal.
(b) Center City. The area bounded by Spring Garden street, Bainbridge street, and the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers.
(c) Vehicle Code. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
(2) License Required.
(a) No person shall engage in the business of operating an animal drawn carriage unless that person has first obtained a license from the Department for each carriage owned.
(b) All applications for such license shall be made on forms supplied by the Department and shall contain the following information:
(.1) Name and home address of the owner and, if the owner is a corporation or a partnership, the name and home address of a principal partner or corporate officer;
(.2) The business telephone number of the owner;
(.3) Location of stables where animals and carriages are stored and/or maintained;
(.4) Commercial activity license number; 641
(.5) Billing address;
(.6) Philadelphia business tax number; and
(.7) Federal tax or Social Security Number.
(c) The applicant must also submit the following to the Department before the license will be issued:
(.1) A certificate of insurance indicating compliance with subsection 9-402(3)(a); and
(.2) A copy of the carriage driver certificate for each of the applicant's drivers, as required by subsection 9-402(3)(c);
(.3) Payment of an annual license fee of three hundred dollars ($300) for the first carriage license obtained by a company, one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each additional carriage license obtained by a company, for up to nine (9) additional carriages, and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for each additional license obtained thereafter by a company for each additional carriage. The Department may from time to time by regulation revise the annual license fee (including the structure of the fee) to reflect the City's costs of regulating animal drawn carriage businesses and the special costs incurred by the City because of the operation of such businesses, including, but not limited to, the cost of extra cleaning of carriage routes. 642
(d) Licenses will be renewed annually upon payment of the license renewal fee equal to the annual license fee as established in 9-402(2)(c)(.3).
(3) License Requirements. Every person licensed to engage in the business of operating an animal drawn carriage shall, as a condition of retaining such license, comply with each of the following:
(a) The licensee shall maintain liability and workers' compensation insurance in an amount determined by the City Solicitor.
(c) All carriage drivers employed by the licensee must satisfactorily complete a carriage driver certification program approved by the Department of Health as required in Section IIIC of the Regulations on Commercial Horse Stables and Rental and Carriage Horses. A carriage driver shall carry proof of certification at all times when operating a carriage.
(d) All carriages shall be identified by the licensee's name (or company name) and license number issued by the Department.
(.1) Each carriage owned by a licensee shall be sequentially numbered and that number shall be placed next to the license number issued by the Department.
(.2) The licensee shall provide a license plate with the license number and carriage number as provided in subsection 9-402(3)(d)(.1). Such license plate must be placed on the right rear portion of the carriage so as to be visible to the public from a distance of twenty-five feet. The annual renewal sticker shall be affixed to the license plate.
(e) All carriages must adhere to all animal drawn vehicle requirements set forth in the Vehicle Code, and carriage drivers must obey all provisions of the Vehicle Code.
(.1) Carriages shall be operated only on the carriage routes approved by ordinance pursuant to subsection 9-402(4), except that a carriage operator may apply for a special permit from the Department of Streets to use other routes on a trip-by-trip basis to accommodate a special event. An application for such special permit setting forth the date, time and nature of the special event and the exact route requested must be filed with the Department of Streets, on a form provided by that Department, at least five (5) business days prior to the date of the special event. The special permit will be issued only if the Department of Streets determines that the operation of a carriage on the requested route, on the date and at the time requested, will not cause undue interference with traffic, except that no special permit shall be granted which would permit a carriage to be on any street at any time prohibited by subsection 9-402(3)(f)(.2). Every special permit shall set forth the date, time and nature of the special event, and shall be kept with the carriage and readily available for inspection at all times the carriage is being operated under the terms of the special permit.
(.2) No carriage shall be permitted on any street (whether the carriage is parked or in operation) during the following hours:
(.a) From April 1 to October 31:
(i) Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., or after 10:30 p.m.
(ii) On Saturdays and Sundays, after 10:30 p.m.
(.b) From November 1 to March 31:
(i) Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., or after 9:00 p.m.
(ii) On Saturdays and Sundays, after 9:00 p.m.
(g) Carriages may be parked only within a carriage stand zone that is posted as such by the Department of Streets. The Department of Streets shall post carriage stand zones only at the following locations: 644
(.1) On the west side of Fifth street, between Chestnut street and Market street, not longer than one hundred fifty feet (150');
(.2) On the east side of Sixth street between Chestnut street and Market street, not longer than one hundred fifty feet (150'); and
(.3) On the west side of Second street between South street and Lombard street, not longer than one hundred feet (100').
(h) Carriages shall not be left unattended at any time.
(i) Carriage drivers must comply with all other provisions of The Philadelphia Code.
(j) Carriage drivers shall be in control of their carriages at all times and shall not permit their horses to trot, canter, or gallop unless required by an emergency.
(k) Carriage drivers shall not solicit business or pick up or discharge passengers on Walnut street, or solicit business in a manner that such solicitation can be heard beyond a distance of fifteen (15) feet from the horse drawn carriage.
(l) Licensees must maintain the area around the approved carriage stands clean of trash and debris generated by their operations, and deodorized.
(m) No customer shall be permitted to drive a carriage, or to ride next to the driver of a carriage. 645
(n) All carriages shall have a flashing red light installed at the rear of the carriage which shall flash at all times the carriage is on any street. Such light shall meet the specifications set by the Department of Streets by regulation. 646
(o) The Department of Public Health and the Department of Streets shall promulgate regulations to provide an animal waste management plan for carriage operators which addresses animal urine as well as solid waste, and is designed to keep carriage horse routes clean and sanitary. Licensed carriage operators shall have thirty (30) days from the date of enactment of this Section to submit written comments to the Health Commissioner and the Streets Commissioner on the contents of those regulations, and the Department of Public Health and the Department of Streets shall consider those comments prior to promulgating the regulations. 647
(4) Carriage Routes.
(a) Council shall establish by ordinance approved routes within Center City upon which carriages may be operated.
(b) The Department of Streets shall promulgate regulations governing the operation of carriages on Center City streets and shall establish routes for horse drawn carriages to travel to and from their stables to the routes established pursuant to 9-402(4)(a).
(c) The Department of Streets may temporarily alter approved routes as it deems necessary due to construction or other circumstances that may arise. 648
(5) Horse Drawn Vendor Carts.
(b) Horse drawn vendor carts licensed under Section 9-203 may not be operated in Center City.
(6) Penalties and Enforcement; License Suspension and Revocation.
(a) The penalty for a violation of this Section shall be a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300).
(b) Whenever a police officer or any other official authorized to enforce ordinances observes a violation of this Section, he may hand to the violator a printed notice of violation. Such notices shall bear the date, time, location and nature of the violation, and when known, the identify and license number and carriage number of the violator. The notice shall further state the amount to be remitted in response to the notice of violation and the penalty which can be imposed by the court for the violation, shall be signed by the person issuing the notice, and shall bear the police officer's badge number or other official identification number identifying the person issuing the violation notice.
(c) Any person who receives a notice of violation may, within ten (10) days, pay the amount of one hundred dollars ($100), admit the violation and waive appearance before a Municipal Court Judge. The notice of violation shall contain an appropriate statement for signature by the violator for the purpose of admitting the violation and waiving a hearing, and shall be returned by the violator when he remits the stipulated payment.
(d) If a person who receives a notice of violation fails to make the prescribed payment within ten (10) days of the issuance of the notice of violation, a code enforcement complaint shall be issued for such violation in such manner as provided by law. If the person named in the code enforcement complaint is found to have violated any provision of this Section or fails to appear on the date set for hearing, he shall be subject to the imposition of fines in the amounts set forth in subsection 9-402(6)(a), plus court costs.
(e) In lieu of issuing a notice of violation, the Department may, at its option, enforce this Section through the issuance of a code enforcement complaint in the manner provided by law.
(f) If protection of the health, safety or welfare of the public, passengers, or an animal requires the immediate removal of the animal or carriage, or if the carriage is being operated by an uncertified driver, then a code violation notice shall be issued, the license shall be revoked and, if the condition of the carriage is in violation of this Section, a sticker shall be placed on the carriage stating that it is unfit for use, 649 which sticker may only be removed by the Department when a new animal drawn carriage license is obtained. The operator must then remove the carriage immediately from use and return it to the stable. If the operator refuses to so remove the carriage, or the operator is physically incapable of safely operating the carriage, then the City may itself or by contract remove the carriage to a City storage facility. If the carriage is so removed, the licensee must pay all costs of removal and storage before recovering the carriage.
(g) The Department and the Department of Public Health shall by regulation devise a point system for suspension of carriage licenses based upon a specified number of violations by the licensee or a carriage driver employed by the licensee within a specified period of time (such suspension to apply to all licenses held by a licensee), and revocation of carriage licenses after a specified number of suspensions (such revocation to apply to all licenses held by a licensee). Suspension periods shall be for a minimum of one day; and may increase with the number of suspensions to a maximum suspension period of one week. The regulations shall specify a procedure by which the imposition of points and the suspension and revocation of licenses may be administratively appealed. If licenses have been revoked, the licensee may not apply for any new licenses under this Section for one year after the date of revocation. 650
Notes
640 | Former Section (added, 1969 Ordinances, p. 74; amended, 1990 Ordinances, p. 715) repealed and replaced by this Section, 1993 Ordinances, p. 1087. |
641 | Amended, Bill No. 110758 (approved December 21, 2011), effective May 1, 2012. |
642 | Amended, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
643 | Amended, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
644 | Amended, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
645 | Added, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
646 | Added, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
647 | Added, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
648 | Added, Bill No. 040371 (approved June 21, 2004). |
649 | Enrolled bill (1993 Ordinances, p. 1087) read "...unfit for us,...." |
650 | Added, Bill No. 000217 (approved August 11, 2000). |
(1) Size. Motor buses of a total width not in excess of one hundred two (102) inches may be operated within the City; Provided, that written approval of the Street Commissioner is first obtained for any such operation on schedule service routes, and oral approval for charter routes; and, Provided, further, that the grant of such permission shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver by the City of any other limitation or restriction which may be imposed on the operation of motor buses within the City. 652
(2) Passenger Loading and Unloading. No motor bus, unless operated under the direction and control of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), shall load or unload passengers at off-street locations in the following designated areas: 653
(a) City avenue, from Forty-seventh street to Belmont avenue, east side.
Notes
651 | Source: 1915 Ordinances, p. 347; 1924 Ordinances, p. 271; 1927 Ordinances, p. 22; amended, 1973 Ordinances, p. 902; amended, 1979 Ordinances, p. 949; amended by deleting former subsection (5) and renumbering, 1990 Ordinances, p. 715; amended, Bill No. 171119 (approved March 14, 2018). |
652 | Amended, 1956 Ordinances, p. 163. |
653 | Added, Bill No. 010619 (approved January 15, 2002). |
(1) Snow Removal. 654 No street railway company shall operate snow removal equipment so as to throw snow from its tracks onto the sidewalk.
(a) The penalty for violation of this Section is a fine of five dollars ($5.00) for each City block in which the offense is committed, together with imprisonment not exceeding 10 days if the fine and costs are not paid within 10 days.
Notes
654 | Source: 1873 Ordinances, p. 580. |
(2) Taxicab Stands.
(a) The first taxi to park shall move to the front of the area designated as a stand. Each taxi thereafter shall park immediately behind the taxi ahead of it. When a taxi leaves the stand each taxi behind it shall move forward.
(b) No taxi parked at the front of the stand area shall refuse to carry any orderly person who desires to hire it.
(3) Cruising and Soliciting.
(a) No taxi driver shall try to attract passengers by driving on any street at a slower speed than the flow of traffic or in any manner that interferes with the flow of traffic.
(b) No taxi driver shall solicit passengers unless he is standing immediately beside his taxi or sitting in the driver's seat.
Notes
655 | Licensing requirements of this Section repealed by 1957 Ordinances, p. 19, and subsequent Sections renumbered; amended by deleting subsection (4), 1990 Ordinances, p. 715. |
656 | Source: 1922 Ordinances, p. 391. |
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