For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CRUISE or CRUISING. The movement of unoccupied taxicabs, limousines or shuttle buses over the public streets of the city in search of prospective passengers for hire.
DOME LIGHT. A device to be placed on the front exterior portion of the roof of every taxicab which is electrically connected with the taxicab meter, will illuminate, and will indicate when the taxicab is being operated for hire and when the taxicab is vacant and available for hire by a passenger. The DOME LIGHT will be white with black lettering.
DRIVER. A person who drives or operates a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus.
LIMOUSINES. A chauffeured motor vehicle used for hire over the public streets of the city which is not available on demand, is arranged more than four hours prior to its use for hire, and is operated under a contract or agreement for its exclusive use by one or more passengers during a period of time.
OWNER. Any person having the right to control a taxicab’s, limousines’ or shuttle buses’ operations and who benefits from the collection of revenues derived from the operation of taxicabs in the city, but does not include a driver as herein defined. The word OWNER shall include any person with a substantial interest in the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus operations of the owner licensed under this chapter. A person has a substantial interest in the licensee’s taxicab operation if:
(1) The person has any ownership interest in the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus operation;
(2) The person has any financial interest in the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus operation including, without limitation, a profit interest, loan, lease or any other type of financial arrangement or scheme;
(3) The person receives any benefit from the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus operation in an amount exceeding $100 per year;
(4) The person, in seeking an application for a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owner license, is acting in whole or in part for the benefit of or in concert with a person already holding a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owner license;
(5) The person is related to the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owner licensee within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity as defined by the Texas Government Code; and
(6) Operates any service that provides for the dispatch of taxicabs or vehicles for hire via electronic or telephonic communication if such vehicles are dispatched on demand, or any commercial service where requests for transportation are transmitted or made available via telephonic or electronic communication, otherwise known as “ride sharing” or “transportation network companies.”
PERSON. Any individual, sole proprietor, partnership (general or limited), corporation, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, estate, foundation, institution, organization, group, governmental subdivision or agency, and any other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties whether operated for profit or not for profit.
SHUTTLE BUSES. A chauffeured motor vehicle with a rated capacity greater than nine persons which operates along a fixed route according to a schedule published at least 24 hours in advance, with at least one point along its route located more than ten miles from the corporate limits of the city, and which is not operated for the exclusive use of any passenger.
SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLES. A chauffeured vehicle used to transport the aged, students, participants in aid programs, the handicapped or the infirm by a municipal entity, motor bus operator or social service agency, otherwise known as “para-transit.”
TAXICAB. Every chauffeured motor vehicle with a rated capacity of nine persons or less used for hire over the public streets of the city. The term shall not include motor buses operation with the city pursuant to state and federal permits or by a municipality, ambulances, special service vehicles, limousines, shuttle buses, or other vehicles that may be defined by this section.
WAITING TIME. The time as may be consumed or lost at the special instance and request of a passenger after the taxicab has arrived at its originating point to make a trip and before reaching the passenger’s final destination, and no charge shall be made against a passenger for any time lost on account of any other delay whatsoever.
(Ord. 548B, passed 1-27-2009; Ord. 548-C, passed 6-22-2010; Ord. 548-E, passed --)