A. Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CHAUFFEUR: A licensed individual who drives or operates any motorized or non-motorized vehicle for hire, regardless of whether or not the individual drives or operates such vehicle as an employee, independent contractor, owner, or in any other capacity.
FOR HIRE: An arrangement or transaction whereby any money, thing of value, charge ticket, surcharge, payment, pecuniary consideration or compensation, voucher, reward, donation, remuneration, or profit, whether direct or indirect, is paid to, accepted by, or received by the driver, chauffeur or an employee or the holder operating any motorized or non-motorized vehicle of any capacity in exchange for the temporary use by or for the transportation of a person or persons as a passenger, whether such is paid or not paid by the passengers either voluntarily or upon solicitation, demand, request, contract, agreement, or as a surcharge.
MOTORIZED VEHICLE: Any vehicle which is self-propelled or drawn upon city streets by means other than solely animal or human power and includes, but is not limited to, taxicabs, motorbuses, paratransit vehicle, utility vehicle, limousines, shuttles, or antique, classic or special interest vehicles.
NON-MOTORIZE D VEHICLE: Any vehicle which is propelled or drawn upon city streets solely by animal or human power and includes, but is not limited to, pedicabs or carriages.
TAXICAB: Any vehicle regularly engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire, and not operated on a fixed route.
B. Exemptions. An occupation license for passenger carrier for hire is not required by any of the following:
1. A motorized vehicle operating pursuant to the Oklahoma Transportation Network Company Act as provided in Oklahoma Statutes.
2. A non-profit corporation, organization, or association which is carried on wholly for the benefit of non-profit purposes and from which profit is not derived, either directly or indirectly by any person, provided such organization or association is registered with the secretary of state for the State of Oklahoma as a charitable organization pursuant to the Charitable Contributions Act of 1955 and/or is determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to be exempt from federal income taxes as evidenced by an IRS affirmation letter.
3. A company or business that provides such service under a contractual relationship with the City of Woodward.
4. A company or business which is licensed by the State of Oklahoma Department of Health as an ambulance service.
5. A company or business which is providing a private charter service.
6. Hearses and mortuary limousines when used as funeral vehicles.
7. School and church buses when used for school or church purposes.
8. Vehicles which are rented or leased to the public without a driver.
9. Vehicles operated on a share-the-expense plan, such as carpools.
10. Courtesy vehicles used by hotel and motel facilities, apartment complex, businesses, merchants, companies, private organizations or groups exclusively for the convenience of their guests, occupants, customers, employees, or members and is not for hire. Courtesy vehicles shall have a sign thereon bearing the words "NOT FOR HIRE" in letters no less than three (3) inches high.
11. Vehicles which carry passengers only from a point outside the city limits to a point inside the city limits or which carry passengers only from a point inside the city limits to a point outside the city limits.
12. Vehicles providing transportation network services, defined as providing a ride to passengers for compensation arranged through a transportation network company's digital platform, as defined by 47 O.S. §§ 1010 et seq.
13. Where such license is prohibited by State law.
C. Additional requirements. No person shall operate or provide a passenger carrier for hire service using motorized or non-motorized vehicles within the city limits of Woodward without having provided the following documents to the city clerk. Such documents shall be provided as part of the general business license application and updated annually with the renewal of the general business license.
1. Proof of financial responsibility as evidenced by a certificate of insurance issued by a carrier authorized to do business in the State of Oklahoma certifying that there is in effect a policy of liability insurance coverage for each and every motorized vehicle to be operated as part of the service, with the following minimum coverages: one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for the injury or death of any one (1) person, three hundred thousand ($300,000.00) for the injury or death of any number of persons in one (1) accident, and fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for property damage in any one (1) accident. The insurance coverage shall be effective whether the vehicle was, at the time of the accident, being driven by the owner, his agent, employee, lessee or licensee. Failure to maintain insurance coverage as set forth herein shall automatically void any approved city license to operate said service.
2. Provide a schedule showing the passenger fares to be charged including the distance of the first charge and rate per mile or fraction thereof.
3. Results of a criminal background check verifying the applicant has not been convicted within the last ten (10) years of any felony or of any crime involving prostitution or prostitution-related offenses, public lewdness, sexual offenses or controlled-substance-related offenses.
4. Results of a driving history report for the past three (3) years.
5. Documentation on each vehicle to be used in the provision of service, including current motor vehicle registration in the State of Oklahoma, make, model, year, body type license plate information and VIN, if applicable. Photographs shall also be provided for each vehicle clearly showing the color scheme and/or insignia on each vehicle, and minimum two (2) inch lettering on the outside of each side of the vehicle identifying the company or trade name and service rates.
6. Results of an inspection for each vehicle verifying compliance with minimum standards of mechanical condition and efficiency of such vehicle for use as a passenger carrier for hire.
7. Payment of an annual vehicle license for each vehicle in an amount as established herein; and
8. Documentation of a current chauffeur's license as required by Section 111.30(B) of this Title for each chauffeur.
D. Minimum service requirements. All persons operating a passenger carrier for hire service within the corporate city limits shall render an overall service to the public which meets the following minimum requirements:
1. Shall comply with all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, religious affiliation, sex, disability, or age.
2. Shall comply with all applicable laws relating to accommodation of service animals.
3. Shall not impose additional charges for providing services to persons with physical disabilities because of those disabilities.
4. Shall provide passengers an opportunity to indicate whether they require a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. If such a vehicle is not available, the company shall direct the passenger to an alternate provider of wheelchair-accessible service, if available.
5. Shall maintain every vehicle in a clean and sanitary condition, including the frame, wheels, trunk, and the upholstery and headliner, as applicable, in good repair.
E. Additional service requirements for taxicabs. All persons operating a taxicab service in the City of Woodward shall render an overall service to the public which meets the following additional minimum requirements:
1. Shall maintain a central place of business within the city limits and shall post and advertise regular operating hours, for the purpose of receiving calls/digital messages and dispatching cabs.
2. Shall answer all calls/digital messages received by them for service inside the corporate limits as soon as they can do so; and if the services cannot be rendered within a reasonable time, they shall immediately notify the prospective passengers how long it will be before the request for service can be answered and give the reason therefore. The use of digital/electronic messaging, if utilized, shall be constantly monitored during all posted and advertised operating hours and shall be available through regularly available digital/electronic platforms, such as Facebook or text messaging.
3. If a taximeter is used, said taximeter shall be maintained in good, serviceable condition in each vehicle to register the charge for transporting passengers within the city. Said taximeter shall be placed in the vehicle so that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged shall be readily seen by the passengers in the vehicle.
4. Shall take the most direct, expeditious and safe route to transport said passenger to a definite point, unless otherwise requested by the passenger.
5. Shall give to each passenger, upon demand, a receipt for the amount charged on which shall be the company name, telephone contact, driver name, and date of transaction. Such receipt may be provided in either physical or electronic form. (Ord. 1747, 4-17-2023)