HomeMy WebLinkAbout15081ORDINANCE NO. _15,081 143
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING VEHICLES -FOR -HIRE
IN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ADDING ARTICLE V
TO CHAPTER 23 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
WHEREAS, this ordinance shall hereafter be known as the
Limousine Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. (Definitions.) As used in this ordinance the
following terms shall have the .following meanings, unless the
context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended:
City: The term "City" shall mean the City Manager or
his /her designated agent.
Permittee: The term "permittee" shall mean a person to whom
a vehicle -for -hire permit has been issued.
Taxicab: The term "taxicab" means any motor vehicle engaged
in the business of carrying persons for hire on the streets of
the City of Little Rock, whether the same is operated from a
street stand or from a garage, where no regular or specific route
is traveled, but passengers are taken to and from such places as
they may designate, and the charge therefor is made on the basis
of distance traveled as indicated by a taximeter.
Courtesy Car: The term "Courtesy Car" means any motor
vehicle operating in the City of Little Rock which is owned or
leased and operated by an operator which is commonly and
routinely used to provide transportation to his patrons to or
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1 from the place of business and other points without charge or
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other consideration.
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4 Automobile for Hire: The.term "Automobile for Hire" shall
5 mean every automobile or motor- propelled vehicle, other than
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C.A.T. bus or other recognized public carriers, taxicab, Luxury
8 Limousine, Courtesy.Car, or vehicles involved in an organized car
9 pool which is not available to the general public, which is
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operated by.its owner or an employee, agent or representative of.
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12 the owner for any fare or consideration, and used for the
13 transportation of passengers over the public streets of the City
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of Little Rock, irrespective of whether such operations extend
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16 beyond the boundary limits of said City, and shall include non -
17 profit corporations that were formed for the purpose of
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transporting persons for compensation, including the handicapped
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20 and the elderly. The gross.vehicle weight shall be not less than
21 six - thousand pounds.
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Luxury Limousine: The term "Luxury Limousine" shall mean a
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24 sedan -type luxury motor vehicle such as stretch Lincoln, stretch
25 Cadillac, Bently, Rolls Royce or Mercedes Benz, with a passenger
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capacity of no more than nine (9) persons (including the driver).
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28 Luxury Limousine Service: The term "Luxury Limousine
29 Service" shall mean the business of renting or leasing a "Luxury
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Limousine" as defined in this section, including the services of
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32 a driver, to a person, solely upon his request or one acting for
33 or on his behalf, to be used by the person or persons hiring the
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vehicle or under their direction and authority for the period of
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time the vehicle is rented or leased.. Specifically excluded from
this definition are the following:.
a. Vehicles, and the drivers thereof, provided for use in
connection with, or attending, or participating in any
phase of a funeral or funeral services;
b.
All taxicabs licensed by the City;.
C. All vehicles operating under a contract with the City;
d. Courtesy Cars;
e. Automobiles- for-Hire..
Vehicle -for -Hire. The term "Vehicle -for- Hire" means and
includes any motor - driven vehicle used for the transportation of
passengers for compensation, except taxicabs, C.A.T. buses and
recognized public carriers, and includes, for purpose of this
section, Courtesy Cars, Luxury Limousines, and Automobiles for
Hire.
Vehicle =for -Hire Permit: The term "Vehicle -for -Hire Permit"
shall 'mean a permit issued by the City of Little Rock for
operation of Vehicle - for -Hire services.
Person: The term "person" shall mean any individual,
partnership, corporation, association or joint venture.
SECTION 2. (Permit required..) It shall be unlawful for any
person to operate a luxury limousine, automobile for hire,
taxicab, or courtesy car in the City of Little Rock without a
current permit. This permit shall be in addition to any licenses
which may be required by the state under Ark. Stat. Ann. 75-
1 203.
CD
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SECTION 3. (Issuance of permit.) Permits shall be issued
by the City upon approval after the applicant has filed an
application for the permit and has shown that the operation of
the Vehicle-for-Hire service will comply with this ordinance and
with all applicable laws and ordinances.
The annual fee for such City permit shall be payable in
advance and shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) plus
twenty -five dollars ($25.00) for each vehicle used in the
business. The permittee shall provide to the City a complete
list of vehicles used for its service and shall promptly notify
the City of any vehicles added or removed from service.
Provided, however, that the annual fee for such permit for
vehicles of a non - profit organization used solely for
transporting the elderly or the handicapped, or for Courtesy Cars
receiving no compensation, shall be five dollars (55.00) for each
vehicle used. The owner of any vehicle so used shall file with
the City at the time of making application for a permit a
notarized statement signed by the,owner or agent stating the
purpose for which the vehicle or Courtesy Car is to be used.
Courtesy Cars shall prominently display in each vehicle a
statement clearly indicating transportation of patrons is at no
charge. Nothing in this ordinance is intended to preclude
voluntary tipping. Any exemption from the sign requirement must
be in writing from the administrator. Owners of vehicles of a
non - profit organization used solely for transporting the elderly
or the handicapped shall file proof of the organization's non-
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profit status along with the application for permit and the
notarized statement of use.
SECTION 4. (Rates.) The Automobile -for -Hire rate shall
be thirty -five percent (35%) less or lower or thirty -five percent
(35 %) more or higher than the taxicab meter rates. The Luxury
Limousine rate shall be.determined on either an hourly, daily,
weekly or 'monthly rental of the vehicle and the service of its
chauffeur, or a combination of rental and a mileage charge.
SECTION 5. (Vehicle Identification.) The City shall issue
a sticker for each vehicle covered.by a Vehicle- for -Hire service.
license. The sticker.shall be attached to the rear window of the
vehicle, as designated by the administrator.
SECTION 6. (Insurance.) Before a permittee operates a
Vehicle-for-Hire service, including Courtesy Cars, within the
City of Little Rock, it shall secure and maintain in force at all
times a liability insurance policy issued by a company authorized
to do.business in the state covering each vehicle to be used for
Vehicle - for -Hire service,, with limits of at least the minimum
that can be.acquired by State law. A current copy of the insur-
ance policy or a certificate of such insurance shall be filed
with the City. Each insurance company is. required to notify the
City upon .lapse or cancellation of such policy. Upon lapse or
cancellation of such policy, the permit granted to the permittee
shall be suspended as of the day the insurance ceases to be in
effect, it will thereafter be unlawful for such permittee to
operate any Vehicle -for -Hire in the City of Little Rock.
Et-
M M M
1 SECTION 7. (Nontransferability.) A permit or any rights or
2 privileges thereunder may not be sold, transferred, leased or
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4 assigned.
5 SECTION S. (Drivers and vehicles to be licensed.) Each
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driver and vehicle shall be licensed as required by state law.
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8 SECTION 9. (Solicitation of Passengers.) It shall be
9 unlawful for any persons to solicit passengers for Vehicle -for-
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Hire service on any city street. No Vehicle -for -Hire may park on
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12 any city street for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
13 SECTION 10. (Service Area.) An "Automobile- for - Hire"
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15 permittee, other than those serving the handicapped and /or the
16 elderly only, shall provide service to and from the airport, bus
17 stations, train depots, hotels and motels only. A Vehicle -for-
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19 Hire permittee is not allowed to pick up passengers in
20 residential areas, except Luxury Limousines, Courtesy Cars and
21 Automobiles for Hire serving the handicapped and /or the elderly
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23 only.
24 SECTION 11. (Fixed Place of Business.) A permittee for
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Vehicle -for -Hire permit shall maintain a fixed place of business
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27 in an area zoned for such use.
28 SECTION 12. (Penalty.) Any person, firm or corporation
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30 violating any provision of this ordinance shall be fined not less
31 than twenty -five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five hundred
32 dollars ($500.00) for each offense, and a separate offense shall
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34 be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation
35 occurs or continues.
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. April 15, 1986
ITY eLERK JANE CZECH
PPROWL(D AS kO, FQW):
MARK STODOLA
7
APPROYE
r A
MAYOR THOMAS A. PRINCE