§ 54-31. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Call or demand means transportation arrangements made indiscriminately and instantaneously with a request for service which shall include, but shall not be limited to, the hailing of a taxicab, passenger vehicle for hire or any other oral request for a taxicab, passenger vehicle for hire service made from a public street location, airport terminal roadway or public vehicular area as the pickup. No passenger vehicle for hire, other than a taxicab, shall engage in cruising or be operated on call or demand.

Certificate means a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the city council authorizing the holder thereof to conduct a taxicab business in the city.

Cruising means the movement of a passenger vehicle for hire over public streets, airport terminal roadways or public vehicular areas in search of passengers or for the purpose of attracting passengers. No passenger vehicle for hire, other than a taxicab, shall engage in cruising or be operated on call or demand.

For hire means a transaction whereby any money, thing of value, charge tickets, surcharge, payment, pecuniary consideration or compensation, reward, donation, remuneration or profit is paid to, accepted by, or received by the driver or an employee or the company operating certificate holder operating any passenger vehicle for hire in exchange for the temporary use by or for the transportation of a person as a passenger, whether such is paid voluntarily or upon solicitation, demand, request, contract, agreement, or as a surcharge.

Limousine means any motor vehicle that meets the manufacturer's specifications for a luxury limousine and that provides limousine service as defined in this section. Every limousine shall have a minimum of four seats or one continuous sofa-styled seating area located behind the operator of the vehicle. No limousine shall engage in cruising or be operated on call or demand.

Limousine service means the service regularly rendered to the public, not over fixed routes, which furnishes transportation by limousines for hire, based on a fee determined by increments of time and contracted for by telephone or other prearrangement with a limousine company.

Manifest means a daily record, prepared by the owner, of all trips made by the taxicab which the company operates, showing time and place of origin and destination of each trip and the amount of fare.

Operator means any person responsible for the operation, management and/or oversees the taxicab service.

Owner means any person to whom a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been issued under this article.

Passenger vehicle for hire means any vehicle (including limousines), which is operated by a driver and provides for hire transportation services, as defined in this section. A passenger vehicle for hire shall not include motor vehicles or motor vehicle carriers as defined in G.S. 62-259—62-279 or hotel courtesy vehicles that provide transportation services solely to patrons of the hotel. No passenger vehicle for hire, other than a taxicab, shall engage in cruising or be operated on call or demand.

Prearrangement means an agreement to provide transportation by registration in advance of boarding from a specific location by a nonmetered passenger vehicle for hire. Rates will be established in one-hour increments for a minimum of a one-hour period without regard to whether the trip requires less than one hour or not or by specific written contract. The key factor in determining the cost of a prearranged non-metered passenger vehicle for hire service shall be the length of time the vehicle is in use, measured in hourly increments or an agreed-upon fixed rate by written contract. Prearrangement does not include the hailing or other oral request for immediate transportation service from a public street location or public vehicular area as the pickup location.

Shuttle van means any passenger vehicle for hire that provides shuttle transportation to passengers to or from prescribed locations such as hotels, motels, shopping centers, business or commercial buildings, factories, stadiums, coliseums or theaters by prearrangement for a fee, pursuant to a contract or agreement, and that does not accept or discharge passengers indiscriminately between prescribed locations. No shuttle van shall engage in cruising or be operated on call or demand.

Taxicab means any motor vehicle seating nine or fewer passengers and driver operated for hire upon any street on call or demand.

Taxicab inspector means the person(s) designated by the chief of police who is charged with the duties required under this chapter, including the inspection and licensing of taxicabs and the drivers thereof.

Taxi meter means any mechanical or electrical device which records and indicates a charge or fare calculated according to distance traveled, waiting time, traffic delay, initial charge, number of passengers and other charges authorized by this chapter or any combination of any such charges.

(Code 1971, § 30-1; Ord. No. 01-1064, § 1, 10-4-01; Ord. No. 10-1257, § 1, 12-2-10)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.