§ 46-548 — Vehicle inspection

Sec. 46-548. - Vehicle inspection.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire, unless such vehicle has been inspected as required in this section and has a current and valid certification decal affixed thereto. Each wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition and shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least once in each 24-hour period. (b) Each wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire shall be inspected before it is initially placed into service and thereafter before October 1 of each year at such location as the director may specify. The director shall approve the wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire if he determines that: (1) The wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire has current Texas registration sticker and the required Texas vehicle inspection documents for both safety and air quality, if applicable; (2) The wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire is in generally sound working condition with no apparent safety-related defects, including but not limited to, inspection or testing of the speedometer, odometer, horn, windshield wipers, mirrors, steering, service brake, parking brake, tires, high beam indicator, tail lamp, stop lamps, license plate lamp, rear reflectors, turn signal lamps and headlamps and any installed safety devices to assist with wheelchairs; (3) The wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire has a lap or lap/shoulder seat belt for the driver and for each passenger seating space to the extent the vehicle is so equipped by the manufacturer; (4) The wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire has no seats that have been added in excess of the manufacturer's specifications; the vehicle may have fewer seats than in the specifications to accommodate one or more wheelchairs, provided appropriate safety devices, including but not limited to tiedowns, a ramp, or a lift, are installed; and (5) The wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire complies with all other requirements of this article. (c) Upon the satisfactory completion of the inspection, the director shall issue and permanently affix a certification decal to the lower right portion of the windshield of the wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire. In any prosecution under this section, it shall be presumed that wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire has not been inspected as required in this section unless it has a current and valid certification decal affixed thereto. (d) Replacement certification decals shall be provided only upon reinspection of the wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire. (e) The director may inspect any wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire and any records or documents required to be carried in or upon the wheelchair accessible vehicle used as a vehicle for hire at any time upon presentation of identification to the driver in order to determine operation in compliance with the provisions of this article and the regulations adopted hereunder by the director.

(Ord. No. 2015-998, § 6(Exh. A), 10-14-2015)