LIMOUSINES

SEA-MC tit. 6, subtit. IV, ch. 6.320

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.005 Definitions

6.320.005 - Definitions For the purposes of this Chapter, and unless the context plainly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply: A. "Chauffeur" means any person with a valid Washington state driver's license and authorized by the department of licensing to drive a limousine as defined in Chapter 46.04 RCW. B. "Department of licensing" means the Washington department of licensing unless a different department is specified. C. "Director" means the Director of Finance and Administrative Services or his or her authorized representative unless the director of a different department of government is specified. D. "Limousine" means a category of for hire, chauffeur-driven, unmetered, unmarked luxury motor vehicles that meet one of the following definitions: 1. "Stretch limousine" means an automobile with a seating capacity of not more than 12 passengers behind the driver, and a maximum wheelbase of 285 inches. The wheelbase has been factory or otherwise altered beyond the original manufacturer's specifications and meets standards of the United States Department of Transportation. The automobile is equipped with amenities in the rear seating area not normally found in passenger cars. These amenities may include, but are not limited to, a television, musical sound system, telephone, ice storage, power-operated dividers, or additional interior lighting. Rear tailgates or hatches are not to be used as a primary door for loading or unloading passengers. The term "stretch limousine" excludes trucks, auto transportation companies, excursion buses, charter buses, minibuses, vehicles regulated under Chapter 81.66 RCW, taxicabs, executive sedans, executive sport utility vehicles, stretch sport utility vehicles, funeral home vehicles, station wagons, executive vans, vans, minivans, and courtesy vans. 2. "Executive sedan" means a four-door sedan automobile having a seating capacity of not more than three passengers behind the driver and a minimum wheelbase of 114.5 inches. An executive sedan is equipped with standard factory amenities, and the wheelbase may not be altered. The term "executive sedan" excludes trucks, auto transportation companies, excursion buses, minibuses, charter buses, vehicles regulated under Chapter 81.66 RCW, taxicabs, stretch limousines, executive sport utility vehicles, stretch sport utility vehicles, funeral home vehicles, station wagons, executive vans, vans, minivans, and courtesy vans. 3. "Executive van" means a van, minivan, or minibus having a seating capacity of not less than seven passengers and not more than 14 passengers behind the driver. The term "executive van" excludes trucks, auto transportation companies, excursion buses, charter buses, vehicles regulated under Chapter 81.66 RCW, taxicabs, stretch limousines, executive sedans, executive sport utility vehicles, stretch sport utility vehicles, funeral home vehicles, station wagons, and courtesy vans. 4. "Classic car" means a fine or distinctive, American or foreign automobile that is thirty years old or older. 5. "Executive sport utility vehicle" means an automobile with a seating capacity of not less than three passengers and not more than six passengers behind the driver, and a minimum wheelbase of 116 inches that has not been altered. Rear tailgates or hatches are not to be used as a primary door for loading or unloading passengers. The term "executive sport utility vehicle" excludes trucks, auto transportation companies, excursion buses, minibuses, charter buses, vehicles regulated under Chapter 81.66 RCW, taxicabs, stretch limousines, executive sedans, stretch sport utility vehicles, funeral home vehicles, station wagons, executive vans, vans, minivans, and courtesy vans. 6. "Stretch sport utility vehicle" means an automobile with a seating capacity of not more than 14 passengers behind the driver or a total of 15 occupants including the driver and a maximum wheelbase of 325 inches that has been factory or otherwise altered beyond the original manufacturer's specifications and meets standards of the United States Department of Transportation. The automobile is equipped with amenities in the rear seating area not normally found in passenger cars. These amenities may include, but are not limited to, a television, musical sound system, telephone, ice storage, power-operated dividers, or additional interior lighting. Rear tailgates or hatches are not to be used as a primary door for loading or unloading passengers. The term "stretch sport utility vehicle" excludes trucks, auto transportation companies, excursion buses, minibuses, charter buses, vehicles regulated under Chapter 81.66 RCW, taxicabs, stretch limousines, executive sedans, executive sport utility vehicles, funeral home vehicles, station wagons, executive vans, vans, minivans, and courtesy vans. E. "Limousine carrier" means a person engaged in the transportation of a person or group of persons, who, under a single contract, acquires, on a prearranged basis, the use of a limousine to travel to a specified destination or for a particular itinerary. The term "prearranged basis" refers to the manner in which the carrier dispatches vehicles. F. "Master business license" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 19.02.020. G. "Person or persons" means an individual, a corporation, association, joint stock association, partnership, limited liability partnership or limited liability company, or their lessees, trustees, or receivers. H. "Vehicle certificate" means a limousine vehicle certificate required under RCW 46.72A.050 and issued by the department of licensing. (Ord. 123783, § 2, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.010 Authority to enforce law, cooperative agreement

6.320.010 - Authority to enforce law, cooperative agreement The Director shall enforce the provisions of this Chapter 6.320 and Chapter 46.72A RCW, provided that there is in effect an agreement between the City and the Washington department of licensing for the enforcement of limousine laws and regulations by the City, duly executed and approved by ordinance. The Director shall: 1. Conduct street enforcement activity as provided in this Chapter 6.320 and consistent with Chapter 46.72A RCW; 2. Conduct inspections of limousines to verify compliance with limousine standards adopted by rule by the department of licensing and, if the carrier requests, conduct annual limousine vehicle inspections in lieu of an inspection conducted by the Washington state patrol, as provided in Section 6.320.030; 3. Issue notices of infraction in accordance with Chapter 7.80 RCW for infractions specified in this Chapter 6.320 and in Chapter 46.72A RCW; 4. Require limousine carriers to submit, and maintain on file with the Director, valid insurance documents for every limousine vehicle that operates in the city limits of Seattle in accordance with Section 6.320.050; 5. Have full authority to enforce this Chapter 6.320, including the authority to issue citations or make arrests for violations of this Chapter, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6.202. (Ord. 123783, § 3, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.020 Prearrangement of services

6.320.020 - Prearrangement of services A. Contact by a customer or customer's agent to engage the services of a carrier's limousine must be initiated by a customer or customer's agent at a time and place different from the customer's time and place of departure. The fare for service must be agreed upon prior to departure. Under no circumstances may customers or customers' agents make arrangements to immediately engage the services of a carrier's limousine with the chauffeur, even if the chauffeur is an owner or officer of the company with the single exception of stand-hail limousines only at a facility owned and operated by a port district in a county with a population of one million or more that are licensed and restricted by the rules and policies set forth by the port district. B. At the time of the conduct of the commercial limousine business, the chauffeur of a limousine and the limousine carrier business must possess written or electronic records substantiating the prearrangement of the carrier's services for any customer carried for compensation, except for vehicles meeting the requirements of the exception for stand-hail limousines described in subsection A of this section. Limousine carriers and limousine chauffeurs operating as an independent business must list a physical address on their master business license where records substantiating the prearrangement of the carrier's services may be reviewed by an enforcement officer. A limousine carrier must retain these records for a minimum of one calendar year, and failure to do so is a class 3 civil infraction against the carrier for each record that is missing or fails to include all of the information described in rules adopted under subsection D of this section. C. Limousine carriers and limousine chauffeurs operating as an independent business must list a telephone or pager number that is used to prearrange the carrier's services for any customer carried for compensation. D. The failure of a chauffeur who is operating a limousine to immediately provide, on demand by an enforcement officer, written or electronic records required by the department of licensing substantiating the prearrangement of the carrier's services for any customer carried for compensation, except for limousines meeting the requirements of the exception for stand-hail limousines described in subsection A of this section, is a class 2 civil infraction and is subject to monetary penalties under Chapter 7.80.120 RCW. It is a class 1 civil infraction for a repeat offense under this subsection during the same calendar year. (Ord. 123783, § 4, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.030 Vehicle inspections, fees

6.320.030 - Vehicle inspections, fees The Director shall conduct random limousine vehicle inspections in conjunction with limousine regulation enforcement activities, provided that the inspection criteria and fees are substantially the same regardless of the authority conducting the inspection. Random limousine vehicle inspections shall not be conducted while the limousine contains customers. The Director shall, if the carrier requests, conduct annual limousine vehicle inspections in lieu of an inspection conducted by the Washington state patrol. The Director shall impose annual vehicle inspection fees and re-inspection fees. A carrier shall pay the reinspection fee if a limousine fails inspection for compliance with vehicle standards and is reinspected. If the limousine passes the first reinspection within 30 days of failing the original inspection, all of the reinspection fee shall be refunded to the carrier. However, refunds shall not be available for subsequent reinspections. While a limousine is licensed by the department of licensing for commercial limousine use, failure to comply with vehicle inspection standards, established by the department of licensing by rule, is a class 3 civil infraction against the carrier, with monetary penalties against the carrier as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, for each violation of a safety requirement. It is a class 4 civil infraction for each violation of other vehicle standards, with monetary penalties against the carrier as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, and the limousine vehicle certificate must be summarily suspended until safety violations of vehicle standards are corrected and the limousine is reinspected. (Ord. 123783, § 5, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.040 Licenses required

6.320.040 - Licenses required A. No limousine carrier may operate a limousine upon the highways of the City of Seattle without first being properly registered as a business in Washington and having been issued a unified business identifier. B. In addition, a limousine carrier shall obtain from the department of licensing a limousine carrier license for the business and a limousine vehicle certificate for each limousine operated by the carrier. The limousine carrier license and limousine vehicle certificates must be renewed through the department of licensing annually or as may be required by the department. The department of licensing shall establish by rule the procedure for obtaining, and the fees for, the limousine carrier license and limousine vehicle certificate subject to the limitations specified in Chapter 46.72A.120 RCW. It is a class 1 civil infraction, with monetary penalties against the carrier as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, for each day that a limousine is operated without a valid limousine carrier license or valid limousine vehicle certificate required under this subsection. (Ord. 123783, § 6, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.050 Insurance

6.320.050 - Insurance Any limousine carrier dispatching a limousine to pick up passengers within the incorporated area of the city shall maintain on file with the Director insurance documents that meet the requirements adopted by rule by the department of licensing. The Director shall issue civil infractions to carriers and summarily suspend limousine vehicle certificates for failure to maintain on file valid insurance documents with the Director. Failure to file and maintain in effect the insurance required under this section is a gross misdemeanor and the limousine vehicle certificate shall be summarily suspended. It is a class 1 civil infraction, with monetary penalties against the carrier as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, for each day that a carrier operates a limousine with a summarily suspended limousine vehicle certificate. (Ord. 123783, § 7, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.060 Soliciting and advertising

6.320.060 - Soliciting and advertising A. No limousine carrier may advertise without listing the carrier's unified business identifier issued by the department of licensing in the advertisement and specifying the type of service offered as provided in Chapter 46.04.274 RCW. No limousine carrier may advertise or hold itself out to the public as providing taxicab transportation services. B. All advertising, contracts, correspondence, cards, signs, posters, papers, and documents that show a limousine carrier's name or address shall list the carrier's unified business identifier and the type of service offered. The alphabetized listing of limousine carriers appearing in the advertising sections of telephone books or other directories and all advertising that shows the carrier's name or address must show the carrier's current unified business identifier. C. Advertising in the alphabetical listing in a telephone directory need not contain the carrier's certified business identifier. D. It is a violation, subject to a fine of up to $5,000 per violation, for a person to 1. Falsify a unified business identifier or use a false or inaccurate unified business identifier; 2. Fail to specify the type of service offered; 3. Advertise or otherwise hold itself out to the public as providing taxicab transportation services in connection with a solicitation or identification as an authorized limousine carrier; or 4. Conduct commercial limousine business without a valid limousine carrier license or valid limousine vehicle certificate as required under this Chapter, unless licensed as a charter party carrier under Chapter 81.70 RCW. E. If the basis for the violation is advertising, each advertisement reproduced, broadcast, or displayed via a particular medium constitutes a separate violation. F. In deciding the amount of penalty to be imposed per violation, the Director shall consider the following factors: 1. The carrier's willingness to comply with the department of licensing's rules under this Chapter; and 2. The carrier's history with respect to compliance with this section. G. It is a class 1 civil infraction, with monetary penalties against the chauffeur as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, for a chauffeur to: 1. Solicit or assign customers directly or through a third party for immediate, nonprearranged limousine service pick up as described in subsection 6.320.020.A; or 2. Offer payment to a third party to solicit customers for limousine service pick up without current copies of a written contract regarding such services on file at the third party's business. Copies of the current written contract must be stored and made available on both the third party's and limousine carrier's business premises. Limousine vehicles engaged in the services detailed in the contract must carry a certificate verifying existence of a current contract between the parties. The certificate must contain a general description of the agreement, including initial and expiration dates. A written contract may not allow for immediate, nonprearranged limousine service pick up. H. It is a class 1 civil infraction, with monetary penalties against the individual as specified in Chapter 7.80.120 RCW, for an individual to: 1. Accept payment to solicit or assign customers on the behalf of a chauffeur for immediate, nonprearranged limousine service pick up as described in subsection 6.320.020.A; or 2. Accept payment to solicit customers for limousine service pick up without current copies of a written contract regarding such services on file at the third party's business. Copies of the current written contract must be stored and made available on the third party's business premises and in any limousine engaged in the services detailed in the contract. A written contract may not allow for immediate, nonprearranged limousine service pick up. (Ord. 123783, § 8, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.070 Chauffeur qualifications

6.320.070 - Chauffeur qualifications A. The limousine carrier shall, before a chauffeur operates a limousine, provide proof in a form approved by the department of licensing to the Director that each chauffeur hired to operate a limousine meets the following criteria administered or monitored by the department of licensing or an authority approved by the department: 1. Is at least 21 years of age; 2. Holds a valid Washington state driver's license; 3. Has successfully completed a training course approved by the department; 4. Has successfully passed a written examination which, to the greatest extent practicable, the department of licensing must administer in the applicant's language of preference; 5. Has successfully completed a background check performed by the Washington state patrol or a credentialing authority approved by the department of licensing that meets standards adopted by rule by the department; 6. Has passed an initial test and is participating in a random testing program designed to detect the presence of any controlled substances determined by the department of licensing; 7. Has a satisfactory driving record that meets moving accident and moving violation conviction standards adopted by rule by the department of licensing; and 8. Has submitted a medical certificate certifying the individual's fitness as a chauffeur. Upon initial application and every two years thereafter, a chauffeur must file a physician's certification with the limousine carrier validating the individual's fitness to drive a limousine. The department of licensing shall determine by rule the scope of the examination and standards for denial based upon the chauffeur's physical examination. The director of the department of licensing may require a chauffeur to undergo an additional controlled substance test or physical examination if the chauffeur has failed a controlled substance test or his or her physical fitness has been called into question. B. The limousine carrier shall keep on file and make available for inspection all documents required by this section. (Ord. 123783, § 9, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.080 Unprofessional conduct

6.320.080 - Unprofessional conduct A. The Director may impose any of the sanctions specified in Chapter 18.235.110 RCW for unprofessional conduct as described in Chapter 18.235.130 RCW or if one of the following is true of a chauffeur hired to drive a limousine, including where such a chauffeur is also the carrier: 1. The person has been convicted of an offense of such a nature as to indicate that he or she is unfit to qualify as a chauffeur; 2. The person is guilty of committing an offense for which mandatory revocation of a driver's license is provided by law; 3. The person has been convicted of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault; 4. The person is intemperate or addicted to narcotics; or 5. The person, while participating in a random testing program designed to detect the presence of any controlled substances determined by the department of licensing under Chapter 46.72A.090 RCW, is found to have taken one of the controlled substances determined by the department of licensing without a valid and current prescription from a licensed physician. (Ord. 123783, § 10, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.090 Deposit of civil infractions and fines

6.320.090 - Deposit of civil infractions and fines A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all receipts from each civil infraction and violation imposed by this Chapter must be deposited into the limousine carriers account created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account must be spent only after appropriation. B. Expenditures from the account may be used only for regulation and enforcement under this Chapter, including regulation and enforcement through the cooperative agreement described in Section 6.320.010. (Ord. 123783, § 11, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.100 Rules and Fees

6.320.100 - Rules and Fees The Director may adopt and enforce such rules, including the setting of annual inspection fees and reinspection fees, as may be consistent with and necessary to carry out this Chapter. The fees shall be used for the administration of this Chapter. (Ord. 123783, § 12, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.110 Unlicensed operation

6.320.110 - Unlicensed operation A. Except as provided in subsection B of this Section 6.320.040, a limousine carrier who operates a vehicle without first having received a vehicle certificate as required by Chapter 46.72A RCW is guilty of a misdemeanor. B. A second or subsequent offense is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 123783, § 13, 2011.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.320.120 Construction

6.320.120 - Construction The several provisions of Chapter 6.320 are declared to be separate and severable and the invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances. The provisions of Chapter 6.320 shall further be construed to be consistent with Chapter 46.72A RCW, and in the event any provisions of Chapter 6.320 is found to be in conflict, Chapter 46.72A RCW shall control. (Ord. 123783, § 14, 2011.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.320LIFetched: 11/1/2026