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For-hire Horse-drawn Carriage Driver—Licensing and Requirements

SEA-MC tit. 6, subtit. IV, ch. 6.315, subch. IV
in effect

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 6.315, subch. IV, § 6.315.300 For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver license—Application.

6.315.300 - For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver license—Application. A. Applications for a for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver license shall be made in writing to the Director upon forms provided by the Director. B. For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver license applications shall include the following information: 1. Full name, home and business addresses, and home and business telephone number(s) of the applicant; 2. Washington State driver's license number; 3. Date of birth (which shall be at least eighteen (18) years prior to the date of application), height, weight, color of eyes and hair; 4. Certificate signed by a for-hire horse-drawn carriage licensee certifying, under penalty of perjury under the laws of The State of Washington, that the applicant has successfully completed a one week training program in which the applicant has: a. Ridden with a licensed for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver in a horse-drawn carriage for at least seven (7) six (6) hour days in the environment in which a for-hire horse-drawn carriage operates, b. Knowledge of the requirements contained in this chapter of the Seattle Municipal Code and in any rules promulgated by the Director to implement this chapter, c. Been trained in emergency procedures including but not limited to: remedying equipment malfunctions, handling unruly or uncontrollable horses and hostile passengers, onlookers or others, and responding to crowd situations, and d. Become familiar with the word commands or other physical commands to which horses respond and to which they are trained; and 5. Certification signed under penalty of perjury under the laws of The State of Washington by the applicant, listing: a. All crimes, if any, of which the applicant has been convicted within the three (3) years previous to the date of application, and if any, the date and type of conviction, b. The date(s) of and reason(s) for the denial, suspension or revocation of any license issued under this chapter. (Ord. 118443, § 1(part), 1996.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 6.315, subch. IV, § 6.315.310 Horse-drawn carriage driver license—Standards for license denial.

6.315.310 - Horse-drawn carriage driver license—Standards for license denial. A. The Director shall deny a for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver's license application if the Director determines that: 1. A complete application that meets the standards of Section 6.315.300 has not been submitted; 2. The application contains any material misstatement or omission; 3. If a prior for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver's license was suspended and the suspension has not been terminated or the reasons for the suspension cured; 4. Within one (1) year prior to the date of application, the applicant had a license issued under this chapter revoked and not reinstated; or 5. Within three (3) years of the date of application, the applicant has had a bail forfeiture, conviction or other adverse finding for a crime if such crime involved a for-hire horse-drawn carriage, other for-hire business, or animal cruelty. B. The Director may deny any for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver's license application if the Director determines that: 1. Within two (2) years prior to the date of application, the applicant exhibited past conduct in driving or operating a for-hire horse-drawn carriage which would lead the Director to reasonably conclude that the applicant will not comply with the provisions of this chapter related to operating requirements for for-hire horse-drawn carriages, carriage horses or for-hire horse-drawn carriage drivers, and the safe operation of a for-hire horse-drawn carriage; 2. Within two (2) years prior to the date of application and after the effective date of this chapter, the applicant operated or permitted a for-hire horse-drawn carriage to operate within The City of Seattle without a current, valid horse-drawn carriage license issued under this chapter; or 3. Within three (3) years of the date of application, the applicant has had a bail forfeiture, conviction or other adverse finding for a crime that would jeopardize the safety of a passenger or the public, including but not limited to a crime involving driving or vehicular safety, fraud, theft, prostitution, alcohol and/or narcotics. C. The Director shall deny a license by written notice indicating the reason for denial. Such notice shall be delivered either personally or by first class mail to the applicant at the address provided by the applicant on the license application. (Ord. 118443, § 1(part), 1996.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 6.315, subch. IV, § 6.315.320 For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver—Operating requirements and responsibilities.

6.315.320 - For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver—Operating requirements and responsibilities. No horse-drawn carriage driver licensed by the City may operate a for-hire horse-drawn carriage within the City of Seattle unless the following minimum requirements and responsibilities are met: A. A horse-drawn carriage driver inspects the for-hire horse-drawn carriage at least once daily before starting each shift to ensure that the for-hire horse-drawn carriage equipment is working properly and shall indicate on the trip sheet required to be maintained by subsection F of this section the time of such inspection (Class B); B. The horse-drawn carriage meets the vehicle operating requirements set forth in this chapter or in rules promulgated by the Director pursuant to this chapter (Class B); C. A horse-drawn carriage driver controls the pace of the horse to a walk or a speed never faster than a slow trot so as to maintain a speed that is safe for the horse, driver and passengers (Class B); D. Each horse-drawn carriage driver has in the driver's possession a for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver's license and displays the license and photograph in a prominent location available for view by passengers upon entering a for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Class A); E. Each horse-drawn carriage driver provides the carriage horse access to and opportunity to drink potable drinking water at least once per hour during each ten (10) hour work day (Class B); F. A horse-drawn carriage driver maintains a daily trip sheet indicating the date, time, origination and destination of all fares, number of passengers, and the amount of the fare collected; and the time and location of each watering of the horse (Class A); G. A horse-drawn carriage driver, upon request of the Director, a passenger, or a police officer, allows the horse-drawn carriage driver's license and/or Washington State driver's license to be inspected (Class B, Class A if request was by passenger); H. A horse-drawn carriage driver shall not leave the horse unattended (Suspension and Class B); I. A horse-drawn carriage driver shall not use or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while operating a for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Suspension and Class B); J. A horse-drawn carriage driver notifies the Director in writing within seven (7) days of the occurrence of any of the following: 1. Any arrest, charge, or conviction of the horse-drawn carriage driver for any criminal offense or any traffic violation that occurs during, or arises out of, the driver's operation of a horse-drawn carriage (Class B), 2. Any accident required to be reported to The State of Washington involving any horse-drawn carriage operated for-hire by the horse-drawn carriage driver or involving the for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Class B); K. A driver wears suitable clothes that are neat and clean. The term "neat and clean" as it relates to clothes means that all clothing is clean, free from soil, grease and dirt and without unrepaired rips or tears (Class A); L. A driver is well groomed at all times while on duty. The term "well groomed" refers to that state of personal hygiene, body cleanliness and absence of offensive odor normally associated with bathing or showering on a regular basis, and means that hair, beards and mustaches are groomed, combed or brushed (Class A); and M. A driver is able to provide a reasonable and prudent amount of change, and if correct change is not available, no additional charge is made to the passenger in attempting to secure the change (Class A). N. A driver shall not, with intent to harass, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person, use any lewd, lascivious, profane, indecent, or obscene words, language or gestures, while waiting for passengers, driving, operating, picking up customers, or while otherwise on duty or in control of a carriage (Class B). (Ord. 123865, § 5, 2012; Ord. 118443, § 1(part), 1996.)
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_CH6.315HOAWCAHODR_SUBCHAPTER_IVFREHOAWCADRICREFetched: 11/1/2026

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