Austin City Code § 13-2-1 DEFINITIONS.
§ 13-2-1 - DEFINITIONS.
In this chapter:
(1) CHARTER BUS SERVICE means transportation provided for compensation at the request of a third party for the exclusive use of a vehicle with a capacity of at least sixteen persons or more, including the driver, on a reservation basis, using motorized vehicles such as vans, minibuses, buses or motor coaches on irregular routes and schedules providing service originating, terminating and travelling solely within the city limits. Charter Bus Service does not include services owned, contracted, or subcontracted by a governmental entity or independent or consolidated school district, services provided by a charter van, or pursuant to a corporate contract.
(2) CHARTER BUS SERVICE PERMIT means the required permit a Charter Bus Service Provider must obtain from the City in order to operate a Charter Bus Service.
(3) CHARTER BUS SERVICE PROVIDER means an individual or entity that provides Charter Bus Service.
(4) CHARTER VAN SERVICES means transportation provided for compensation at the request of a third party for the exclusive use of a chauffeured motorized vehicle bus with a passenger capacity of a minimum of six, but a maximum of 15 persons, including the driver, on irregular routes and schedules providing service within the City limits.
(5) CHAUFFEUR means a person who operates a ground transportation service vehicle dispatched either by hail, telephonic, radio, or any electronic communication, including an E-Hail indicating the location of a passenger for immediate or prearranged transportation service.
(6) CHAUFFEUR'S PERMIT means written permission granted to an individual by the department to chauffeur a vehicle under the authority granted to a holder.
(7) CITY MANAGER includes the city manager's designee.
(8) COMPENSATION means any money, thing of value, payment, consideration, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or profit paid to, accepted, or received by the driver or owner of any vehicle providing transportation for a person, or persons; whether paid upon solicitation, demand or contract, or voluntarily, or intended as a gratuity or donation. Reimbursement for the following is not compensation: (1) tolls; (2) vehicle operating costs in an amount that is equal to or less than the most current privately-owned vehicle mileage reimbursement rates established by the U.S. General Services Administration; and (3) parking costs at the shared destination.
(9) CONDITIONAL CHAUFFER'S PERMIT means a conditional written permit granted to an individual by the department.
(10) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE means a substance defined as a controlled substance under the Chapter 481 (Texas Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code or under Title 21 of the United States Code.
(11) CORPORATE CONTRACT means a contract for services between a corporate entity or business and a ground transportation service provider for the provision of ground transportation services on a regular and on-going basis or for specific events to and from a pre-specified location, excluding dispatch services.
(12) DEPARTMENT means the department designated by the city manager.
(13) DIRECTOR means the department director designated by the city manager.
(14) DRIVER means an individual who drives a ground transportation service vehicle.
(15) E-HAIL is the use of any electronic device in any manner, including e-mail, text message, push notification or application for the booking of, or request for, immediate or prearranged transportation services.
(16) GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE means the service of providing chauffeured vehicles for compensation for the transportation of passengers within the City. Rideshares and Non-City Regulated Charter Service are not included in this definition of ground transportation service.
(17) GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE VEHICLE means a chauffeured vehicle used to transport passengers on City streets for compensation, excluding vehicles used for charter bus service.
(18) GROUP CYCLE means a device with four or more wheels propelled by human power exerted through a belt, chain, or gears capable of carrying a driver and six or more seated passengers on a platform made as part of the device.
(19) GROUP CYCLE SERVICE means a ground transportation service operating for hire that uses a group cycle in the operation of the service.
(20) HOLDER means a person who is authorized to operate a ground transportation service and includes the agents or employees of the holder. Holder excludes a charter bus service provider.
(21) MODIFIED GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE VEHICLE means a passenger-type van modified in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. Section 12101 et seq., to accommodate disabled passengers in wheelchairs.
(22) NON-CITY REGULATED CHARTER SERVICE means transportation provided for compensation at the request of a third party for the exclusive use of a motor vehicle operating under a valid federal or state operating authority that does not originate, terminate, and travel solely within the City limits.
(23) OPERATING AUTHORITY means the written authority granted by the City to provide a ground transportation service.
(24) OPERATING AUTHORITY PERMIT means a decal issued by the City to a holder that evidences the holder's authority to operate a vehicle as a ground transportation service vehicle.
(25) PASSENGER means an individual being transported for compensation in a ground transportation service vehicle.
(26) PEDICAB means a chauffeured vehicle operated for compensation that has at least three wheels, is propelled by human power exerted through pedals, a belt or chain and gears, and that is capable of transporting passengers on seats attached to the vehicle.
(27) PEDICAB SERVICE means a ground transportation passenger service operating for hire that uses a pedicab in the operation of the service.
(28) PERMITTEE means an individual or entity that applies to the department for a permit described in this chapter and who has been issued an approved valid permit by the City.
(29) PREARRANGED SERVICE means ground transportation service provided by a ground transportation service operating authority that is scheduled by reservation in advance of the trip, excluding performance under a corporate contract or by a Charter Bus Service.
(30) RIDESHARE is the travelling of two or more persons by any mode of private passenger vehicle, including, but not limited to, carpooling, vanpooling, buspooling, to any location incidental to another purpose of the driver, for which compensation is neither accepted, collected, encouraged, promoted, or requested.
(31) TAXI ZONE means a public place alongside the curb or curb line of a street that the City has designated as reserved exclusively for the use of taxicabs.
(32) TAXICAB means every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle issued a taxicab permit.
(33) TAXICAB SERVICE means a ground transportation service operating for hire that uses a taxicab in the operation of the service.
(34) TAXIMETER means a device used in a taxicab to compute a fare.
(35) WAV means a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle used in a taxicab service.
(36) WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE (WAV) means a passenger-type vehicle modified in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. Section 12101 et seq., to accommodate passengers who utilize wheelchairs.
Source: 1992 Code Section 8-13-1; Ord. 031106-13; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20050818-025; Ord. 20060504-039; Ord. 20120412-021; Ord. 20130620-051; Ord. 20130808-046; Ord. 20130822-081; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pts. 1—5, 11-17-14; Ord. No. 20141211-089, Pt. 1, 12-22-14; Ord. No. 20150416-003, Pts, 1, 2, 4-27-15; Ord. No. 20171005-027, Pt. 1, 10-16-17; Ord. No. 20171214-095, Pt. 1, 12-25-17; Ord. No. 20180628-054, Pt. 1, 7-9-18; Ord. No. 20190919-144, Pts. 1, 2, 9-30-19; Ord. No. 20220303-023, Pt. 1, 3-14-22.