PRIVATE BUS SERVICE

Raleigh City Code pt. 11, ch. 5

in effect

Raleigh City Code § 11-5001 SHORT TITLE.

Sec. 11-5001. - SHORT TITLE. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Bus Service Control Ordinance of the City of Raleigh." (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5002 BUS SERVICE DEFINED.

Sec. 11-5002. - BUS SERVICE DEFINED. Bus service is defined to be public transportation offered to the public for compensation by motor vehicle with a capacity greater than nine (9) passengers, operated along fixed routes, with fixed schedules, or between fixed termini. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5003 COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER.

Sec. 11-5003. - COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER. It shall be unlawful for any person, business or other entity to provide bus service as herein defined within the corporate limits of the City unless such person has complied with and shall continue to comply with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, this chapter shall not apply to any bus service operated as follows: (a) Private transit service provided pursuant to contract to a group of more than eight (8) patrons none of whom pay fares when boarding or unboarding or who use prepurchased passes. (b) Between fixed termini only one (1) of which is within the corporate limits of the City and no single passenger trip is within the corporate limits of the City. (c) Contracted transportation of a group of passengers (charter) from a single trip origin to a single trip destination with no boarding or discharging of passengers between the single origin and destination. (d) Passing through the entire City without picking up or discharging any passengers within the corporate limits of the City. (e) For the exclusive purpose of providing transportation to the clientele of public or private, nonprofit human service agencies or to public or private schools. (f) Transportation by motor vehicles owned or operated by or on behalf of hotels or motels while used exclusively for the transportation of hotel or motel patronage between hotels and motels and local railroad or other common carrier stations. (g) Transportation of passengers to and from airports and passenger airline terminals when such transportation is incidental to transportation by aircraft. (h) Transportation by motor vehicles used exclusively for the transportation of passengers to or from religious services or transportation of pupils and employees to and from private or parochial schools or transportation to and from functions for students and employees of private or parochial schools. (i) Transportation of any bona fide employees to and from their place(s) of regular employment by employer. (j) Operations pursuant to Article A, Chapter 4, of the Raleigh City Code. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5004 APPLICATION FOR BUS SERVICE PERMIT.

Sec. 11-5004. - APPLICATION FOR BUS SERVICE PERMIT. Except as otherwise provided in §11-5003, no person shall operate a bus service in the City unless such person shallin width have applied to and obtained from the City Council a bus service permit authorizing such operation. Application for a bus service permit shall be made in writing to the City Clerk, on forms furnished by the City Clerk and shall set forth the following information: (a) The name, age, residence and business address of the applicant if he is an individual, or if the applicant is a corporation, the address of the principal office of the corporation and the name and address of the officers and directors of the corporation. (b) A current balance sheet showing in detail the applicant's assets, liabilities and net worth. (c) A list of the number, age, body type and seating capacity of vehicles the applicant proposes to use in the business. (d) The streets over which, and the fixed termini and regular routes between which and over which, the applicant proposes to operate. (e) A schedule of operation showing the time of arrival and departure from terminal and intermediate points and days of service. (f) A schedule of rates and changes showing the fares to be charged between the several points or localities to be served. (g) A statement showing how the granting of the permit will serve the public convenience and necessity. (h) Location and description of maintenance garaging and/or parking facilities for all buses. (i) Such other information as the City Council may require. The application shall be verified as to the truth of the statements therein contained by the oath of the person making such application if he is an individual, by one (1) of the partners if the applicant is a partnership, and by an officer of the company if the applicant is a corporation. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5005 APPLICATION FEE.

Sec. 11-5005. - APPLICATION FEE. Each application for a bus service permit shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable certified check payable to the City in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5006 PUBLIC HEARING ON APPLICATION.

Sec. 11-5006. - PUBLIC HEARING ON APPLICATION. Upon the filing of an application for a bus service permit under the provisions of this chapter, the City Council shall fix a time and place for a hearing on such application. A notice of date and place of the public hearing shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the public hearing. A public hearing upon the application shall be held by the City Council at the time specified in the notice. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5007 DETERMINATION BY CITY COUNCIL AS TO GRANTING OF PERMIT.

Sec. 11-5007. - DETERMINATION BY CITY COUNCIL AS TO GRANTING OF PERMIT. In the determination of applications for bus service permits under this chapter, the City Council shall give due consideration to: (a) Whether public convenience and necessity require the proposed service. (b) Whether the applicant is fit, willing and able to properly perform the proposed service. (c) Whether the applicant is solvent and financially able to furnish adequate service on a continuing basis. The City Council may issue the permit as applied for, or may issue it with modifications, or may refuse to issue it based on the considerations stated herein. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5008 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERMIT.

Sec. 11-5008. - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERMIT. Each bus service permit issued under authority of this chapter shall be in writing and shall show the following: (a) The name of the grantee. (b) Designation of the route or routes over which the grantee shall operate; the terminal, intermediate and off-route points of service; complete schedule and fares to be charged. (c) Designation of insurance to be carried by the grantee. (d) Frequency and type of vehicle inspections to be performed on buses. (e) General description of the size and type of buses authorized to be used by the grantee. (f) The term of the permit which shall not exceed three (3) years from the date of Council approval and which shall be subject to renewal by the City Council upon expiration. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5009 VEHICLE DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS.

Sec. 11-5009. - VEHICLE DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS. In order to enhance the safety and welfare of the passengers using private bus service, all operations of such private vehicles shall conform, notwithstanding the provisions of §11-5003 and to the extent not prohibited by state or Federal law, to the following requirements, and each vehicle must: (a) Obtain and display on the vehicle the North Carolina Utilities Commission certification authorizing its operation or, if exempt from commission regulation, the exemption number. (b) Require all drivers of such vehicles to have in their possession a valid Class B operator's license issued by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. (c) Display a valid North Carolina commercial license plate. (d) Carry a valid North Carolina motor vehicle registration in the vehicle. (e) Display in the vehicle a certificate of insurance representing that it is covered by at least the minimum insurance requirements mandated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. (f) Assure that each vehicle is equipped with an appropriate fire extinguisher. (Ord. No. 1988-198, §2, 6-21-88)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5010 CHANGE IN PERMIT.

Sec. 11-5010. - CHANGE IN PERMIT. After the issuance of a bus service permit as provided in this chapter, such permit may thereafter be amended, changed or modified upon application of the grantee; provided that the procedure in all such cases as to notice and public hearing shall be the same as provided in this chapter for the issuance of a permit. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82; Ord. No. 1988-198, §1, 6-21-88)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5011 REVOCATION OF PERMIT.

Sec. 11-5011. - REVOCATION OF PERMIT. Any bus service permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked either in whole or in part by the year; provided that the Permit Holder shall be given at least fifteen (15) days' actual notice of hearing on any proposed revocation and an opportunity to be heard; provided further that the procedure in all such cases as to notice and public hearing shall be the same as provided in this chapter for the issuance of a permit. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82; Ord. No. 1988-198, §1, 6-21-88)

Raleigh City Code § 11-5012 PREEXISTING ACTIVITIES.

Sec. 11-5012. - PREEXISTING ACTIVITIES. Any person, business or entity operating a contractual motor bus service prior to enactment of this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this chapter in providing such contractual service during the term of the contract existing at the time of the enactment of this chapter. (Ord. No. 1982-992, §1, 10-5-82; Ord. No. 1988-198, §1, 6-21-88)

Source: City of Raleigh, North Carolina, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT11TR_CH5PRBUSEFetched: 11/1/2026