Public Carrier

Del. Code tit. 2, ch. 18
in effect

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1801 Definitions.

As used in this chapter: (1) “Department” means the Delaware Department of Transportation. (2) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Transportation. (3) “Authority” shall mean the Transportation Authority. (4) [Repealed.] (5) “Public carrier” includes every individual, partnership, association, corporation, joint stock company, agency or department of this State, or any association of individuals engaged in the prosecution in common of a productive enterprise (commonly called a “cooperative”), their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, that now operates or hereafter may operate, within this State, any railroad, street railway, traction railway, taxicab, limousine, motor bus or electric trackless trolley coach service, system, plan or equipment for public use other than transportation authorities created pursuant to Chapter 13 of this title. (6) “Railroad” means a road, the cars, carriages and coaches on which are propelled by steam power, electricity, cable, motor or any improved motive power. (7) “Limousine service” means the providing of transportation of passengers for hire with a driver by a limousine as defined in subdivision (13) of this section where at least 1 of the 2 termini is fixed. (8) “Intrastate public carrier business” means all that portion of the business of a public carrier which is carried on in this State and over which the Department has jurisdiction under this chapter. (9) “Gross revenue” means all revenue which (i) is collected by a public carrier subject to regulation by the Department; and (ii) is derived from the intrastate public carrier business of such a carrier, except, however, that “gross revenue” of a public carrier operating by leasing all or part of its vehicles to nonemployee independent contractor drivers as authorized under this chapter shall mean as to such leased vehicles all revenue which (i) is collected from the nonemployee independent contractor lessees operating vehicles under such public carrier’s certificate of public convenience and necessity; and (ii) is derived from the intrastate public carrier business of such a carrier. (10) “Charter bus” means a motor vehicle having a passenger capacity of 16 persons or more, including the driver, which bus is used exclusively for hire or lease. (11) “Public use” means service provided in exchange for a fee or charge, regardless of whether the operator intends to make a profit, offered by any railroad, street railway, traction railway, taxicab, motor bus, electric trolley coach or limousine service, system or plant by any individual or group for any purpose except: (i) transportation to and from any school or school-sponsored event when such transportation is under the regulation of the Department of Education; and (ii) transportation to and from nonschool related events by school bus operators under the regulation of the Department of Education, where such nonschool related transportation is a de minimis portion of the carrier’s operation; and (iii) transportation to and from a church, synagogue or other place of worship; and (iv) shuttle-type transportation provided by business establishments without charge to customers of the businesses offering such shuttle transportation between fixed termini. (12) “Taxicab” means any self-propelled motor vehicle equipped with a taxi meter having a passenger capacity of up to 7 persons, including the driver, engaged in the transportation for hire of persons and their accompanying property, or of small packages on isolated occasions and not as part of regular operations, over irregular routes between termini which are not fixed; provided, however, that the utilization of taxicab stands or holding points shall not constitute fixed termini, and excluding, however, carpools, vanpools and public agency vehicles not operated as a commercial venture, and ambulances, vehicles used exclusively for the transportation of decedents and persons participating in funeral services, vehicles used solely to provide free transportation services for customers of the business establishment operating said vehicles, and rental or leased vehicles which rental or lease does not include a driver; provided, however, that no motor vehicle excluded under this definition shall be used on a for-hire basis with a driver except as authorized by this chapter. (13) “Limousine” is a self-propelled motor vehicle having a passenger capacity of 15 persons or less, including the driver, engaged in the transportation for hire of persons and their accompanying property over regular or irregular routes between 2 termini at least 1 of which is fixed and which motor vehicle is not equipped with a taxi meter as a means of computing the rate, fare or compensation to be charged for such transportation, but excluding, however, carpools, vanpools and public agency vehicles not operated as a commercial venture, and ambulances, vehicles used exclusively for the transportation of decedents and persons participating in funeral services, vehicles used solely to provide free transportation services for customers of the business establishment operating said vehicles and rental or leased vehicles which rental or lease does not include a driver; provided, however, that no motor vehicle excluded under this definition shall be used on a for-hire basis with a driver except as authorized by this chapter. (14) “Council” means the Council on Transportation. (15) “Fixed-route carrier” means a transportation provider which uses a self-propelled vehicle having a passenger capacity exclusive of the driver of 10 persons or more and which transports persons and their property over regular routes between termini that are fixed and cannot be altered without the advance, written approval of the Authority. (16) “Stretcher van” means a vehicle staffed by both a driver and attendant, which is specifically designed and equipped to provide nonemergency transportation of individuals on a stretcher. A stretcher van is used for an individual who: a. Needs routine transportation to or from a nonemergency medical appointment or service; b. Is convalescent or otherwise nonambulatory and cannot use a wheelchair; and c. Does not require medical monitoring, medical aid, medical care, or medical treatment during transport.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1802 Regulation of public carriers.

(a) The Department shall make and impose charges and fees for filing, copying, inspection and other services rendered pursuant to the powers granted by this chapter or in accordance with such rules and regulations as it may from time to time adopt. (b) The Department shall, with the approval of the Secretary, prepare proposed rules and regulations governing the responsibilities of the public carriers it regulates. Adoption of these rules and regulations shall be as provided in subchapter II, Chapter 101 of Title 29. The rules and regulations as adopted, and as they may be from time to time amended by the Department, shall have the effect of law and shall remain in power and force until the same are amended or repealed by the Department. (c) (1) The Department shall grant, upon an applicant’s proof of qualification as set forth in subsection (e) of this section, a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Such certificate shall authorize the certificate holder to operate motor vehicles for hire in public transportation. The certificate shall authorize the number of vehicles the certificate holder may operate, which number may be increased by subsequent application, in the Department’s discretion, and may contain restrictions or conditions related to such items as, but not limited to, geographic areas of operation, bonding, safety and maintenance, insurance, quality control and unfair competition; provided, however, that each holder of any such certificate, or of a successor “grandfather” certificate of public convenience and necessity obtained under subsection (c)(2) of this section, may not be limited to operate fewer vehicles than were in such holder’s authorized fleet of taxicab vehicles on December 31, 1991. (2) The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide that a certificate holder may request that the Department divide the certificate into as many certificates of public convenience and necessity as there are authorized vehicles. The certificate resulting from a division of the original certificate shall authorize the operation of only 1 vehicle per certificate. Each certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be a franchise and create a proprietary interest owned by the certificate holder, subject, however, to suspension or revocation by the Department upon a showing beyond a reasonable doubt that the certificate holder is knowingly operating or knowingly permitting operation of a vehicle, or the business authorized by the certificate, in disregard or violation of state law, the rules and regulations and/or applicable practices and orders of the Department. (3) The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide that the Department shall issue to each certificate holder a medallion or other identifying insignia, and that this medallion or other identifying insignia shall be physically affixed on the front quarter panels above the height of the front tires of the taxicab vehicle operated under that certificate. The rules and regulations also shall provide that the certificate holder may sell and assign each certificate, vehicle, medallion or other identifying insignia to another or others to operate in the taxicab business under such sold or assigned certificate. If the certificate holder replaces the vehicle identified by the medallion or insignia, the certificate holder, with the approval of the Department, shall affix the medallion or other identifying insignia to the vehicle replacing the former vehicle. (4) No person who purchases a certificate of public convenience and necessity from a certificate holder as authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection may commence operations as a public carrier without having first obtained from the Department a certificate of compliance. The Department will issue a certificate of compliance when the purchaser of a certificate of public convenience and necessity provides evidence to the Department to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the purchaser has complied with subsection (e)(1)b., c. and d. of this section and is of good moral character as specified in subsection (e)(1) of this section. (5) By its rules and practices, or by order, the Department shall provide for authority to management, maintenance and dispatching companies and organizations (i) to manage parts or all of the operations and businesses of certificated taxicab companies and operators, (ii) to maintain and repair taxicab vehicles for such companies and operators, and/or (iii) to provide radio dispatching of taxicab vehicles for such certificated taxicab companies and operators, pursuant to contractual arrangements made between such management, maintenance and dispatching companies and organizations, on the one hand, and, on the other, such certificated taxicab companies and operators. The Department shall have power to void any contracts and services of any such management, maintenance and dispatching company or organization upon proper and adequate proof of knowing and repeated noncompliance by such company with state law and/or the rules, regulations, practices and orders of the Department. (d) The Department may, by its rules and regulations, authorize a holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate the public carrier business thereunder with vehicles leased by such holder to nonemployee independent contractor drivers who will operate such vehicles as such drivers under the authorization of said certificate of public convenience and necessity; provided, however, that the holder of the certificate of public convenience and necessity shall remain responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of said vehicles in said public carrier business and for the compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, practices and applicable orders; and provided further, that such nonemployee independent contractor drivers do not thereby become public carriers and do not thereby have any rights under this title as a public carrier. The Department may, by its rules and regulations, authorize a system of restricted certification where deemed to be appropriate and only in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Department shall determine. The Department shall have the power to void any leases and/or suspend or revoke the certificate of public convenience and necessity of any holder thereof upon proper and adequate proof of knowing and repeated noncompliance by such certificate holder or its lessees with such laws, rules, regulations, practices and orders. (e) The Department may issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity upon satisfaction of the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions imposed by the Department: (1) No public carrier shall commence any new operations, or continue any existing operations, without having first obtained from the Department a certificate of public convenience and necessity and having paid the registration fee therefor. Any public carrier which holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Department on May 21, 1992 shall be deemed to have an existing certificate of public convenience and necessity as contemplated herein and may continue such operations authorized by the existing certificate of public convenience and necessity. The Department may, after notice and a hearing, impose such terms and conditions upon the certificate as may be required by the public convenience and necessity. The application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be verified and contain a certification by the applicant that notice of the application has been sent to existing public carriers. In addition, the applicant shall be of good moral character, as shall be evidenced by exhibiting compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and shall not have been convicted of a felonious or infamous crime involving fraud or deceit. The Department shall require the applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following: a. That the proposed operations will serve a useful public purpose, a useful public necessity and a useful public convenience responsive to a public demand. b. That the applicant, as to its proposed service and/or operations, has sufficient financial ability to compensate members of the public for injuries to person or property which they may sustain from acts or failures to act of the public carrier. To this end, the Department may require that an applicant post a bond to secure its performance for the first 2 years of its operation in this State. c. That, as to the proposed service and/or operations, the applicant has complied with all applicable motor vehicle laws of the State, including, but not limited to, subchapter VI of Chapter 21 of Title 21, as the same may be amended and that the applicant will otherwise ensure that its vehicles are safely operated and maintained. d. That, as to the proposed service and/or operations, the applicant is covered by and with a public liability and property damage policy or policies issued by a company licensed to conduct insurance business in the State with coverages in the amounts specified in this section. (2) If the Department finds that the applicant has proven by a preponderance of the evidence subparagraphs a. through d. of paragraph (1) of this subsection, a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be issued, unless an existing public carrier or a member of the public can prove by a preponderance of evidence that the applicant’s operation will have a significant adverse impact on the public health and safety or an adverse impact on existing carriers such as to impair their ability to serve the public. For the purposes of this section a preponderance of the evidence means evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it. The burden of proof of significant adverse impact is on the intervenor. (3) Any public carrier operating without a certificate of public convenience shall, upon such a finding by the Department, be liable for the payment of a penalty in an amount not to exceed $500 per day of operation for the 1st such finding, and not to exceed $1,000 per day for the 2nd or subsequent such findings. An action alleging failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall include an action alleging a continuing offense and the penalty contemplated herein shall be assessed for each day of operations in which a violation is proven. (f) Whenever the Department, pursuant to its duties under this chapter, shall investigate the operations, services, rates, charges, accounting records or practices of any public carrier, including a public carrier operating without having received a certificate of public convenience and necessity, and shall hold a hearing in connection therewith, such public carrier shall be charged with and pay such portion of the expenses of the Department, and the compensation and expenses of its agents, representatives, consultants and employees as is reasonably attributable to such investigation, provided that notice of the intent to so charge the public carrier shall be given to the public carrier as soon as the Department makes such intent. This provision shall not apply to the compensation of the full-time employees of the Department. The Department shall have the power to subpoena such records and witnesses as it may require to carry on an investigation pursuant to this chapter. (g) In order to maintain and foster the effective regulation of public carriers under this title, public carriers subject to regulation of the Department shall bear the expense of regulation by means of an assessment measured by the annual gross revenue of such public carriers. This assessment shall be in addition to all other fees and charges imposed by the Department pursuant to this title. Such assessment shall be in the amount equal to the product of .004 (4 mills) multiplied by the public carrier’s gross operating revenue for the applicable calendar year for which the assessment is made. Whenever a public carrier commences operations on a date other than January 1, so that it has not operated for a full calendar year prior to the date its assessment is calculated, such carrier’s assessment shall be prorated, based on the portion of the fiscal year during which the carrier operated. (h) On or before April 1 of each year, each public carrier subject to this title shall file with the Department an annual gross revenue return. The annual returns shall be completed on a calendar year basis. Forms for such returns and amended returns shall be devised and supplied by the Department. (i) All returns and the accompanying fees submitted to the Department by a public carrier, as provided in this section, shall be sworn to by an appropriate officer of the public carrier. The Department may audit each such return submitted and may take such measures as are necessary to ascertain the correctness of the returns submitted, and to require the correction of incorrect returns. All returns will be used for the regulatory purposes set out in this section, and shall not be open to public inspection under federal or state freedom of information statutes and shall be precluded from discovery or inspection as a privileged business record, except as otherwise provided by law. In default of compliance with this section, the public carrier shall be subject to the penalties provided in subsection (m) of this section. (j) Each payment of the assessment imposed by this section is due by midnight of the date specified. Late filings will be subject to payment of a late penalty to be determined by the Department in its regulations. If a public carrier has failed to pay or has underpaid the proper amount, it shall pay interest to the Department of 1% of the amount due for each month or fraction thereof that such amount remains unpaid. The Department may enforce the collection of any delinquent payments by any legal action or other manner by which the collection of debts due the State may be enforced under the laws of this State. (k) [Repealed.] ( l ) All fees, licenses, assessments and other charges collected by the Department pursuant to this title shall be deposited in the Delaware Transportation Trust Fund to be used by the Department, subject to annual appropriations by the General Assembly for salaries and other routine operating expenses of the Department. All penalties or fines assessed and collected by the Department shall be deposited in said Fund to be used only for such purposes as described in this chapter. (m) In default of compliance with this chapter, the rules and regulations, or any order of the Department when the same becomes effective, the public carrier shall be subject to (1) a penalty of up to $500 per day for every day during which such default continues, to be recovered in an action in the name of the State; and (2) the suspension, for a duration not to exceed 1 year, or revocation of the public carrier’s certificate of public convenience and necessity. The observance of the rules and regulations and orders of the Department may be compelled by mandamus or injunction. Within 10 days of receiving notice that it is in default of compliance, the public carrier may appeal to the Department for a hearing. Should the Department, after such hearing, determine that the public carrier remains in default of compliance, the public carrier may appeal to the Superior Court. Such an appeal will be on the record only and shall be taken as provided in Rule 72 of the Superior Court Civil Rules. The burden of proof of any such appeal is on the public carrier. (n) Whoever knowingly performs, commits or does, or participates in performing, committing or doing, or knowingly causes, participates or joins with others in causing any public carrier to do, perform or commit, or advises, solicits, persuades or knowingly instructs, directs or orders any officer, agent or employee of any public carrier to perform, commit or do any act or thing prohibited by this chapter shall be fined not more than $2,000, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. (o) The Department is authorized to hire sufficient staff to carry out this chapter subject only to the funding granted by the General Assembly. (p) The Department shall prescribe by rule, regulation or order minimum amounts and kinds of insurance which shall be carried by public carriers, provided that no public carrier shall be permitted to operate as such unless and until each and all of its vehicles transporting passengers shall be covered by and with a public liability and property damage insurance policy or policies issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State in the following minimum amounts: (1) For all public carriers except those covered under paragraph (p)(2) of this section, $1,000,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage and $1,000,000 for uninsured and underinsured insurance. (2) For every taxicab owner or business entity with a valid certificate of convenience and necessity that is operating no more than 2 registered taxicab vehicles, all the following: a. Liability insurance: $250,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $500,000 for death and bodily injury per incident, and $100,000 for property damage. b. Uninsured and underinsured insurance: $100,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $300,000 for death and bodily injury per incident, and $50,000 for property damage. c. Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per incident. (q) The Department shall have jurisdiction to review, investigate, conduct hearings, revise and approve all rates, fares, tariffs or charges imposed or sought to be imposed upon the public in accordance with the following: (1) Every public carrier shall file with the Department complete schedules of every classification of fares or rates charged by it for service offered in this State. A current copy of all rates, fares or tariffs in effect shall be kept available for inspection by the public at the business office of the carrier and in or on each vehicle used by the public carrier in performing its services. Every application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall include a proposed rate schedule which shall be approved by the Department prior to its granting the certificate to the applicant. (2) Rates, fares, tariffs or charges of each public carrier may be based upon the public carrier’s operating ratio or by reference to the rate base of the carrier, a fair rate of return for the carrier and the revenues and expenses of the carrier. The Department shall have access, upon reasonable notice, to all records, books and documents of a public carrier which the Department deems relevant in enabling it to act upon rates, fares, tariffs and charges of the carrier, including records, books and documents in the custody of a third party. (3) No public carrier shall make, impose or exact any unjust or unreasonable or unduly preferential or unjustly discriminatory individual or joint rate or fare for any service supplied by it within this State. (4) No public carrier shall put into effect any new rate or fare except after 30 days’ notice to the Department, which notice shall plainly state the new rate or fare and the time such new rate or fare will go into effect. The public carrier shall also post a notice of the new rate or fare at its place of business 30 days prior to the intended effective date of such new rate or fare. All proposed new rates or fares shall be published at least once a week for 2 consecutive weeks during the 30-day period in a newspaper of countywide circulation in each county in which the public carrier holds itself out to operate, in a form approved by the Department. The Department may, for good cause shown, permit temporary changes in fares to take effect without requiring the 30-day notice; provided, however, that such temporary changes shall be in effect for only so long as the request for same shall state. Any such temporary change shall be clearly posted at the public carrier’s place of business and in each of its vehicles. (5) The Department may, either upon complaint or upon its own initiative, hold a hearing concerning the lawfulness of a rate or fare charged by a public carrier. Such hearing shall be scheduled 20 days after written notice to the public carrier and after notice of such hearing is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which such carrier operates. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 101 of Title 29. (6) The Department may, after notice and a hearing, in writing, fix just and reasonable individual rates or fares, joint rates or fares, charges or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage and other special rates or fares, which shall be imposed, observed and followed thereafter by any public carrier affected by such order. An order entered in accordance with this subsection shall be effective 30 days following the date the order is issued, unless the Department, in its discretion, makes the order effective at an earlier date. (7) In any hearing to determine the lawfulness of a rate, fare or charge imposed by the public carrier, the burden of proof that the rate, fare or charge is lawful is on the public carrier. The standard of review utilized by the Department to determine if any rate, fare, tariff or charges, whether proposed or approved, is lawful is whether said rate, fare, tariff or charge is reasonable and in accord with the public and the financial obligation of the public carrier, upon review by the Department of all surrounding circumstances.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1802A Regulatory requirements, powers and limitations [Repealed].

Repealed by 68 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 8, eff. May 21, 1992.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1802C Taxicab medallion and limousine certification task force.

(a) The General Assembly directs the Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to create a task force to study taxi medallion issues and limousine certification issues and to submit a report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2004. The task force staffing shall be provided by the House of Representatives and shall consist of the following members: (1) The Chair of the House Transportation Committee who will serve as chair; (2) Two taxi cab owners/operators, 1 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 1 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and 2 limousine owners/operators, 1 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 1 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; (3) One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 1 member of the Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; (4) Two members of the public, 1 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 1 to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; (5) The Secretary of DelDOT, or the Secretary’s designee; and (6) Three members appointed by the Secretary of DelDOT. (b) The General Assembly directs DelDOT to cap the number of taxi medallions and limousine certifications at the amount in existence at the time this legislation is passed. No new medallions or limousine certificates shall be issued on or before June 30, 2004.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1803 Railroad rights-of-way; acquisition by Department; notice of abandonment.

In order to permit the state Department to receive notice of, and be afforded an opportunity to acquire, by purchase or condemnation, railroad rights-of-way proposed to be abandoned, sold or leased, it shall be unlawful for any present railroad right-of-way in the State to be abandoned, sold or leased without first serving notice thereof upon the Secretary of the Department, and no sale, conveyance or lease of any part of such right-of-way shall thereafter be made to any person other than the State for a period of 90 days, from the time such notice was served, unless prior thereto the Secretary of the Department shall have filed with the server of the notice a written disclaimer of interest in acquiring all or any part of said right-of-way. The Department shall have the first and primary right to acquire such abandoned right-of-way. The railroad company shall not be entitled to compensation for said right-of-way if it does not possess a fee simple interest (clear title). The State, through the Department, is hereby empowered to purchase, take by gift or devise, or condemn any identifiable interest, reversionary or otherwise, in said abandoned right-of-way. Any sale or conveyance made in violation of this section shall be void.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1804 Railroad crossings; construction and protection.

(a) No public carrier engaged in the transportation of passengers or property shall, without prior order of the Department, construct its facilities across the facilities of any other such public utility or across any public highway at grade or above or below grade, or at the same or different levels; and, without like order, no such crossing heretofore or hereafter constructed shall be altered, relocated or abolished. (b) The Department is hereby vested with exclusive power to determine and prescribe, by regulation or order, the points at which, and the manner in which, such crossing may be constructed, altered, relocated or abolished, and the manner and conditions, including protective devices, in or under which such crossings shall be maintained, operated and protected to effectuate the prevention of accidents and the promotion of the safety of the public. (c) Upon its own motion or upon complaint, the Department shall have exclusive power after hearing upon notices to all parties in interest, including the owners of adjacent property, to order any such crossing heretofore or hereafter constructed to be relocated or altered, or to be abolished upon such reasonable terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Department. The Department may order the work of construction, relocation, alteration, protection or abolition of any crossing aforesaid to be performed in whole or in part by any public carrier or municipal corporation or county concerned or by the Department, or, in the case of any crossing on private land, by the owner thereof; provided, however, that when the Department or other governmental authority maintaining any public highway determines to use federal aid moneys in the construction, relocation, alteration, protection or abolition of any crossing aforesaid, then the Department shall take this into account in allocating costs. (d) The term “public highway” as used in this section means any road, lane or street maintained by the State or any municipal corporation or county for use by the travelling public, that abuts any railroad track or immediately abuts the right-of-way thereof.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1805 Right-of-way defined.

As used in §§ 1803 to 1806 of this title, “right-of-way” means that roadbed of a line of railroad, not exceeding 100 feet in width, as measured horizontally at the elevation of the base of the rail, including the far embankment or excavated area, with slopes, slope ditches, retaining walls or foundations necessary to provide a width not to exceed 100 feet at the base of rail, including tracks, appurtenances, ballast and any structures or building erected thereon.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1806 Contents of notice.

Each notice, required to be served pursuant to § 1803 of this title, shall contain a brief description sufficient to identify the right-of-way intended to be abandoned and sold or otherwise disposed of, together with a statement that the notice is given to afford the Department an opportunity to acquire the right-of-way or such portion thereof as may be required for public use.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1807 Service of notice.

Service of the said notice shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the Secretary of the Department.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1808 Regulation of ticket agents; penalties for violations.

(a) Each agent who is authorized to sell tickets or other evidence entitling the holder to travel on any railroad, steamboat or public conveyance shall be provided with a certificate setting forth such agent’s authority to make such sales, duly attested by the seal of the owner or persons operating such railroad, steamboat or public conveyance, and also by the signature of the officer whose name is signed upon the tickets or coupons which such agent may sell. Such agent shall exhibit to any person desiring to purchase the ticket, or to any officer of the law who may request of the agent the certificate of such agent’s authority thus to sell, and shall keep the certificate conspicuously posted in such agent’s office for the information of travelers. No person not possessed of such authority shall sell or transfer any coupon or part of any ticket, or other evidence of the holder’s title to travel on any railroad, steamboat or other public conveyance, whether the same is situated, operated or owned within or without this State. (b) Whoever sells, barters or transfers any such coupon or part of any ticket, or evidence, in violation of this section shall be fined not more than $500, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1809 Redemption of unused tickets.

The owner or person operating any railroad, steamboat or other public conveyance shall provide for the redemption at such owner’s or operator’s general office of the whole or such parts of coupons of any ticket sold as the purchaser has not used, and shall redeem the same at a rate which shall be equal to the difference between the price paid for the whole ticket and the cost of a ticket between the points for which the portion of the ticket was actually used.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1810 Erection and maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines by railroad.

Every railroad corporation existing under the laws of this State may erect, establish and maintain telegraph or telephone lines for their own use, along and upon the lands and right-of-way of such railroad corporations.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1811 Fences and cattle guards; liability for damages; trespass with animals; walking on tracks; penalties.

Every railroad corporation shall erect and maintain fences on both sides of its road, of the height and strength of a fence required by law, with openings, gates or bars therein at farm crossings or the roads for the use of proprietors of lands adjoining such railroad. Every such corporation shall also construct and maintain cattle guards at all the road crossings suitable and sufficient to prevent cattle and other animals from getting on the railroad. Until such fences and cattle guards have been duly made the corporation shall be liable for all damages which are done by their engines and cars to cattle, horses or other animals thereon. After such fences and guards are duly made and maintained the corporation shall not be liable for any such damages, unless negligently or wilfully done. If any person rides, leads or drives any horse or other animal upon such railroad and within such fences and guards other than at farm crossings without the consent of the corporation, such person shall for every such offense forfeit not more than $10 and shall also pay all damages which are sustained thereby to the party aggrieved. No person other than those connected with or employed upon the railroad shall walk along the tracks of any such railroad, except when the same are laid along public roads or streets.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1812 Liability of those damaging railroad property.

Any person who wilfully impairs, injures, destroys or obstructs the use of any railroad enjoyed under this title or any of its necessary works, wharves, bridges, carriages, engines, cars, machines or other property shall forfeit and pay to the corporation the sum of $50, to be by it recovered in any court having competent jurisdiction in any civil action and shall be liable for all damages sustained.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1813 Badges of railroad conductor, baggage master and brakeman.

Every conductor, baggage master or brakeman, of any railroad corporation employed in a passenger train, shall wear upon his or her hat or cap a badge which shall indicate his or her office and the initial letters of the name of the corporation by which he or she is employed. No conductor or collector of fares or tickets without such badge shall be entitled to demand or receive from any passenger any fare or ticket, or to exercise any powers of his or her office, and no officer without such badge shall have authority to meddle or interfere with any passenger, the passenger’s baggage or property.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1814 Railroad car brakes.

No passenger train on any railroad shall be run without an air brake, or some equally effective appliance for controlling the speed of trains, which may be applied by the engineer to each car composing the train, and which shall at all times be kept in good condition and ready for use at the discretion of the engineer.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1815 Penalties for violations of §§ 1813, 1814.

Any corporation failing to comply with, violating or permitting any of its employees or agents to violate any of the provisions of §§ 1813, 1814 of this title shall, in addition to subjecting itself to any damage that may be caused by such failure or violation, be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1816 Free passes and franks; transportation without fare.

(a) This chapter shall in no wise be construed to prevent the issuance by any public carrier of free passes or franks to its employees, officers, agents and their families, and the interchange between public carriers of passes or franks for their employees, officers, agents and their families, nor to prevent the carrying without fare upon electric trackless trolley coaches, street railways or buses of policemen, firemen, health officers and park guards in uniform, or plain clothes detectives, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and other public employees wearing official badges. (b) Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the carriage or handling of persons or property free or at reduced rates by railroads for the United States, state or municipal governments, or to or from fairs and expositions for exhibitions thereof; or the free carriage of destitute and homeless persons transported by charitable societies and the necessary agents employed in such transportation; or the issuance of mileage, excursion or commutation passenger tickets; nor to prohibit any such corporation from giving reduced passenger rates to ministers of religion solely engaged in ministerial duties or to the United States, state or municipal governments; nor to prohibit any such corporation from giving free carriage to their own officers and employees; nor to prohibit the principal officers of any such corporation from exchanging passes or tickets with other railroad corporations for their officers and employees; nor to prohibit any such corporation from giving reduced rates of transportation to other railroad corporations for railroad construction, material, equipment or supplies.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1817 Transportation utilities; intra and interline connections; switch connections.

The Department may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, direct any railroad, street railway, traction company, charter bus or passenger line, to establish and maintain at any junction or point of connection or intersection with any other line of such company, or with any line of any other railroad, street railway, traction company, charter bus, electric trackless trolley coach or passenger line, such just and reasonable connection as is necessary to promote the convenience of shippers of property, or of passengers, and in like manner may direct any railroad, street railway or traction company, engaged in carrying merchandise, to construct, maintain and operate upon reasonable terms a switch connection with any private sidetrack which may be constructed by any shipper to connect with the railroad, street railway or traction railway where, in the judgment of the Department, such connection is reasonable and practicable, and can be put in with safety, and will furnish sufficient business to justify the construction and maintenance of the same.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1818 Public carriers operating buses; public liability insurance.

The Department may prescribe by regulation or order, as to public carriers operating charter buses, such requirements as it deems necessary for the protection of persons or property of their patrons and the public, including the filing of surety bonds, the carrying of insurance or the qualifications and conditions under which such carriers may act as self-insurers with respect to such matters.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1819 Appeal from Department’s order.

(a) Any public carrier affected by any final order made by the Department, or any other original party to or any intervenor in the proceedings before the Department in which such order was entered and affected thereby, may appeal from such order to the Superior Court within 30 days from the date upon which such order is served. The appeal shall be filed with the Prothonotary of the Court and summons in the appeal shall be served upon the Secretary of the Department either personally or sent by certified mail to the office at Dover, Delaware, and shall be served upon all other parties to the proceeding below, other than the appellant. (b) The appeal shall not be a trial de novo but shall be based upon the record before the Department. (c) The scope of review before the Court shall be whether the Department’s decision is based on substantial evidence.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1820 Stay pending appeal.

The filing of an appeal from any order of the Department shall in no case supersede or stay the order of the Department, unless the Superior Court so directs, and the appellant may be required by the Court to give bond in such form and of such amount as the Court, allowing the stay, requires.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1821 Liability for trashing railroad right-of-ways; penalty; jurisdiction.

A person shall be guilty of an offense if the person throws, or causes to be thrown, any waste paper, sweepings, ashes, household waste, glass, metal, tires, refuse or rubbish, or any dangerous or detrimental substance to be deposited into or upon any railroad right-of-way of this State. Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $300. For each subsequent offense occurring within 3 years of a former offense, the person shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $500. The minimum fines for a violation of this section shall not be subject to suspension. The Justice of the Peace Court system shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any violations of this section.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1822 Medical transportation by health-care facilities.

Vehicles that are operated by: long-term care facilities, as defined in § 1102 of Title 16; hospitals as defined in § 1001 of Title 16; treatment facilities as defined in 2203 [repealed] of Title 16; providers who are qualified to provide treatment by the Department of Health and Social Services, including for day and residential services; and facilities where physical therapy is provided; may provide transportation services for their patients, clients or residents in accordance with a contract between the facility and a nonemergency medical transportation broker, without certification as a public carrier.

Del. Code tit. 2, § 1823 Medical transportation by stretcher van.

Stretcher vans, as defined in § 1801 of this title may provide nonemergency medical transportation services in accordance with a contract between the owner or operator of such stretcher van and a broker of nonemergency medical transportation services, without certification as public carrier. At a minimum, stretcher van driver and attendant credentialing will include a yearly national criminal background check, yearly 10-panel drug test, and training appropriate to the level of service being provided. All vehicles used as stretcher vans will be required to pass a yearly inspection as well as random inspections as the broker deems necessary. In addition, stretcher van operators, not certified as public carriers must nonetheless comply with public liability insurance requirements applicable to public carriers.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title2/c018/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026