Carriage safety equipment.
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 6-1-39
in effectSec. 6-1-39. - Carriage safety equipment.
A. Prior to the use and operation of any horse-drawn carriage for hire under the provisions of this chapter, the carriage shall be thoroughly examined and inspected by an Inspector and found to comply with this section's requirements. If, at any time, the horse-drawn carriage for hire is found by an inspector not to comply with the following requirements, the horse-drawn carriage for hire shall not be allowed to be operated on the streets, alleys, and public ways of the city until and unless the inspector finds the carriage meets these requirements.
B. Every carriage operating on the streets, alleys and public ways of the city shall at all times be equipped with all safety equipment and any other requirements in respect to safety as is required by the laws of the state or this Code and all such regulations as may be issued by the city treasurer.
C. Every horse-drawn carriage for hire operating on the streets, alleys and public ways of the city shall at all times be in a safe and suitable condition for such use and shall have the following:
1. Every horse-drawn carriage shall be equipped with lights clearly visible from the front and rear. One light housing shall be attached to the left side of the carriage and one light housing shall be attached to the right side of the carriage. The light housings may be of the type that illuminate from the front and rear simultaneously. Viewed from the rear, the lens must be red. Viewed from the front, the lens may be clear or amber. The light(s) must be capable of displaying a light visible 500 feet to the rear and 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle under ordinary atmospheric conditions and such light shall be displayed during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and at all other times when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any person on the road or highway at a distance of 200 feet ahead of such vehicle.
2. Each carriage shall be equipped with electric turn signals.
3. No company shall use a carriage not equipped with brakes.
4. Each carriage shall be equipped with a slow-moving vehicle emblem to be attached to the rear of the vehicle.
5. Each company is encouraged to use reflective material wherever appropriate on carriages, harness, and horse forelimbs.
6. Carriages must be properly lubricated and wheels must spin freely.
7. Each carriage should be equipped with a device to catch horse manure and prevent it from falling on the pavement; all missed droppings should be cleaned up at the end of each trip.
8. Each carriage shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition.
9. No horse-drawn carriage may carry more passengers than it was originally intended.
10. Each company shall conduct regular safety inspections of their vehicles. No vehicle shall be allowed into service that has lights, brakes or other safety features that are inoperable. Radio equipped or cellular phone equipped carriages are encouraged.
11. Four-wheel carriages should be equipped with fifth wheel or cut under turning mechanisms on the front axle.
12. Any other requirements in respect to safety as is required by the laws of the state or this Code and all regulations as may be issued by the city treasurer.
13. Obey all traffic laws of city and state.
14. Identifying stickers.
15. Name of company.
(Code 1985, § 39-138; Ord. No. 4227, § 1, 11-2-1993; Ord. No. 4352, § 11, 8-15-1995)
Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6-1HOAWCA_S6-1-39CASAEQFetched: 10/28/2026