Columbus City Codes § 585.01 Definitions
585.01 - Definitions
Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context in which the word is used, when used in Chapters 585 through 594 of the Columbus City Codes:
(a) "Board" shall mean the Vehicle for Hire Board as created by Section 585.03 of the Columbus City Codes.
(b) "Director" shall mean the Director of Building and Zoning Services, or the Director's designee.
(c) "License" shall mean an official document issued by the Department of Building and Zoning Services authorizing operation of a licensed taxicab, livery, pedicab, horse drawn carriage, or any other vehicle for hire on the streets of the city.
(d) "License Section or section" shall mean the Department of Building and Zoning Services, License Section and is further defined in Chapter 501 of the Columbus City Codes.
(e) "Suspend" shall mean to temporarily deprive a licensee of rights or privileges under a license for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days.
(f) "Revoke" shall mean to terminate all rights or privileges under a license. The individual may reapply for a license on or after 91 days following the date of revocation.
(g) "Permanently revoke" shall mean to terminate all rights and privileges under a license and to render the holder of a license ineligible to reapply for said license.
(h) "Vehicle for hire" shall mean any passenger vehicle engaged in the transportation of person(s) with the intent to receive direct or indirect compensation that is determined by mutual agreement, by contract, by mileage, or by the length of time the vehicle is used for providing such transportation.
(i) "Vehicle for hire owner" shall mean every corporation, limited liability corporation, association, joint stock association, person, firm or partnership, their lessees, directors, receivers, trustees, appointees by any court whatsoever, or the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, or personal representatives or assignees of any deceased owner, owning, controlling, or managing any vehicle for hire. However, a vehicle for hire driver, driving a vehicle for hire pursuant to a contract of employment or a lease arrangement with the holder of a license for such vehicle, shall not be deemed a "vehicle for hire owner".
(j) "Vehicle for hire driver" shall mean the individual driving, operating or in physical control of the vehicle for hire.
(k) "Taxicab" shall mean all public passenger motor vehicles carrying passengers for hire, gift, donation or other direct or indirect compensation or consideration on the streets of the city, where the route traveled and trip destination are controlled by the passenger and at a charge or fare based upon time and mileage as recorded and indicated on a taximeter. The term "taxicab" includes all motor vehicles that are used as taxicabs, cabs or for-hire cars, and engaged as such in the transport of passengers for hire, gift, donation or other direct or indirect compensation or consideration.
(l) "Taxicab owner" shall mean every corporation, limited liability company, association, joint stock association, person, firm or partnership, their lessees, directors, receivers, trustees, appointees by any court whatsoever, or the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, or personal representatives or assignees of any deceased owner, owning, controlling, operating or managing any taxicab. A taxicab driver, driving a taxicab pursuant to a contract of employment or a lease arrangement with the holder of a license for such taxicab, shall not be deemed a "taxicab owner".
(m) "Taxicab driver" shall mean the individual driving, operating or in physical control of a taxicab.
(n) "Taximeter" shall mean an instrument or device attached to a taxicab which measures mechanically or electronically the distance driven and the waiting time upon which the fare is based.
(o) "Waiting time" shall mean any time a taxicab is engaged or hired by a passenger but not in motion.
(p) "Livery vehicle" shall mean:
(1) A limousine or an at least four (4) door passenger vehicle not equipped with a taximeter and for hire only by prearrangement, provided that such livery vehicles do not drive in search of patronage or park on any public street, or place of assemblage to solicit patronage not prearranged;
(2) Rental vehicles for use in the performance of the business of a limousine company; and
(3) Any other vehicle for hire not equipped with a taximeter and for hire only by prearrangement.
(q) "Prearranged" when used in connection with a livery vehicle shall mean an agreement to provide transportation by registration through phone dispatch or an online application in advance of boarding from a specific location at an agreed upon rate.
(r) "Omnibus" shall mean a motor vehicle designed to carry sixteen (16) or more passengers.
(s) "Scheduled limousine" or "shuttle vehicles" shall mean an omnibus or similar vehicle operated over an established route and on a regular schedule, regardless of whether passengers are present for pickup or not. This type of service will generally be provided pursuant to a contract for a prearranged service. The rate charged shall be a flat fee charged equally to all locations on the route regardless of time or distance traveled. Scheduled limousines shall not be sedans or station wagons. These vehicles will comply with the licensing requirements established in Chapter 593 for liveries.
(t) "Livery chauffeur" shall mean the individual driving, operating or in physical control of a livery vehicle.
(u) "Pedicab" shall mean a bicycle upon which a person may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears, or powered by electronic assist, and constructed in such a manner as to engage in the business of carrying passengers for hire, gift, donation or other consideration either direct or indirect on the streets of the city, where route traveled and trip destination are controlled by the passenger.
(v) "Bicycle" shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 2101.04 of the Columbus City Codes.
(w) "Pedicab driver" shall mean the individual driving, operating or in physical control of a pedicab.
(x) "Horse carriage" shall mean a horse drawn vehicle or carriage operating in such a manner as to engage in the business of carrying passengers for hire, gift, donation or other consideration either direct or indirect on the streets of the city, where route traveled and trip destination are controlled by the passenger.
(y) "Wheelchair specialty vehicle" shall mean a motor vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed, or modified and equipped and is intended to be used for the transportation of persons who require use of a wheelchair.
(z) "Contract vehicle" shall mean a vehicle providing for hire transportation by a written contract agreement with an entity, not the passenger, and when the contract entity compensates the for-hire service and no compensation is accepted from the passenger. A contract vehicle shall not engage in cruising or operating on demand service or accept other passengers not covered by the contract. These vehicles must comply with the licensing and other requirements for liveries in Columbus City Codes Chapter 593.
(aa) "Alternative vehicle" shall mean a pedicab, commercial quadricycle, or a micro transit vehicle as defined in chapters 585, 586, and 592 of the Columbus City Codes, respectively.
(bb) "Church bus" shall mean a vehicle owned by a church and used exclusively for church activities and licensed and registered by the state of Ohio as defined in Section 4503.07 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(cc) "Funeral vehicle" shall mean vehicles owned by a funeral director and used exclusively for funeral services or vehicles for hire while being used for funeral services. This does not prohibit a vehicle from being used as a livery vehicle and a funeral vehicle, such vehicle when used as a livery vehicle must be licensed in accordance with Chapters 585 through 594 of the Columbus City Codes.
(dd) "Motor bus" shall mean a vehicle owned by a registered common carrier and registered with the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Ohio (PUCO), and operated for the purpose of intrastate or interstate commerce on regulated routes or schedules.
(ee) "Hotel and/or motel courtesy vehicles" shall mean a limousine, specialized passenger vehicle, omnibus or similar vehicle operated by a hotel or motel as a courtesy for its patrons or its employees at no cost to its patrons or employees. These vehicles will comply with the licensing requirements established by Chapter 593 for liveries if at any time they carry the general public in violation of this definition.
(ff) "Day care facility and automobile dealer shuttle/bus" shall mean a vehicle operated by a daycare facility or automobile dealer to transport its customers and patrons at no cost to said customers and patrons.
(gg) "Hourly rate" shall be a charge for the actual time consumed in the transportation of passengers together with any waiting time consumed at the direction of the passenger.
(hh) "Special trip" shall mean a trip to and from points of interest for which a rate, approved by the Vehicle for Hire Board, is filed with the Director.
(ii) "Complainant" shall mean a person that has filed a verbal or written complaint against a vehicle for hire owner or driver.
(jj) "Ridesharing agreement" shall mean the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools.
(kk) "Compensation" shall mean any form of payment received in exchange for providing a service.
(ll) "Direct Compensation" shall mean any monetary compensation received in exchange for providing a service.
(mm) "Indirect Compensation" shall mean any non-monetary compensation received in exchange for providing a service.
(Ord. No. 1548-2013, § 1, 7-1-2013; Ord. No. 2929-2013, § 1, 12-16-2013; Ord. No. 1377-2014, § 1, 7-21-2014; Ord. No. 3009-2015, § 1, 1-11-2016; Ord. No. 0249-2016, § 1, 1-25-2016; Ord. No. 0604-2020, § 1, 5-4-2020; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)