Definitions.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 100-3
in effect100-3. Definitions.
In this chapter:
1. COLOR means any hue named in the Inter-Society Color Council as it has been developed at the National Bureau of Standards (ISCC-NBS circular 553).
2. CONTRACT SERVICE means acceptance of a passenger for transportation for a fixed fare by agreement prior to entry of the passenger into the public passenger vehicle.
3. CRUISING means driving along public ways soliciting passengers for hire, and includes stopping wherever parking is permitted and at any cabstand or private property where permitted by the owner.
4. DOUBLE LOADING means accepting additional fares after being hired by one fare paying passenger.
5. DRIVER'S LICENSE means a license issued under this chapter by the common council to drivers of public passenger vehicles.
6. EXCLUSIVE means the persons hiring a vehicle have its exclusive use, with no ride sharing.
6.3. FIXED FARE means the amount a passenger may be responsible for paying based upon the combination of any rates and fees or estimates agreed upon by the passenger and confirmed by the driver of a public passenger vehicle upon accepting contract service.
6.5. FIXED ROUTE means authorized scheduled trips from predetermined passenger pickup points to predetermined destinations.
6.7. HAIL means signaling the driver of a public passenger vehicle visually or by telephonic or other electronic means indicating a demand for immediate service by a metered vehicle for passenger transportation.
6.9. HIRE means acceptance for a fee, fare or compensation of any kind of a passenger for transportation by contracted service or upon hail or request for transportation and entry of the passenger into the public passenger vehicle.
7. HUMAN SERVICES VEHICLE means a vehicle for hire, other than a taxicab or public mass transportation vehicle, which is especially suited for the transportation of disabled or elderly persons who by reason of physical or mental infirmity or age cannot be transported on public mass transportation vehicles.
8. HORSE AND SURREY LIVERY means a horse-drawn surrey for hire.
9.5 LICENSE CLASSIFICATION means the category or categories of public passenger vehicles for which a person holding a valid driver's license issued under s. 100-54 is qualified to operate under s. 100-54-2. License classifications include the following:
a. "Class H" means the holder of the license has met the qualifications to operate the following public passenger vehicles: human services vehicle.
b. "Class L" means the holder of the license has met the qualifications to operate the following public passenger vehicles: limousines and shuttle vehicles.
c. "Class M" means the holder of the license has met the qualifications to operate the following public passenger vehicles: motorcycles used for tours.
d. "Class P" means the holder of the license has met the qualifications to operate the following pubic passenger vehicles: pedicabs and horse and surrey liveries.
e. "Class T" means the holder of the license has met the qualifications to operate the following public passenger vehicles: taxicabs.
10. LICENSING COMMITTEE means the committee of the common council responsible for licensing vehicles under this chapter.
11. LIMOUSINE means a category of for-hire, unmetered, unmarked, chauffeur-driven, ground transportation vehicles solely engaged in the business of carrying passengers on a contract service basis only.
11.5. MOTORCYCLE means a vehicle as defined in s. 340.01(32), Wis. Stats., and which is used on a contract service basis.
12. MOTOR VEHICLE means a self-propelled vehicle and also includes trailers and semitrailers designed for use with such vehicles.
13. NETWORK COMPANY means a transportation company or business that uses an online, digital or electronic platform to connect passengers with network vehicles operated by public passenger vehicle drivers.
14. NETWORK VEHICLE means a public passenger vehicle operated as a taxicab under contract service arranged through a network company.
14.5. PASSENGER-CARRYING CAPACITY means the seating capacity of the vehicle which has been specified by the manufacturer, or established by the department of public works upon visual inspection of the vehicle.
15. PEDICAB means a multiwheeled hooded or unhooded passenger vehicle that is moved by human power, or rickshaw-type vehicle pulled or propelled by any person which is used in the movement of passengers for hire on the public highways.
16 PEDICAB, COMMERCIAL QUADRICYCLE means a vehicle with fully operational pedals for propulsion entirely by human power, that has 4 wheels and is operated in a manner similar to a bicycle, that is equipped with at least 12 seats for passengers, that is designed to be occupied by a driver and passengers providing pedal power to the drive train of the vehicle, that is used for commercial purposes, and that is operated by the vehicle owner or an employee of the owner.
17. PERMIT means a permit issued by the common council under this chapter to operate a public passenger vehicle.
18. PERMITTEE means a person who has been issued a permit under this chapter.
19. PERMITTEE, FLEET means a person who has been issued 5 or more vehicle permits.
20. PERMITTEE, INDIVIDUAL means a person who has been issued 4 or fewer vehicle permits.
21. PERSON means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or association.
22. PLYING means solicitation of potential taxicab customers, including the use of flashing lights mounted anywhere on the vehicle, soliciting or taking orders by telephone, cruising, stopping, whether in taxicab stands or not, or in any other manner holding out to the public that such taxicab is available for hire.
23. PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLE means a vehicle which is used for the transportation of passengers for hire, including human service vehicle (Class H), horse and surrey livery (Class P), limousine (Class L), pedicab (Class P), motorcycle used for tours (Class M), shuttle vehicle (Class L), and taxicab (Class T). Public passenger vehicle does not include:
a. A vehicle operated on fixed routes pursuant to authority granted by the county, state or federal government.
b. A vehicle which is rented to be driven by the renter or an agent.
c. A vehicle operated solely as a funeral car.
d. A vehicle used in a carpool operated by private individuals.
e. A commercial motor vehicle as defined under s. 340.01(8), Wis. Stats., as amended.
24. RIDE SHARING means a method of operating a vehicle in which passengers sharing a common portion of a trip may enter the vehicle at one or more points of origin and disembark at one or more destinations, each passenger paying an individual fare for the trip.
25. SHUTTLE VEHICLE means a privately owned vehicle which is solely engaged in the business of carrying passengers in either a:
a. Shared ride service for hire on a fixed route and fixed schedule to and from predetermined locations; or
b. Group travel service for hire, provided that the vehicle:
b-1. Operates on a pre-reserved basis only and has a passenger-carrying capacity of 5 or more persons, excluding the driver; or
b-2. Is a “low-speed vehicle,” as defined in 340.01(27h), Wis. Stats., and is titled and registered by the state as a low-speed vehicle.
26. STANDS means street curb locations which are designated for a particular type of permitted vehicles.
27. TAXICAB means a public passenger vehicle with 3 or more doors which operates without a fixed route or schedule and which is available for hire upon demand for service including by hail on the street, or upon telephonic or other electronic request.
28. TAXICAB AFFILIATION means an association of taxicab permittees organized by incorporation, limited liability company, partnership, individual ownership or other legally-binding cooperative association.
29 TAXIMETER means a device by which the charge for hire of a taxicab is calculated, either for distance traveled or for waiting time, or for both, and upon which such charge is indicated by means of numbers.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH100.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026