New Orleans City Code § 162-1 Definitions.
Sec. 162-1. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Accessible taxicab (AT) means any vehicle that accommodates a passenger using a wheelchair or other personal mobility device who needs a ramp or lift to enter or exit the vehicle. Such vehicle must comply with the provisions in 49 CFR Part 38.1—38.39. Such vehicle shall be of a single distinctive color as set forth by the ground transportation bureau and operate at rates-per-mile or on a waiting-time basis, or both. ATs are identified as a minivan or similar vehicle specially adapted with rear or side access ramps for wheelchair users, which is also equipped with a taximeter, and which prioritizes requests for service from people with disabilities and/or wheelchair users for purposes of transportation over and along the public streets, not over a defined route but, as to the route and destination, in accordance with and under the direction of the passenger or person hiring such vehicle.
Airport contract limousine means any vehicle operated exclusively by a ground transportation company under the terms of a written contract with the city, through the city aviation board, for the purpose of providing transportation to and from the New Orleans International Airport (Moisant Airport).
Airport delivery limousine service means any limousine except an airport contract limousine.
Alternative fuel vehicle means any vehicle as so defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and includes vehicles powered by natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, bio-diesel, or propane.
Certificate of public necessity and convenience, also known as a CPNC, is issued by the director of the department of public works permitting an individual or company to engage in a particular type of for hire vehicular transportation.
Charter vehicle means any for-hire vehicle for which the passengers have control over the routes taken and/or the destination visited.
Commuter shuttle vehicle means any vehicle operated by or on behalf of individuals or a commercial entity in such a manner so that a passenger of such vehicle is or is not charged a fee for provision of transportation, or is allowed to pay for a portion of the fuel and other operating expenses for such a trip.
Courtesy transportation or courtesy vehicles in the tour industry means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of passengers in the tour industry where no direct fee is charged to the passengers.
Courtesy vehicle means any vehicle operated by or on behalf of a commercial entity in such a manner that a passenger of such a vehicle is not charged a fee for the provision of transportation.
Disabled friendly taxi or DFT means any motor vehicle built on a truck type frame or body and which is equipped with an automatic lift for entry/exit and multiple tie-downs for a secure ride. These vehicles shall be used for the transportation of physically challenged persons using mobile devices and persons accompanying such physically handicapped persons over a route or to a destination that is controlled by the passenger.
Driver includes every person in actual operation of a vehicle licensed for operation as a for-hire vehicle under this chapter, whether as owner or agent, bailiff, lessee, servant or employee of the owner.
Driver's permit is the license granted by the department of public works authorizing an individual to drive a vehicle that bears a valid certificate of public necessity and convenience number.
For-hire vehicle means any vehicle designed or used for the transportation of passengers for hire, the charges for the use of which are determined by agreement, by the length of time the vehicle is engaged, or by distance traveled, or a permissible combination thereof as provided herein.
For-hire vehicle inspection station means the location of the required examination of the vehicles to be operated as for-hire vehicles to determine that such vehicles are safe and in satisfactory condition.
Local general manager is the highest-ranking local officer of a hotel or overnight lodging entity located in the city and is the person responsible for its day-to-day operations.
Narcotic drugs means coca leaves, opium, cannabis, marijuana, isonipecaine and every synthetic substance known to have narcotic action and including all drugs controlled under R.S. 40:961 et seq., the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, being further defined as follows:
(1) Barbiturate or barbiturates includes all hypnotic or somnifacient drugs, whether or not derivatives of barbituric acid.
(2) Barbituric acid derivative means each of the salts and derivatives of barbituric acid, also known as malonyl urea, and derivatives, compounds, mixtures or preparations thereof.
(3) Cannabis includes all parts of the plant Cannabis Sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, or any other compound, manufacture, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil or cake or the sterilized seed of such plant which is capable of germination.
(4) Central nervous system stimulant means amphetamine and desocyephedrine, and any derivative, compound, mixture or preparation thereof.
(5) Coca leaves includes cocaines and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of coca leaves, except derivatives of coca leaves which do not contain cocaine, ecgonine, or substances from which cocaine or ecgonine may be synthesized or made.
(6) Isonipecaine means the substance identified chemically as 1-methyo-4-phenyl-piperidene-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, or any sale thereof by whatever trade name identified.
(7) Marijuana includes the plant known as marijuana, or any of its derivatives, either dried, or in any cigarettes, tobacco, other smoking or chewing or snuffing article, or in any other form whatsoever, which either in whole or in part contains, either in the dried form or otherwise any quantity of the Mexican plant known as marijuana.
(8) Opium includes morphine, codeine, and heroin, and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of opium, but does not include apomorphine or any of its salts.
(9) Synthetic substance known to have narcotic action includes, but is not limited to, such substances as dilaudid, methodon and similar substances.
(10) Use, in relation to the drugs described herein, applies to any person who uses one or more of the narcotic drugs or barbituric acid derivatives or central nervous system stimulants to any extent with or without medical need, authority or prescription.
Owner means any person who is the actual legally registered owner of the vehicles defined and described in this chapter.
Per capita fixed-route continuous-loop sightseeing tour vehicle is a tour vehicle within a fleet of no less than six vehicles that seat no less than 30 passengers on a vehicle. Such vehicles operate on a fixed route with a continuous loop allowing multiple stops and points of boarding and exiting with passengers able to utilize any vehicle operating on the loop. During hours of operation, at least three buses shall be operating on the fixed route.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, company or association owning, driving, controlling or operating any for-hire vehicle as defined in this article and regulated by this chapter.
Road bus means any motor vehicle with a seating capacity in excess of 16 passengers, used for the purpose of transporting one or more persons for hire over a route or to a destination that is controlled by the passenger.
School bus means any motor vehicle with a seating capacity in excess of ten passengers built and primarily used for the purpose of transporting preprimary, primary, or secondary students to or from school or related events.
Street means any public street, avenue, road, boulevard, alley, lane, highway, sidewalk, public park, airport, railroad station or depot, steamship landing, ferry landing, viaduct or other public place under control of the city and established by it for the use of vehicles and not otherwise controlled by law or ordinance. It shall also mean all vehicular roads, driveways, or areas outside of and adjacent to or in all railroad stations, steamship, steamboat or ferry landings and bus stations owned by the city, which are used regularly or may be so used by for-hire vehicles to pick up and discharge passengers which places shall hereafter be and remain open to and used by all such duly licensed vehicles, without charge and without discrimination as to the ownership of such vehicles or the licensed operators thereof, and subject to the other provisions of this chapter.
Taxicab or taxi means any motor vehicle duly licensed to be operated as such by the department of public works which is used for the transportation of passengers or packages for hire over a route or to a destination that is controlled by the passenger.
Taxicab stand is construed to mean a place where taxicabs are permitted to park as well as to pick up and to discharge passengers.
Taxicab zone means a place designated by the city where taxicabs shall be permitted to pick up and discharge passengers, but not to park.
Taximeter means a mechanical or electronic instrument or device by which the charge for hire is mechanically or electronically calculated either for waiting time, for the distance traveled, or for both, and upon which such charge shall be indicated by means of figures. The taximeter must not be adjusted or programmed in any way to record any charge other than that established by ordinance. The taximeter shall be adjusted or programmed only by meter repair personnel authorized by the department of public works.
Tour bus or sightseeing bus means any motor vehicle with a seating capacity of 16 or more passengers used for the purpose of transporting six or more persons on a sightseeing trip to any of the city's points of interest and/or historic buildings, parks or sites.
Tour vehicle means any for hire motor vehicle and/or taxicab used for the purpose of transporting one or more persons on a sightseeing trip to any of the city's points of interest and/or historic buildings, parks, or sites, and for which the route is controlled by the operator. A tour vehicle may be a bus, van, limousine or taxi.
Van means any for hire motor vehicle built on a truck type frame or body with a seating capacity of at least seven but no more than 15 passengers.
The term "tour bus," "tour vehicle," "taxicab," "taxi," "for hire," or "livery car" shall not include any vehicle which is used primarily in the rendition of regular local transit service over a definite and fixed route in accordance with a prescribed schedule operated solely by a governmental agency, local education agency private college or university, or political subdivision of the City of New Orleans or the State of Louisiana.
(Code 1956, §§ 12-1—12-20; M.C.S., Ord. No. 16,479, § 1(12-6.1), 4-21-94; M.C.S., Ord. No. 16,880, § 1(12-2-1), 2-2-95; M.C.S., Ord. No. 17,164, § 1, 9-7-95; M.C.S., Ord. No. 19,260, § 1, 6-3-99; Ord. No. 19,609, § 1, 4-6-00; M.C.S., Ord. No. 21480, § 5, 4-1-04; M.C.S., Ord. No. 24665, § 1, 11-3-11; M.C.S., Ord. No. 24673, § 1, 11-17-11; M.C.S., Ord. No. 24876, § 1, 6-7-12; M.C.S., Ord. No. 26003, § 1, 9-4-14; M.C.S., Ord. 27992, §§ 1, 3, 2-7-19; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 2, 3-11-21; M.C.S., Ord. No. 30194, § 1, 12-19-24)