MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 9, art. III, div. 3

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-121 Driver's license required to operate motorized equipment.

Sec. 9-121. - Driver's license required to operate motorized equipment. No person shall operate a motorized equipment on the airside area of any city airport unless the person has in his possession a valid driver's license. In any prosecution under this section, the exemptions set forth in Section 521.001 et. seq. of the Texas Transportation Code shall be treated as defenses to prosecution in the manner provided by Section 2.03 of the Texas Penal Code. Any conduct under this section that also constitutes an offense under state law shall be punishable as provided by the applicable state law. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-122 Operation of motorized equipment.

Sec. 9-122. - Operation of motorized equipment. (a) No person shall park or operate any motorized equipment in a manner contrary to or in violation of posted traffic signs on the airside of city airports. (b) No person shall operate any motorized equipment on the airside of any city airport unless such equipment has been properly permitted in accordance with regulations promulgated from time to time by the director, and the person operating such motorized equipment is in compliance with section 9-91 of this Code. (c) No person shall operate any motorized equipment between a terminal building and an aircraft from which passengers are enplaning or deplaning at the hardstands on the ramp. (d) No person shall operate any motorized equipment in the aircraft movement area of the air operations area on any city airport unless the person maintains constant two-way radio contact with the tower and operates in compliance with the radio instructions or other signals given by the tower. (e) No person shall operate any motorized equipment in any hangar on any city airport unless the exhaust on the motorized equipment is equipped with adequate screens or baffles to prevent the escape of sparks and the propagation of flames. (f) Any person operating motorized equipment on the airside of any city airport shall yield the right-of-way to any aircraft that is being towed or maneuvered. (g) No person operating motorized equipment on the airside of any city airport shall pass any moving aircraft without first receiving clearance from the tower. (h) No person shall operate motorized equipment on the airside of any city airport without operating headlights and taillights, both of which shall be of sufficient brilliance to assure safety while operating at night. Such lights shall be kept lighted between sunset and sunrise. All motorized equipment shall have not less than one reflector mounted on each corner of such equipment. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-123 Airside speed limits.

Sec. 9-123. - Airside speed limits. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate motorized equipment on the air operations area and the secured area of any city airport in excess of 15 miles per hour. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate motorized equipment on the airside service roads of any city airport in excess of 25 miles per hour. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate motorized equipment in the tug tunnels at IAH or HOU in excess of 10 miles per hour. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-124 Storing, parking, or repairing of motorized equipment.

Sec. 9-124. - Storing, parking, or repairing of motorized equipment. (a) No person shall store, park, or repair any motorized equipment of any kind on any air operations area or secured area of any city airport, except in areas that are clearly marked by signage as designated by the aviation official for such purposes. (b) The aviation official may move or cause to be moved to some other location, at the sole expense and risk of the owner, any motorized equipment that is in violation of this section or any other city ordinance or city airport rule or regulation. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH9AV_ARTIIIAIARRE_DIV3MOEQFetched: 10/26/2026