For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver—Operating requirements and responsibilities.
Seattle Mun. Code ch. 6.315, subch. IV, § 6.315.320
in effect6.315.320 - For-hire horse-drawn carriage driver—Operating requirements and responsibilities.
No horse-drawn carriage driver licensed by the City may operate a for-hire horse-drawn carriage within the City of Seattle unless the following minimum requirements and responsibilities are met:
A. A horse-drawn carriage driver inspects the for-hire horse-drawn carriage at least once daily before starting each shift to ensure that the for-hire horse-drawn carriage equipment is working properly and shall indicate on the trip sheet required to be maintained by subsection F of this section the time of such inspection (Class B);
B. The horse-drawn carriage meets the vehicle operating requirements set forth in this chapter or in rules promulgated by the Director pursuant to this chapter (Class B);
C. A horse-drawn carriage driver controls the pace of the horse to a walk or a speed never faster than a slow trot so as to maintain a speed that is safe for the horse, driver and passengers (Class B);
D. Each horse-drawn carriage driver has in the driver's possession a for-hire horse-drawn carriage driver's license and displays the license and photograph in a prominent location available for view by passengers upon entering a for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Class A);
E. Each horse-drawn carriage driver provides the carriage horse access to and opportunity to drink potable drinking water at least once per hour during each ten (10) hour work day (Class B);
F. A horse-drawn carriage driver maintains a daily trip sheet indicating the date, time, origination and destination of all fares, number of passengers, and the amount of the fare collected; and the time and location of each watering of the horse (Class A);
G. A horse-drawn carriage driver, upon request of the Director, a passenger, or a police officer, allows the horse-drawn carriage driver's license and/or Washington State driver's license to be inspected (Class B, Class A if request was by passenger);
H. A horse-drawn carriage driver shall not leave the horse unattended (Suspension and Class B);
I. A horse-drawn carriage driver shall not use or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while operating a for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Suspension and Class B);
J. A horse-drawn carriage driver notifies the Director in writing within seven (7) days of the occurrence of any of the following:
1. Any arrest, charge, or conviction of the horse-drawn carriage driver for any criminal offense or any traffic violation that occurs during, or arises out of, the driver's operation of a horse-drawn carriage (Class B),
2. Any accident required to be reported to The State of Washington involving any horse-drawn carriage operated for-hire by the horse-drawn carriage driver or involving the for-hire horse-drawn carriage (Class B);
K. A driver wears suitable clothes that are neat and clean. The term "neat and clean" as it relates to clothes means that all clothing is clean, free from soil, grease and dirt and without unrepaired rips or tears (Class A);
L. A driver is well groomed at all times while on duty. The term "well groomed" refers to that state of personal hygiene, body cleanliness and absence of offensive odor normally associated with bathing or showering on a regular basis, and means that hair, beards and mustaches are groomed, combed or brushed (Class A); and
M. A driver is able to provide a reasonable and prudent amount of change, and if correct change is not available, no additional charge is made to the passenger in attempting to secure the change (Class A).
N. A driver shall not, with intent to harass, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person, use any lewd, lascivious, profane, indecent, or obscene words, language or gestures, while waiting for passengers, driving, operating, picking up customers, or while otherwise on duty or in control of a carriage (Class B).
(Ord. 123865, § 5, 2012; Ord. 118443, § 1(part), 1996.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.315HOAWCAHODR_SUBCHAPTER_IVFREHOAWCADRICRE_6.315.320FREHOAWCADRPEREREFetched: 11/1/2026