Sec. 220.103. - Definitions.

As used in this Chapter: (a) Cruising means driving on, over or along the streets and around businesses of the General Services District (except within the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Urban Services Districts) soliciting passengers for hire or parking for the purpose of soliciting fares. (b) Department means the vehicle-for-hire regulatory activity of the Finance and Administration Department. (c) Director means the Director of the Finance and Administration Department. (d) Dispatch Service means a business or company that contracts with a licensed vehicle-for-hire business or company to provide dispatch service of limousines, sedans or prearranged contractual carriers to members of the public who seek transportation service, via a computer, a mobile phone application, text, email or Web-based reservation, by advance reservation. (e) For-hire business means an entity operating one or more vehicles for hire other than as a for-hire driver, regardless of the form of organization of the entity and regardless of whether the vehicles so operated are owned or leased by the entity or are owned by individual members of the entity. (f) For-hire driver means a person holding a valid driver's license, background check and insurance. (g) Limousine means a specialized vehicle not equipped with a taximeter and for hire only by prearrangement at an estimated rate, or fixed in advance, and provided also that each such vehicle for hire is: (1) chauffeured, (2) a luxury class passenger vehicle built or modified for the purpose of a limousine as defined and recognized by the limousine industry or a Smart way vehicle certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Smart way vehicle shall have a minimum wheel base requirements of 105 inches. A vehicle which is held out to be a limousine or which has an appearance deceptively similar to a limousine is a limousine for the purposes of this Chapter. A limousine may also be used to provide dispatch transportation service as defined in subsection (d) of this Part. (h) Owner means the person in whose name a vehicle for hire is registered, as shown on the motor vehicle tag registration issued by the Tax Collector. (i) Pre-arranged contractual carrier means a vehicle for hire which is not equipped with a taximeter and is not used as a taxicab, and which charges passengers a fare based on a written or electronically transmitted agreement to provide transportation to the customer in advance of boarding from a specific location. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, pre-arranged contractual carrier includes vehicles used for the sole purpose of transporting guests or customers of a lodging facility, resort or rental car company. A pre-arranged contractual carrier may also be used to provide dispatch transportation service as defined in subsection (d) of this Part. (j) Shuttle vehicle means a vehicle for hire with a capacity of at least eight persons, including the driver, which is not equipped with a taximeter and is not used as a taxicab or for cruising, except: (1) Sight-seeing cars and buses, (2) Ambulances and funeral home shuttle vehicles, and (3) Motor vehicles operated exclusively by private contract carriers under written contracts for the transportation solely of employees of one or more business concerns; And operating to and from fixed points of pickup and discharge for a fixed rate or fare. Excluded from this definition is a vehicle which is a luxury motor vehicle equipped to carry not more than four persons, including the driver, wherein the vehicle is hired for a fixed period of time and at a fixed contractual rate or charge. A vehicle which is held out to be a shuttle vehicle or which has an appearance deceptively similar to a shuttle vehicle is a shuttle vehicle for the purposes of this Chapter. (4) School buses and church buses meeting the following requirements: (i) School buses used for the transportation of pupils to and from school or to and from school activities, and which are owned, operated, rented or leased by the Duval County School Board or any private school in Duval County; and (ii) Church buses used for the transportation of persons to and from church or to and from church activities, and which are owned, operated, rented or leased by any church in Duval County. (k) Taxicab means a vehicle for hire with a capacity of not more than eight persons, including the driver, except: (1) Sight-seeing cars and buses, (2) Ambulances and funeral home shuttle vehicles, and (3) Motor vehicles operated exclusively by private contract carriers under written contracts for the transportation solely of employees of one or more business concerns; and may operate over a fixed or defined route and may be routed under the direction of the person hiring the vehicle. A vehicle which is held out to be a taxicab or which has an appearance deceptively similar to a taxicab is a taxicab for the purposes of this Chapter. (l) Taximeter means a mechanical or electronic device which calculates and displays a predetermined rate and indicates the charge for the hire of a taxicab and which may also record and indicate a fare, rate or charge based on waiting time, extra passengers, initial charge and other fares, rates or charges as are permitted or required by this Chapter. (m) Taxi stand, unless the context indicates otherwise, includes taxi stands exclusively for use by metered taxicabs, exclusively for use by unmetered taxicabs and for use by both metered and unmetered taxicabs. (n) Van means a passenger vehicle recognized as either a full-size passenger van or a passenger vehicle on a van or truck chassis. The term shall not include a cargo or panel van. (o) Vehicle for hire means any taxicab, shuttle, prearranged limousine and any other motor vehicle with driver transporting passengers for a fare, fee, or other charge in Duval County. The term vehicle for hire, by definition, excludes: (1) School and church buses; (2) Sightseeing cars and buses; (3) Ambulances; (4) Funeral home vehicles; (5) Interstate buses; (6) Horse-drawn carriages; and (7) Jacksonville Transportation Authority vehicles. (Ord. 2019-183-E , § 2)