Cross References: As to motor vehicle and traffic regulations, see Title III of this Code; as to taxicabs, see Ch. 640.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.010; Ord. No. 1088 § 1, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-1; Ord. No. 7230, 6-15-1992]
The term "motor buses" as used in this Chapter shall apply to every motor vehicle which is offered for or engaged in conveying passengers, with or without baggage, for hire, wholly within the City without regard to the time consumed or the distance traveled, where the passenger has no control over the route of passage or carriage, and which travels along a definite route.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.020; Ord. No. 1088 § 2, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-2]
No motor bus shall be offered for or engaged in carrying passengers for hire until a license shall be obtained from the City. No license shall be issued by the City until a permit shall have been obtained from the City Council permitting the operation of such motor bus. This Chapter shall not apply to buses that are operated cross country between several towns and cities.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.030; Ord. No. 1088 § 3, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-3]
A. 
Before granting a bus permit, the City Council shall require the applicant to submit for approval a written application, verified by the affidavit of the owner of such vehicle, and which application shall contain the following information:
1. 
That the owner desires a permit from the City to operate a motor bus over and upon the public streets and places of the City.
2. 
Name and address of the owner; if a corporation, in addition to its name and address, the names and addresses of the officers thereof.
3. 
The name of the manufacturer and factory number of the buses to be operated, the seating capacity, model and type.
4. 
The particular route to be covered by the bus, the schedule to be run, the rates to be charged, the name and address of the operator of the bus.
5. 
The amount of property damage and personal injury liability insurance carried by such owner for each bus to be so operated, the name of the company or companies in which such insurance is carried.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.040; Ord. No. 1088 § 4, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-4]
Upon the granting of a bus permit by the City Council, the City Clerk shall issue an annual license for each bus so operated upon payment of an annual license fee as fixed by this Code or other ordinance. The license shall not be transferable or assignable.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.050; Ord. No. 1088 § 5, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-5]
No schedule, stop or rate, other than set out in the application, shall be changed without permission by the City Council. The owner desiring such change shall file a supplementary application setting out the proposed change, the reason for making the same and when to become effective.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.060; Ord. No. 1088 § 6, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-6]
Each bus operated under the provisions of this Chapter shall be insured by the owner in some insurance company, satisfactory to the City Council, insuring against public liability in the sum of not less than that required by the Missouri Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law. Such policy shall be filed with the City Clerk of the City, and the owner of such buses shall continue the same in full force and effect while operating under this Chapter.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.070; Ord. No. 1088 § 7, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-7]
The City Traffic Board shall be authorized and empowered, at all designated stops on the motor bus route, to set aside an adequate space or zone at which vehicles shall not be permitted to interfere with bus operation. Wherever deemed necessary, the Board shall have proper markers erected to designate such stops.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.080; Ord. No. 1088 § 8, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-9]
Motor buses, operated as such, shall be plainly marked in such a manner as to indicate their character. Motor buses shall observe all rules and regulations in relation to motor traffic as provided by this Code or other ordinances of the City, unless otherwise provided in this Chapter. All drivers of such motor buses shall be fully competent to do so, and no such driver shall operate such motor buses while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. All such motor buses shall be kept in a clean, sanitary condition, and the motor, brakes and other mechanism thereof, shall be kept in good working order.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.090; Ord. No. 1088 § 9, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-10]
An application for a permit to operate motor buses along a route or in a district already served by another person shall not be granted unless the City Council shall, after investigation, find that additional motor buses should be used, and after so finding, the Council shall give the person holding the permit to operate along the route or in such district, the right to operate additional buses in such number as the Council shall have found necessary. Only upon the refusal or failure to operate such additional buses within the time fixed by Council by the person holding the permit, shall the application be granted. But no permit granted by the City to operate motor buses shall be effective for a longer period than five (5) years from the date granted, after which an application for renewal shall be required, if such renewal is desired.
[R.O. 1992 § 645.100; Ord. No. 1088 § 1, 9-3-1946; CC 1970 § 7-11]
The City Council may at any time declare a forfeiture of a bus permit for the violation or default by the grantee of any of the terms of this Chapter; provided, that none of the terms of this Chapter shall be deemed to be violated so as to permit such forfeiture, unless the grantee shall first be given written notice of such violation or default, which notice shall state with particularity wherein such violation or default consists, and of the intent to declare forfeiture. Within ten (10) days of such written notice served upon the bus operator or his/her agent, he/she shall answer such charges in writing and file the same with the City Clerk. Thereupon the City Council shall set a date for a hearing and at such hearing the bus operator shall have the right to be heard and represented by counsel. The City Attorney shall represent the City Council and introduce such evidence as may be required to prove the charges set out in the notice. At the conclusion of such hearing, the Council shall have the power to revoke the motor operator's permit for good cause shown.