[R.O. 2011 §5.56.010; Code 1950 §1103.1; Prior
Code §§31-1 (part), 31-33; Ord. No. 4151 §1]
For the purposes of this Chapter, unless it appears that a different
meaning is intended, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
DRIVER OR OPERATOR
Any person actively engaged in the operation of a motorbus
or assisting therein.
GENERAL INSPECTOR
The Building Commissioner or any other person designated
by the Building Commissioner to perform any of the acts or duties
required by this Chapter.
MOTORBUS
A motor vehicle having a seating capacity of ten (10) or
more persons engaged in conveying or offering to convey passengers
with or without baggage for hire within the City without regard to
time consumed or distance traveled and when the passenger has no control
of the route traversed and when the charge for carriage is made on
a basis of carrying passenger between any two (2) points along a definite
route.
STREET
Any street, alley, boulevard, court, lane or public place
in the City.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.020; Code 1950 §1103.2; Prior
Code §31-34]
No such license required by this Chapter shall be issued until
a permit shall have been obtained as provided by this Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.030; Code 1950 §1103.5; Prior
Code §31-35]
The Council shall not authorize the issuance of a permit to
operate a motorbus until the applicant therefor shall file with the
general inspector a written application showing the name and address
of the owner of such motorbus, and if the owner is a corporation,
a list showing the name and address of each officer, director and
general manager of such corporation, the route over which such motorbus
is intended to go, and furnish satisfactory evidence of the technical
skill and financial responsibility of the owner, and furnish bond
or its equivalent to the City in such form and terms as may be provided
by the City in the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) to guarantee
to the City that all of the terms, conditions and provisions in this
Chapter, the application, permit, agreement and bond shall be fully
and faithfully carried out by such owner, officers, agents and employees,
and that the City will be protected, saved and held harmless from
loss or injury of any kind growing out of any act or omission of the
owner, the owner's agents, servants or employees.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.040; Code 1950 §1103.3; Prior
Code §31-36]
Application for a permit to operate a motorbus shall be filed
with the general inspector upon a form to be furnished by the general
inspector and referred to the Council for consideration and action,
and the Council shall have authority to grant or refuse such application.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.050; Code 1950 §1103.7; Prior
Code §31-37]
An application for a permit to operate one (1) or more motorbuses
along, upon or over any public street, boulevard, alley or other public
place in the City or in the immediate district already served by another
person may be granted by the Council, if, after investigating the
application, the Council shall deem it for the best interests of the
City to do so.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.060; Code 1950 §1103.4; Prior
Code §31-38]
When the Council shall authorize the issuance of a permit pursuant
to this Chapter, the general inspector shall issue and deliver it
to the applicant and when the issuance of such permit shall have been
refused by the Council, the general inspector shall make a memorandum
to that effect on the application provided for in this Article.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.070; Code 1950 §1103.6; Prior
Code §31-39]
The Council shall have authority at any and all times to revoke
any permits granted under this Chapter for any reasonable cause, after
first having granted the owner of such bus a hearing on the question
of whether or not such permit shall be revoked. Such revocation, however,
shall not take effect until thirty (30) days after the date of such
revocation.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.080; Code 1950 §1103.2; Prior
Code §31-40]
No motorbus shall carry or offer to carry passengers, with or
without baggage, for hire over, upon or along any public street, boulevard,
alley or other public place in the City until an application for a
license for such motorbus shall have been filed, and the license to
do so obtained.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.090; Code 1950 §1103.8; Prior
Code §31-41]
A. The
application for the license required by this Chapter shall be filed
with the general inspector upon the form furnished by the City and
shall state the following:
1. The name and address of the owner of such motorbus;
2. Such owner desires to obtain a license from the City to operate a
motorbus for the conveyance of passengers, with or without baggage,
over, upon and along the public streets, boulevards, alleys and other
public places in the City;
3. If the owner be a corporation, the name and address of its officers,
directors and business manager;
4. The name of the manufacturer and factory number of the motorbus to
be operated;
5. The State license plate number;
6. The permit has been obtained from the City as required by this Chapter
and that the bond herein required has been filed with the City and
approved by its Council.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.100; Code 1950 §1103.9; Prior
Code §31-42]
Upon the filing of an application as provided for by Section
605.1130, the general inspector shall assign to such motorbus a distinctive number and shall issue to the owner thereof a metal plate with such number thereon and a license to operate such bus as provided by this Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.110; Code 1950 §1103.10; Prior
Code §31-43]
The license issued pursuant to this Chapter shall bear the number assigned pursuant to Section
605.1140. The license shall also state whether the motorbus is to be driven or operated by the owner or by an employee and in the event of the loss, mutilation or destruction of such license plate, the owner may obtain from the general inspector a duplicate thereof upon filing an affidavit showing that such license plate has been lost, mutilated or destroyed and the payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) therefor. The plate or license shall not be used on or for any vehicle other than the one for which it shall have been issued, nor shall anyone use or permit to be used any false or counterfeit plate or license.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.120; Code 1950 §1103.15; Prior
Code §31-44]
The license provided for by this Chapter shall at all times
be posted in the motorbus or vehicle to which it is issued and within
view of the passengers carried therein. The number plate provided
for by this Chapter shall at all times be conspicuously displayed
and securely fastened upon the front portion of the vehicle to which
it applies.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.130; Code 1950 §1103.11; Prior
Code §31-45]
Every person engaged in the business of operating motorbuses
within the City, as provided by this Chapter, shall pay to the City
as a license or occupational tax a sum equal to five percent (5%)
of the gross receipts derived from the operation of such business
within the City.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.140; Code 1950 §1103.12; Prior
Code §31-46]
Every person engaged in the business of operating motorbuses
within the City, as provided by this Chapter, is required to file
with the Director of Finance a quarterly statement showing the gross
receipts derived from the operation of such business during the three
(3) months' period ending on the last day of September, December,
March and June of each calendar year, which statement shall be filed
within forty-five (45) days after the close of each such period, and
the tax imposed by this Chapter shall be paid at the time of the filing
of such statement.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.150; Code 1950 §1103.13; Prior
Code §31-47]
The tax not exceeding five percent (5%) of the gross income
required by this Chapter on each motorbus shall be a tax on the business
of conveying passengers over, upon and along the public streets, boulevards,
alleys and other public places in the City, and nothing contained
in this Chapter shall be construed as to exempt the owner from paying
to the City the tax imposed as a tax or license fee charged by the
City in licensing motor vehicles or automobiles to be operated on
its streets or the tax which the City levies on motor vehicles or
automobiles as personal property, nor shall anything herein be construed
to exempt the owner or driver of a motor vehicle from the qualifications
which the City or the State may require of persons who operate motor
vehicles or automobiles or motorbuses upon public streets, boulevards,
alleys or other places in the City.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.160; Code 1950 §1103.14; Prior
Code §31-48]
Upon the sale or transfer of a motorbus for which a license shall have been obtained in accordance with this Chapter, the vendee shall immediately file with the general inspector an application to have the license transferred from the vendor to the vendee. Such application shall state all of the facts required in the original application as provided by Section
605.1130, and in addition thereto the name and address of the vendor and vendee, the number and date of the original license, the date of such sale or transfer, and it shall be accompanied by the original license and license plate and a copy of the bill of sale. Such application shall be verified by affidavit. Upon the filing of such application and the payment of one dollar ($1.00) to the Director of Finance, the Director of Finance shall transfer such license on the records of the director's office from the vendor to the vendee and shall issue a new license plate to the vendee for the unexpired portion of the year.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.170; Code 1950 §1103.16; Prior
Code §31-49]
No person owning or operating or in charge of a motorbus shall
ask or receive any sum of money for services in excess of the rates
authorized by law and no motorbus shall be operated, used, rented
or let on the basis of mileage of distance traveled.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.180; Code 1950 §1103.17; Prior
Code §31-50]
Each motorbus operated as such shall be plainly marked in such
manner as to indicate its character and on every such motorbus when
at the service of the public there shall be a sign plainly visible
by day and night indicating the route traversed and the destination
of such motorbus.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.190; Code 1950 §1103.18; Prior
Code §31-51]
No motorbus, while waiting for time to depart, shall stop or
stand on any public street or place except on such place as shall
be designated by the Director of Public Works and Parks under the
direction of the Council, or upon private stands as may be established
by permit. The Council may authorize the Director of Public Works
and Parks to designate such stands or stopping places for motorbuses
as the Council may determine, by motion, resolution or otherwise.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.200; Code 1950 §1103.19; Prior
Code §31-52]
No person shall drive or operate a motorbus unless the person
is competent to do so and no person shall drive or operate such motorbus
who has any infirmity of body or mind which might render the person
unfit for safe operation thereof, nor shall any such motorbus be driven
or operated by any person who is addicted to the use of intoxicating
liquors or opium or drugs containing opiates or similar drugs, or
while intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
drugs of any kind and no person shall drive or operate such motorbus
who has been convicted of any felony.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.210; Code 1950 §1103.20; Prior
Code §31-53]
All motorbuses operating within the City shall be kept in a
safe, clean, sanitary condition and the motor, brakes and other mechanism
thereof shall be kept in good working order and all drivers or operators
of motorbuses shall be in distinctive uniform and shall be neat and
tidy in appearance, and shall be assigned a number which shall be
worn or displayed in some conspicuous place on his/her person, and
shall treat all passengers and other people in a courteous manner.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.220; Code 1950 §1103.21; Prior
Code §31-54]
No person shall solicit passengers for any motorbus within the
City other than by the sign to be posted on such bus as provided by
this Chapter, or discharge or take on passengers or cross the tracks
of any steam railroad without bringing such motorbus to a full stop,
or discharge or take on passengers except at the right-hand side of
such vehicle, or willfully or without the consent of the passenger
carry any passenger beyond the point of the route at which the passenger
had requested that he/she be permitted to leave the motorbus or beyond
the destination indicated on the sign displayed on the motorbus in
accordance with this Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.230; Code 1950 §1103.22; Prior
Code §31-55]
No motorbus, the license or permit for which shall have been
revoked, shall be operated or driven upon, along or over any public
street, boulevard, alley or other public place in the City after such
revocation shall take effect, unless and until such revocation shall
be set aside by the Council or unless or until a new permit or license
shall be authorized by the Council and issued in accordance with this
Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §5.56.240; Code 1950 §1103.23; Prior
Code §31-56]
The provisions of this Chapter with reference to the issuance of permits and licenses and the qualifications of drivers may be waived as to buses authorized to operate by the City of St. Louis or buses holding a certificate issued by the Public Service Commission of the State. Any such buses may be permitted to operate in the City upon application to the Council, subject to the provisions of Sections
605.1170 and
605.1180, but shall operate only over the route designated by the Council.