The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Certificate
means a permit in the form of a certificate of public necessity and convenience authorizing the operation of taxicabs over the streets of the city.
Cruising
means any movement of unoccupied taxicabs over the streets of the city, except in the following instances:
(1) 
Unoccupied taxicabs proceeding to answer a request for taxicab service by prospective passengers.
(2) 
Unoccupied taxicabs returning by the most direct route to the location where such taxicab is customarily kept or to the taxi stand of the operator of the taxicab nearest to the place of discharge of its last passenger.
(3) 
Unoccupied taxicabs moving over public streets by the most direct route to a garage or other place for automotive repairs or for the purpose of being repaired or stored.
Driver
means the person actually driving the taxicab.
Motor vehicle
means every motor propelled vehicle used for the transportation of persons over the public streets of the city.
Operate a taxicab
means the driving of a vehicle so marked as to indicate that it is a taxicab on any street of the city, and shall also be construed to mean the driving of any vehicle containing a passenger over any street of the city for any monetary fare, unless such vehicle is being operated pursuant to a franchise or permit issued by the city, or a franchise or permit issued by the railroad commission of the state or any permission duly granted by the city commission of the city, or is a chartered bus servicing more than eight passengers, or is an ambulance.
Operator,
in connection with taxicabs, means the person to whom a certificate has been issued and under which certificate the particular taxicab is being operated.
Street
includes any street, alley, avenue, lane, public place, or highway within the corporate limits of the city.
Taxicab
includes every vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire that is designed to carry not more than eight passengers over the streets of the city, with the following exceptions:
(1) 
A vehicle being operated pursuant to a franchise or permit issued by the city, or pursuant to a franchise or permit legally issued by the railroad commission of the state, or pursuant to permission duly granted by proper authority of the city for a vehicle to operate over a regular route, upon a set schedule or pursuant to any permission duly granted by the city commission, or a vehicle being operated as a chartered bus under a contract to carry eight or more passengers.
(2) 
Vehicles being used as ambulances.
(3) 
Vehicles rented or leased for self-operation by the persons actually driving the same, unless such a vehicle is transporting, for compensation, persons other than the one who actually rented or leased the same.
Waiting time
includes all time when a taxicab is not in motion, occupied by a passenger and the time consumed while standing at the direction of the passenger or person who has engaged the taxicab.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)
A vehicle which is lawfully transporting a passenger from a point outside of the city to a destination within the city, or, after discharging such a passenger within the city, is returning empty by the most direct route to its regular place of business outside the city, is exempted from the provisions of this article (save and except for special permits required for the parking and unloading and loading of passengers at the passenger terminal of the city municipal airport, as hereinafter specially provided for). No such vehicle without a certificate required by this article shall solicit or accept a passenger from any point within the city for transportation to any destination whatsoever. Vehicles which are lawfully transporting passengers from and to points within the city upon an established and restricted route, such as buses, are also exempt from the provisions of this article, the same being authorized and regulated by separate provisions of this Code and other ordinances of the city.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)
Except as otherwise herein expressly specified, the chief of police is charged with the duty of enforcing this article and all police officers shall promptly report to him all violations of the provisions hereof or any facts coming to their attention showing a change in the conditions existing at the time the certificate was issued to the operator thereof. The chief further authorizes any officer of the police department and any member of the airport security force to make random taxicab inspections at any time to ensure compliance with this article.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)
If any section of this article is in conflict with the state law, then the state law shall govern.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)
Upon failure of any holder of a certificate to pay the license fees provided for in this article, the city commission shall automatically suspend the permit issued to the person thus in default, and such suspension shall continue and be in full force and effect until it shall be reported to the city commission at a regular meeting that such omission or default has been corrected.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)
As compensation or rental or license fee for the privilege of operating upon and using the public streets and thoroughfares of the city, and conducting and carrying on the business of transporting passengers for compensation on and over the streets and thoroughfares in taxicabs, each holder of a certificate issued under the terms of this article shall pay to the city, at the office of the city secretary, the amount as established in the city fee schedule in chapter 18 of $25.00 for each fiscal year or the unexpired portion for each taxicab thereof operated by such certificate holder hereunder, the same to be paid at the time of the registration of each such taxi as provided for in section 28-277, and the same to be repaid in advance for each successive fiscal year thereafter. Such compensation shall be in lieu of all other fees to be paid by taxicab operators imposed by any other ordinance now in force, but shall not be construed to be in lieu of any validly assessed ad valorem taxes.
(Ordinance 2017-15, § I(Exh. A), adopted 4/19/2017)