For the purposes of this Chapter
6B.220 of the Tacoma Municipal Code, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein; words not defined herein which are defined in Title
6, shall have the same meaning or be interpreted as provided in Title
6.
“Accessible for-hire vehicle”means a for-hire vehicle designed or modified to transport passengers in wheelchairs or other mobility devices where passengers can board the for-hire vehicle via a ramp or lift.
“Affiliated for-hire vehicle”means a for-hire vehicle licensed or associated to a particular for-hire transportation services company by using their application dispatch services, approved color scheme and/or trade name.
“Application” or “app”means a program or piece of software most commonly downloaded to a device including but not limited to a computer and/or a mobile device, that is designed to fulfill a particular purpose and/or provides content such as text, graphics, images, maps, communications, banking, payment services, music, software, audio, video, information or other materials available to users of the computer, mobile device and/or other device.
“Application dispatch”means technology that allows consumers to directly request transportation services from for-hire drivers and/or for for-hire drivers to accept compensation for transportation services via the internet using electronic devices, computer devices or mobile interfaces such as, but not limited to, smartphone and tablet applications. The app may include mapping services to show the locations of available for-hire drivers.
“Approved mechanic”means a mechanic who 1) has met the automotive requirements of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, 2) does not own, lease or drive a for-hire vehicle, and 3) has no financial interest, including any employment interest, in any for-hire vehicle or in any owner that owns or leases for-hire vehicles.
“Certificate of safety”means a prescribed document approved by or provided by the Director completed by an approved mechanic certifying that a particular vehicle passed a uniform vehicle safety inspection, and that the vehicle is mechanically sound and fit for driving. The approved mechanic is responsible for checking that the plates, decals, customer notices as required by the City are legible and properly displayed as specified by the Director by rule.
“Classic car”means an automobile that was high priced when new, is currently of superior appearance, is a fine or distinctive automobile, that has been restored or maintained to current maximum professional standards of quality in every area, with components operating and appearing as new, and showing very minimal wear.
“Commercial activity”means the time a for-hire driver accepts a trip request through an online-enabled app or platform until the completion of the ride.
“Compensation”means remuneration or anything of economic value that is provided, promised, suggested, or donated primarily in exchange for services rendered.
“Director”means the Director of the Finance Department of the City, or any officer, agent, or employee of the City designated to act on the Director’s behalf.
“Dispatch services”means a service which connects for-hire drivers to persons seeking transportation or persons engaging in peer-to-peer transportation whether via radio, phone, internet, mobile application, computer or other mechanical or electronic means.
“For-hire driver”means a person physically engaged in driving a for-hire vehicle that is providing or soliciting transportation services, ridesharing and/or peer-to-peer transportation, whether or not said person is the owner of or has any financial interest in the ownership of said for-hire vehicle or whether or not the person is using an app, a dispatch service, an information service and/or similar method to provide transportation services for compensation.
“For-hire stand”shall mean that portion of any street set aside and designated as parking or standing space to be occupied by for-hire vehicles.
“For-hire transportation services company”means:
1. A person who owns and operates a for-hire vehicle(s) and uses their own City approved color scheme and trade name;
2. A person who does not own and operate a for-hire vehicle but allows other people to affiliate a for-hire vehicle to the for-hire transportation services company’s color scheme, trade name and/or dispatch services.
3. Provided that, a transportation network company, as defined in RCW
46.04.652, is not a For-hire Transportation Services Company as defined in this chapter.
“For-hire vehicle”means any motor vehicle, whether a personal vehicle, fleet or commercial vehicle, held out to the public for hire or used for the transportation of persons for compensation; subject to call by the public generally, where the route traveled or destination is controlled by the customer, the compensation is calculated on the basis of an amount recorded and indicated on a taximeter, a mobile device app or an application dispatch service, by a written contract or invoice signed by both parties, or based on an initial fee, distance traveled, waiting time, or any combination thereof as permitted under this chapter, provided that, for-hire vehicle shall not mean:
1. School buses operating exclusively under a contract to a school district;
2. Ride-sharing vehicles under Chapter
46.74 RCW;
3. Limousine carriers licensed under Chapter
46.72A RCW;
4. Vehicles used by nonprofit transportation providers solely for elderly or persons with disabilities and their attendants under Chapter
81.66 RCW;
5. Vehicles used by auto transportation companies licensed under Chapter
81.68 RCW;
6. Vehicles used to provide courtesy transportation at no charge to and from parking lots, hotels, and rental offices; and
7. Vehicles licensed under, and used to provide “charter party carrier” and “excursion service carrier” services as defined in, and required by, Chapter
81.70 RCW.
8. Vehicles providing transportation services using a “Transportation Network Company” application as defined in RCW
46.72B.
“For-hire vehicle endorsement”means a decal, sticker or similar identification, issued or approved by the City, which is prominently displayed on a for-hire vehicle.
“For-hire vehicle plate”means a numbered metal identification plate, issued by the City, permanently affixed to and prominently displayed on the rear of a for-hire vehicle.
“Licensee”means any person or entity licensed under this chapter.
“Operating a for-hire vehicle”means having a passenger in a for-hire vehicle, the for-hire vehicle is parked in a for-hire stand, the taximeter is engaged in the for-hire vehicle, the dispatch records show the vehicle has been dispatched, the for-hire vehicle top light is illuminated, the trip records show that the for-hire vehicle has started a shift and there is no record for ending a shift, the for-hire driver is signed into and active on the application dispatch service, the for-hire driver has offered transportation services to a passenger, the for-hire driver is engaged in commercial activity or any other facts reasonably showing that a for-hire driver has offered, or is available to offer, its services to a passenger. Operating a for-hire vehicle does not include using a personal vehicle for personal use.
“Operating in the City of Tacoma”means owning, leasing, advertising, driving, occupying and/or otherwise operating a for-hire vehicle that at any time transports any passenger for compensation from a point within the geographical confines of the City of Tacoma. A for-hire transportation services company is “operating in the City of Tacoma” if it provides application dispatch services to any affiliated for-hire driver at any time for the transport of any passenger for compensation from a point within the geographical confines of the City of Tacoma. The term does not include being in control of a for-hire vehicle that is physically inoperable.
“Person”means any individual, receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, municipal corporation, political subdivision of the state of Washington, corporation, limited liability company, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise, and the United States or any instrumentality thereof.
“Persons with disabilities”means any individual with a disability who has a sensory, mental, or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more of life’s major activities; is medically cognizable or diagnosable; has a record or history of such impairment; or is regarded as having such impairment. People with disabilities include ambulatory persons, whose capacities are hindered by sensory disabilities such as blindness or deafness, such mental disabilities as cognitive impairments or emotional illness, and physical disabilities that still permit the person to walk comfortably, or a combination of these disabilities. It also includes a semi-ambulatory person who requires such special aids to travel as canes, crutches, walkers, respirators, or human assistance, and a non-ambulatory person who must use wheelchairs or wheelchair-like equipment to travel.
“Taximeter”means any mechanical or electronic device or instrument which, based upon a predetermined rate or rates, automatically calculates and displays, by means of figures, a fare based on distance traveled, time elapsed, or any combination thereof.
“Waiting time”means time during which the for-hire vehicle is under the direction of a passenger and the for-hire vehicle is not moving.
(Ord. 28251 Ex. A, 2014-09-30; Ord. 28349 Ex. A, 2016-03-08; Ord. 28539 Ex. Q, 2018-11-06; Ord. 28837 Ex. A, 2022-11-01; Ord. 29045 Ex. A, 2025-07-01)