Municipal Code, Complete - City of Santa Barbara

5.29.300 Operation of Paratransit Service Vehicles.
Any vehicle licensed by the City as a paratransit vehicle shall be operated according to the provisions of this
Section.
A. Each driver shall carry in the vehicle a current map of the City. Upon request, the driver shall make the map
available to the passenger.
B. A driver shall not deceive any passenger who rides in the vehicle, or who expresses a desire to ride in such
vehicle, as to that passenger's destination or the rate to be charged.
C. Every vehicle while in operation for the solicitation or transportation of passengers shall be attended by the
driver at all times except when such driver is actually engaged in loading or unloading the vehicle, or in answering
telephones in connection with the business.
D. A driver shall not leave the public vehicle driver's permit in an unattended or unsecured vehicle.
E. No owner or driver of a vehicle shall knowingly permit such vehicle to be used for unlawful purposes or
knowingly to transport persons therein to places for such purposes.
F. It shall be the duty of the driver to give any passenger so requesting a receipt in writing signed by the driver.
G. Drivers shall not stop to load or unload passengers or their belongings in the intersection of any street or any
marked crosswalks. No vehicle shall load or unload in any such manner that will in any way impede or interfere with
the orderly flow of traffic on the streets.
H. A driver shall assist a passenger in and out of a vehicle when requested; however, a driver is not required to
lift a passenger.
I. No driver of any vehicle shall operate a vehicle, nor shall owner's permit holders or their agents require
drivers to operate, more than ten (10) hours in any consecutive twenty-four (24) hour period.
J. No driver of any vehicle shall transport any more persons, including the driver, than the manufacturer's
designated seating capacity for the vehicle.
K. A taxi may be operated in any other mode of demand responsive transportation service, and when so
operating shall comply with all provisions of this Chapter regulating such other forms of service.
L. When providing taxi service, the driver shall transport a passenger to the designated destination by the
shortest, most direct, accessible and reasonable route unless otherwise directed by the passenger, in which case the
directions of the passenger shall be followed. Further, a driver shall not transport any passenger or cause such
passenger to be transported to a place other than as directed by such passenger.
M. All drivers shall comply with all reasonable and lawful requests of a passenger as to the speed of travel and
the route to be taken.
N. Cruising is permitted, but only when such movements do not usually obstruct the normal flow of traffic. If it
is determined by the Chief of Police upon review of actual traffic data that cruising significantly obstructs the normal
flow of traffic at certain locations or times, the City Administrator may, by administrative order, prohibit cruising at
such locations or times.
O. Every vehicle shall be operated in accordance with the laws of this State, the provisions of this Chapter and
other ordinances and laws of the City, with due regard to the safety, comfort and convenience of passengers and the
general public.
P. The Chief of Police is empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this
Chapter, and to cover emergencies or special conditions. In the event that after ninety (90) days the experimental
regulations have proved satisfactory, they may be placed into effect permanently by authorization of the Board of Fire
and Police Commissioners.
Q. It shall be unlawful for any driver of any vehicle to refuse service to a prospective passenger or to take any
action to actively discourage any person unless:
1. It shall be readily apparent that the person presents a hazard to the driver.
2. The person is unable to pay the lawful fare upon request.
R. It shall be unlawful for any driver of any paratransit service vehicle licensed by the City to use any tobacco
product while passengers are in the vehicle as set forth in Chapter 9.20 of this Code. (Ord. 5360, 2005; Ord. 4206,
1983.)
5.29.310 Insurance Requirements.
A. It shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of an owner's permit that a completed certificate of
insurance, on a form provided by the City, be filed with the City Clerk. All insurance policies must be renewed by 3
p.m. of the last business day prior to the expiration date of the current insurance policy. Said certificate shall provide
evidence of insurance in amounts and with conditions acceptable to the City. The owner's insurance shall remain in
full force, at a level at least equal to the minimum requirements of the City, or the owner's permit shall be subject to
revocation or suspension pursuant to this Chapter.
B. Insurance policies that are not renewed, or that are not in place by 3 p.m. of the last business day prior to the
expiration date of the current policy, will result in all vehicles under the owner’s permit being suspended for a period
of no less than three (3) days as set forth in Section 5.29.220 of this Chapter.
C. If insurance policies are cancelled for either the owner or driver for lack of payment, then both driver and
owner’s permits will be suspended for three (3) days for the first violation in a one (1) year period; and for fifteen
(15) days for the second violation in a one (1) year period; and revoked for one (1) year for the third violation in a one
(1) year period. (Ord. 5360, 2005; Ord. 4206, 1983; supersedes Chapter 5.28.)
128-4 rev. 6/30/05