City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 10
Chapter 10.34A
Section 10.34A.020
 

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division II. License Code

Chapter 10.34A For-Hire Transportation

Section 10.34A.020 Definitions
  1. “Active” means a for-hire vehicle which is in use, connected to, or shown as either active on a transportation network company’s digital network or application, or publicly shown to be in use or available for use by or for a taxi operator.
  1. “Affiliated” means a commercial, contractual, or employment relationship between a for-hire driver and a for-hire operator for the provision of for-hire transportation services, or an independent contractor relationship between a transportation network company driver and a transportation network company for the provision of transportation network company services.
  1. “Compensation” means remuneration or anything of economic value that is provided, promised, or donated primarily in exchange for for-hire transportation services rendered.
  1. “Complaint” means an allegation, made by any person and received by the license officer, a law enforcement officer, or a for-hire operator that this chapter may have been violated, but does not include a digital network rating or comments made in connection therewith.
  1. “Controlled substances” has the same meaning as stated in RCW 69.50.101(e).
  1. “Digital network” means any online-enabled technology application service, web site, or system, offered or used by a for-hire operator, that enables the prearrangement of passenger rides for compensation.
  1. “Electric vehicle” means a vehicle which is powered at least partially by battery power and recharged from the electric grid.
  1. “For-hire driver” means a natural person who drives a for-hire vehicle in affiliation with a for-hire operator for compensation on the streets of the city of Spokane.
  1. “For-hire operator” means an entities or individual, such as taxi operators, taxi associations, and transportation network companies, which affiliate with for-hire drivers to provide for-hire transportation services.
  1. Medical cars and medical transports are defined as vehicles used interchangeably to mean any vehicle used for the transportation or delivery of medical items including without limitation blood, x-rays, prescriptions and supplies and not used for transportation of passengers.
  1. “For-hire vehicle” means a vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for compensation upon the streets of the City of Spokane; provided, this definition does not include:
  1. buses operating under a City franchise;
  1. hearses and vehicles used exclusively for carrying pallbearers;
  1. ambulances and other emergency medical transport vehicles regulated by chapter 10.47 SMC;
  1. medical cars or medical transports as defined in this chapter;
  1. vehicles operating on regularly scheduled routes to points outside the City;
  1. vehicles used to provide courtesy transportation at no charge to and from parking lots, hotels, rental offices, and airports;
  1. ride-sharing vehicles under chapter 46.74 RCW;
  1. vehicles used by nonprofit transportation providers for elderly or handicapped persons and their attendants under chapter 81.66 RCW;
  1. vehicles used by auto transportation companies licensed under chapter 81.68 RCW;
  1. vehicles used by charter party carriers of passengers and excursion service carriers licensed under chapter 81.70 RCW; or
  1. limousine carriers licensed under chapter 46.72A RCW.
  1. “Individual driver records” means records collected or maintained by a for-hire operator concerning an affiliated driver to ensure compliance with this chapter.
  1. “Individual trip records,” “trip reports,” and “trip sheets” are used interchangeably to mean a record, for each ride, provided by each for-hire driver of:
  1. The ride date, time, origin and destination ZIP codes, and distance;
  1. Whether the trip was declined by the driver or canceled by the passenger.
  1. “Licensee” means an individual or entity holding a license required by this chapter.
  1. “License officer” means the City’s chief financial officer or designee, who is the designated license officer for purposes of chapter 04.04, SMC.
  1. “Prearranged” means a ride in a for-hire vehicle that is scheduled and confirmed prior to passenger pick-up, whether by phone, radio, computer, or digital network.
  1. “Ride miles” means the total number of miles driven in a calendar year by all drivers affiliated with a transportation network company and originating within the Spokane city limits.
  1. “Surge pricing” and “demand pricing” are used interchangeably to mean a premium rate charged for for-hire transportation services during periods of high demand.
  1. “Taxicab,” “cab,” and “taxi” are used interchangeably to mean a for-hire vehicle held out to the public as providing transportation for passengers and/or articles for compensation and:
    1. where the route traveled or destination is controlled by the customer;
    1. that carries signs or indicia of a “taxi,” “taxicab,” or “cab” and is equipped as described in SMC 10.34A.090;
    1. where the fare is based on an amount recorded and indicated on a taximeter or by a special contract rate; and
    1. where the vehicle is dispatched by radio or cell phone, or the ride is obtained by the use of a street hail.
  1. “Taxi Association” means a person or entity that represents, owns, or operates multiple taxicabs under common branding in the city of Spokane.
  1. “Transportation network company” or “TNC” means an individual or entity that operates in the city of Spokane either on its own behalf or through affiliated for-hire drivers, and exclusively uses a digital network to connect passengers with transportation network company drivers to prearrange rides for compensation.
  1. “Transportation network company driver” or “TNC driver” means a for-hire driver who:
  1. Is dispatched via a transportation network company’s digital network; and
  1. Offers or provides a prearranged ride to passengers or articles through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company for compensation.
  1. “Transportation network company services” means services provided by a transportation network company driver while logged in to a transportation network company’s digital network or providing a prearranged ride. The term does not include local public passenger transportation service as described in RCW 35.58.250 or services provided either directly or under contract with a political subdivision or other entity exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. 115 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
  1. “Taximeter” means a device by which the charge for the hire of a taxicab is mechanically measured or calculated based upon a combination of mileage traveled and time elapsed.
  1. “Waiting time” means all times when a taxicab is:
  1. standing at the direction of a person who has engaged it; and
  1. not in motion or traveling at such a slow speed that the time rate exceeds the mileage rate.
  1. “Work shift” means the amount of time a for-hire driver is on duty to operate a for-hire vehicle. A single work shift shall not exceed twelve (12) consecutive driving hours and work shifts shall be separated by a minimum break of six (6) hours. Where the for-hire driver is an independent contractor affiliated with a TNC, the driver shall not provide transportation network company services for more than twelve (12) consecutive hours. After twelve (12) consecutive hours, any such driver shall not provide transportation network services for a minimum of six (6) consecutive hours.

Date Passed: Monday, September 14, 2020

Effective Date: Monday, September 14, 2020

ORD C35938 Section 2