§ 12-162. Certificate of transportation.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any motor carrier to use, drive, or operate or to cause or permit any person to use, drive, or operate any motor vehicle upon the streets within the unincorporated area of the county without first obtaining a certificate of transportation pursuant to the provisions of this article; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the following:

(1)

Discharge of any passenger picked up outside the unincorporated area of the county; provided that the pickup and carriage of such passenger were legally authorized.

(2)

Operation under a valid certificate of public convenience issued by the interstate commerce commission.

(3)

Operation of a limousine by licensed embalmers, morticians, or funeral directors, or their employees, for purposes directly related to funerals.

(4)

Operation of privately owned buses engaged in intercity transportation, but only to the extent required by F.S. § 341.102.

(5)

Operation of a motor vehicle under a valid certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the county.

(6)

Motor vehicles owned, or operated through contract, by the county providing local or special public transit services.

(7)

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles operated by the county fire district for purposes of medical transport.

(8)

Ambulances and other vehicles required to be licensed under the provisions of F.S. ch. 401 and/or chapter 18 of this Code.

(9)

Federal, state, county, or municipal vehicles when operated by a government employee providing transportation services without compensation.

(10)

Motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers between the vicinity of their respective residences and the vicinity of their respective places of work when driven by a person travelling between his residence and his place of work in an arrangement commonly referred to as a car pool or van pool.

(11)

Vehicles operated by a governmental agency.

(12)

Vehicles owned and operated by hotels and motels which provide transportation services for their guests only, for which the guest does not incur a separate charge.

(13)

Any party who holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the city commission of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida, which was originally issued prior to the effective date of Ordinance No. 86-37, and files evidence of insurance with the grantor pursuant to the requirements of section 12-165 after September 1 of each year, but on or before October 1 of each year.

(b)

There are hereby created two classes of certificates of transportation.

(1)

Class A. A Class A certificate of transportation shall be required for any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity that owns, controls, operates, exercises dominion over, or manages any motor vehicle which holds itself out as engaged in the business of providing passenger transportation services to the public for compensation.

(2)

Class B. A Class B certificate of transportation shall be required for any individual employed or contracted as a chauffeur by an individual, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity that owns, controls, operates, exercises dominion over, or manages any motor vehicle which holds itself out as engaged in the business of providing passenger transportation services to the public for compensation.

(c)

Any certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be valid for one year only and shall expire on September 30 of each year.

(Code 1982, § 1-13.3-17; Ord. No. 96-08, pt. A, 3-5-1996)