§ 31-104. Operating permits.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any passenger motor vehicle to be operated in Miami-Dade County without first obtaining a Miami-Dade County operating permit and maintaining such permit current and valid in accordance with this chapter. The for-hire operating permit shall, at all times, be displayed within the vehicle and shall be available for inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of the DTPW.

(b)

Before any for-hire vehicle shall be operated, the certificate holder shall make separate application to DTPW for a permit for each motor vehicle to be operated under such certificate. Each application shall be accompanied by a permit fee, which shall be non-refundable. Each permit application shall be in writing on a form provided by the DTPW. The application shall state the name and certificate number of the certificate holder and shall state the make, mileage, model year of manufacture, VIN number, and state license plate number of the vehicle to be operated. Such application shall be accompanied by proof that the certificate holder owns or leases the vehicle. No permit shall be issued until the applicant has presented proof of the insurance coverage required by this article and the vehicle has passed all required vehicle inspections.

(c)

Permits shall be separately numbered and shall identify the vehicles to which they apply. It shall be unlawful to operate a for-hire vehicle without a current, valid operating permit displayed within such vehicle.

(d)

Each operating permit may be issued for up to a one year period. The term of the permit shall be concurrent with the term of the certificate and may be renewed upon compliance with this section.

(e)

Permits issued hereunder shall not be transferable or assignable.

(f)

No certificate holder shall reconstruct, alter, modify, add to or otherwise change the body, seating capacity or seating arrangement after a permit has been issued pursuant to this section, without an inspection and the written consent of the DTPW.

(g)

In the event any motor vehicle for which a permit has been issued shall become unsafe to operate or its body or seating facilities become so damaged, deteriorated, or unclean as to render said vehicle unfit for public use, the DTPW may suspend the permit until such time as the condition is remedied; provided, that no such suspension shall be effective until the certificate holder or vehicle driver has received notice of the particular conditions to be remedied.

(h)

If a permitted vehicle becomes inoperable and is temporarily removed from service, a substitute vehicle may be placed into service for a maximum period of 30 days and the exterior vehicle signage requirements of Section 31-107(a) shall not be required. A fee shall be charged for inspection and issuance of an operating permit to a substitute vehicle.

(i)

Operating permits shall not be leased as of the effective date of this ordinance, with the exception of jitney service.

(Ord. No. 81-17, § 5, 2-17-81; Ord. No. 87-11, § 2, 3-17-87; Ord. No. 88-118, § 2, 12-6-88; Ord. No. 17-30, § 1, 6-6-17)