§ 31-204. Operating permits.

(a)

After a person has secured a certificate or license hereunder and before any special transportation services motor vehicle shall be operated under authority of such certificate or license, such person shall make separate application to CSD for a permit for each motor vehicle to be operated pursuant to said certificate. Each permit application shall be in writing, verified by the certificate holder and shall contain the name and address of the applicant, the date and title of the contract pursuant to which such transportation services are authorized, the certificate number and the make, type, year of manufacture, serial number, State license plate number, VIN number, and seating capacity of each motor vehicle for which a permit is desired. Upon payment of a permit fee, the CSD shall issue to the applicant a permit provided that the vehicle for which the permit is sought complies with the minimum safety requirements and vehicle standards set forth in this article, provided that the vehicle to be permitted is the type of vehicle authorized by such certificate, and is insured according to Section 31-206 of this article.

If the vehicle for which a permit is being sought is a motor vehicle that is specially designed, constructed, reconstructed, or equipped to provide nonemergency medical transportation services, such vehicle must meet each of the vehicle standards enumerated in Section 4-49 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. If the vehicle for which a permit is being sought is a sedan, such vehicle must meet each of the vehicle standards enumerated in Section 31-89 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. Finally, if the vehicle for which a permit is being sought pursuant to this section is a chauffeur-driven motor vehicle less than thirty-one (31) feet in length and with a rated seated capacity of less than twenty-nine (29) persons and more than eight (8) persons, exclusive of driver, such vehicle must meet each of the safety regulations enumerated, or adopted by reference, in Sections 31-107 and 31-207 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.

(b)

Each permit issued hereunder shall expire April 1 of each year, and may be renewed upon payment of the fee prescribed in subsection (a) above. It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle required to have an operating permit without such a current, valid permit displayed within the vehicle.

(c)

No permit shall be issued for the operation of any vehicle, the condition of which would interfere with or detract from the comfort, convenience or safety of the passengers transported therein. In the event any motor vehicle for which a permit has been issued shall become unsafe to operate or its body, lift, or seating facilities become so damaged, deteriorated or unclean as to render said vehicle unfit for public use, CSD may suspend the permit therefor until such time as the condition is remedied; provided, however, that no such suspension shall be effective until the permit holder or vehicle driver has received actual notice of the particular conditions to be remedied.

(d)

Each permit issued hereunder shall be separately numbered. The operating permit shall, at all times, be displayed within the vehicle and shall be available for inspection by any authorized personnel or police officer.

(e)

Permits issued hereunder shall not be transferable, leasable, 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, unless and until the consent of the CSD shall first have been obtained.

(g)

Either the Consumer Services Department or the MDTA may limit the maximum number of operating permits a certificate holder may obtain pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 91-130, § 2, 11-5-91; Ord. No. 92-66, § 3, 7-7-92)