Chapter 14.20 — BUS AND AUTOMOBILE FOR-HIRE REGULATIONS

Prior legislation: Ords. 1676 NCS, 1159, 480, 479, 153, 73; prior code §§24.2-24.33.

The owner or driver of a bus or automobile for hire shall not take into or transport any larger number of

passengers than the rates carrying capacity of such vehicle. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

No driver of a bus or automobile for hire shall refuse to transport any person who desires and requests to

purchase transportation in a sober and orderly manner, if such bus or automobile for hire is in service and

available to the public generally for such transportation. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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No driver of any bus shall deviate from the route along which a certiJcate to operate the same has been granted,

or stop and turn back before reaching the terminus of such route; provided, however, that if the regular traLc

over the route of such bus has been diverted or detoured by proper authority for any lawful reason, the driver of

such bus may follow the established detour route.

Any bus may deviate not more than Jve blocks from such route to a church or school, or to any public attraction

or demonstration.

The council may, upon application, where it appears necessary, issue a temporary authority to deviate from the

established route.

In any case of deviation from its authorized route, except pursuant to diversion or detour by proper authority, a

bus shall return at once to the point of diversion and proceed from such point in the same direction in which it

was going before such deviation, until a terminus of such route is reached. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

No driver of a bus shall stop the same for the purpose of picking up or discharging passengers at points along its

established route other than at the regularly designated stops speciJed by the council at the time of issuance of

the certiJcate to the owner. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every driver of an automobile for hire shall proceed to the point of destination over the most direct route possible

that will carry the passenger to his destination safely and expeditiously, unless otherwise requested by the

passenger. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

It is unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the lawful charge for transportation in a bus or automobile for hire

after employing or hiring the same. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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number.

Every bus or automobile for hire shall carry in a conspicuous position within the unobstructed view of its

passenger compartment in clear and legible lettering the name of the owner of the vehicle, his city permit number

for such vehicle, the name of the driver, the driver’s city license number and a picture of the driver. All of the

foregoing shall be on a card of a size and format approved by the chief of police. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every driver of a bus or automobile for hire shall maintain a daily manifest upon which there shall be recorded all

trips made each day, showing the time and place of origin and the destination of each trip and the amount of fare.

All such completed manifests shall be returned to the owner by the driver at the conclusion of his tour of duty. The

forms for each manifest shall be furnished to the driver by the owner and shall be of a character approved by the

chief of police. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every holder of a certiJcate shall safely retain and preserve each driver manifest for at least one calendar year

following the year in which the same was made up. The same shall be available to the chief of police. (Ord. 2217

NCS §2, 2005.)

Owners to whom certiJcates are issued are required to maintain records of maintenance service for each vehicle

for which a permit has been issued and shall allow the chief of police or his representative to inspect such

maintenance record at any reasonable time. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every driver of a bus or automobile for hire shall wear a badge bearing the number of the license issued to him

under Section 14.24.050. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Every bus shall be painted in the colors and according to the trade style speciJed in the certiJcate issued to the

owner. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every bus shall be numbered in paint with its permit serial number on each side and on the rear in such exact

location and with the size of Jgures as the police chief shall prescribe. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Every bus shall have displayed a sign within conspicuous view of the passengers therein, showing the streets

traversed by the bus, the termini of its route, the route number and the amount of the charge for riding therein.

(Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Any member of the police department may, at any time, enter any bus or automobile for hire and direct its

operation for the purpose of determining its compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2,

2005.)

The interior of every automobile for hire and bus shall be thoroughly cleaned at least once in every twenty-four

hour period of operation. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

The police chief shall prohibit any driver from operating any bus or automobile for hire while such vehicle or any

of its equipment is defective, unsafe or unsanitary. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Every owner to whom a certiJcate has been issued is charged with the duty to see that the vehicles and

equipment which he uses in the business covered by such certiJcate are at all times in a completely safe operating

condition, are clean and sanitary and are serviceable and adequate for the purposes contemplated by the permit

under which he operates. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

Each holder of a certiJcate shall indemnify and save free and harmless the city against and from all damages,

judgments, decrees, costs and expenditures which the city may suMer or which may be recovered from or

obtained against the city during the time the certiJcate is in force for or by reason of acts done by the owners,

their employees or agents during the time such certiJcates are in force, or growing out of or resulting from the

exercise by such certiJcate holder of any or all of the rights and privileges granted by his certiJcate, or any act of

the servants or agents thereof, under or by virtue of the provisions of this chapter, the resolution authorizing the

issuance of the certiJcate or the certiJcate under which such owner is operating. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

All rates charged by the owners of certiJcates shall be Jxed and determined by resolution of the council. It is

unlawful for any owner of such certiJcate to charge more than the rates so Jxed and determined by the council.

(Ord. 2217 NCS §2, 2005.)

provisions.

All persons who shall come within the purview of and are subject to the terms of this chapter shall be excepted

from and not be subject to the terms of Chapters 6.04, 6.08, 6.28 and 6.36 relating to licenses. (Ord. 2217 NCS §2,

2005.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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