CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE related to the operation of tour and excursion vehicles; creating a new Chapter 15.66 in the Seattle Municipal Code.
body
WHEREAS, distracted driving by motorists poses a significant risk of injury or death to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. A tour bus driver who is narrating a tour while driving is likely to be speaking to the bus's passengers, en masse, during the vast majority of time during the tour. Further, the job of driving a tour bus is in important respects more complex than driving an automobile. Thus, the safety problems created by talking while driving are at their zenith when a tour bus driver, in addition to attending to his or her driving responsibilities, is also providing narration to passengers; and
WHEREAS, prohibiting narration by tour bus drivers in the City will reduce distracted driving and advance traffic safety by reducing the likelihood of collisions and injuries caused by distracted driving; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Chapter 15.66 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
Chapter 15.66 TOUR VEHICLE OPERATION
15.66.010 Definitions
For purposes of this Chapter 15.66:
“Amphibious tour vehicle” means 1) any DUKW amphibious vehicle, manufactured by General Motors Corporation during the years 1942 to 1945, inclusive, or similar amphibious vehicle, that has been modified by the addition of seats to transport passengers for hire; 2) any such vehicle modified for touring purposes by Amphibious Vehicle Manufacturing known as a “Stretch Duck”; 3) any amphibious vehicle manufactured by Amphibious Vehicle Manufacturing known as a “Truck Duck”; or 4) any other similar vehicle used for touring purposes.
"Charter party carrier" means every person engaged in the transportation over any public highways wholly within the limits of The City of Seattle of a group of persons, who, pursuant to a common purpose and under a single contract, acquire the use of a motor vehicle, including but not limited to any amphibious tour vehicle, to travel together as a group to a specified destination or for a particular itinerary, either agreed upon in advance or modified by the chartered group after leaving the place of origin;
“Charter party vehicle” means any vehicle operated by a charter party carrier in the course of its business.
"Excursion service carrier" means every person engaged in the transportation of persons for compensation, including but not limited to within any amphibious tour vehicle, over any public highway from points of origin within the limits of The City of Seattle, to any other location within the limits of The City of Seattle and returning to that origin. The service must not pick up or drop off passengers after leaving and before returning to the area of origin. The excursions may be regularly scheduled. Compensation for the transportation offered or afforded must be computed, charged, or assessed by the excursion service company on an individual fare basis.
“Excursion service vehicle” means any vehicle operated by a charter party carrier in the course of its business.
“Public highway” includes every public street, road, or highway within the limits of The City of Seattle.
“Tour narration” means providing regular or ongoing oral information to passengers other than communications concerning payment of fares, announcement of stops, vehicle operation, safety or emergency procedures, occasional brief responses to questions initiated by passengers, or any communication to passengers that is required by law. “Tour narration” also does not include any communication to passengers made by a person other than the driver, or any recorded communication delivered to passengers.
15.66.020 Tour narration by drivers
It shall be a violation of this Title 15 for any driver of any amphibious tour vehicle, charter party vehicle, or excursion service vehicle to engage in tour narration while such vehicle is in motion on any public highway.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2016, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2016.
_________________________________
President __________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2016.
_________________________________
Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2016.
____________________________________
Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)