Sponsor seeks one‑meeting deferral to refine sightseeing vehicle rules, including alcohol and rush‑hour provisions

Council member Coopin asked the transportation committee to defer BL2025-954 for one meeting so stakeholders and departments could finalize a substitute to the bill that would regulate seated sightseeing vehicles separately from other transportation-licensed vehicles.

Coopin, the bill sponsor, said the measure would move sightseeing vehicles out of the same code chapter used for for‑hire transportation and into their own code chapter so the city could treat them differently given their distinct purpose. She described other provisions being refined in the substitute: requiring operators to indicate at points of sale and on websites that they do not serve alcohol, and creating a process to allow a 4–6 p.m. rush‑hour permit if a traffic study shows the sightseeing vehicle "can go the speed of traffic and they are to go the speed of traffic." Coopin said she expected a substitute in the next few days and planned to present it to the Transportation Licensing Commission before returning to the council for second reading.

Committee action: Members voted to recommend a one‑meeting deferral on the sponsor's request, 12 in favor, 0 opposed.

Why it matters: Separating sightseeing vehicles into their own code chapter would permit distinct permitting and operational rules tailored to their function, including restrictions on alcohol service and conditional access during peak hours.

Ending: The sponsor and staff will finalize the substitute and present it to the Transportation Licensing Commission; the bill will return to committee for second reading upon completion.