The Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission voted on Nov. 21 to create a new regulatory category for sightseeing vehicles and move existing rules into a new Chapter 1000 for seated sightseeing vehicles.

At a public hearing, sightseeing operators and drivers urged the commission to preserve existing permits and to address operational concerns. "We personally just feel that they may take away our ability to operate or damage our current income," said Christy Patterson of Cruise in Nashville, who asked that current operations continue at a minimum. Brenda Wilkins of NASTRAGE said she supported separating sightseeing into its own category for smaller operators but asked about the implications for longstanding practices such as allowing customers to bring alcoholic beverages; legal counsel and staff repeatedly said council ordinances set those limits. "If you want to allow that, you need to go talk to your council person about amending the ordinance," a Metro legal representative said.

Commissioners and staff explained the separation implements language Metro Council adopted and does not itself change ordinance provisions. Director Rooker said the move is intended to transfer sightseeing provisions out of the ETV chapter into their own rule section, not to alter substantive requirements. Staff also clarified operational details: designated sightseeing stands in the public right-of-way must be approved by the NDOT director (or designee) and the Traffic & Parking Commission, and companies wishing to use stands must submit plans to NDOT for consideration.

Operators raised additional operational concerns during public comment: whether stand locations would be exclusive, whether traffic studies would be conducted by the city or left to private operators, and a requirement in Metro Code 6.78 that a company own a vehicle to apply for a sightseeing permit. Joshua Hadley, who said he filed a formal complaint related to Old Town Trolley, asked that eligibility rules be applied consistently. Staff and Metro Legal said parts of these issues are set by ordinance and beyond the MTLC’s authority to change, but the commission retained discretion over fees and insurance levels, which staff proposed to leave unchanged.

A commissioner moved to adopt the entertainment transportation rule adjustments (rules 801, 802 and 804) as presented; the motion passed by voice vote. Later the commission voted to create Section 1000 and approve rules 1001–1003 for seated sightseeing vehicles; that motion also passed by voice vote. Director Rooker and staff said they will publish guidance and work with NDOT and Traffic & Parking to implement stand approvals and to share road-closure and event information with operators.

The commission’s action implements the council’s ordinance by creating a distinct regulatory section for sightseeing. Changes to ordinance provisions such as the alcohol prohibition or ownership thresholds would require Metro Council action. The commission closed the public hearing and moved on to consent business.