Licensing panel creates new seated-sightseeing rules after public hearing on sightseeing permits

The Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission voted to create a new seated-sightseeing rule set and move existing sightseeing provisions into Section 1000, adopting rules 1001–1003 after a public hearing and public comment.

Operators and drivers urged the commission to consider how the changes would affect small sightseeing companies. Christy Patterson, who identified herself as “Christy Patterson, Cruz in Nashville,” told the commission the new rules “may take away our ability to operate or damage our current income” and argued that traffic studies should be a city responsibility, not a private cost.

Joshua Hadley, a rideshare driver who said he filed a formal complaint related to Old Town Trolley, asked to be placed on a future agenda and argued that the ordinance provision barring applicants with certain violations would render some owners ineligible. “Any owners, partners, officers, directors, or members [who] has violated any portion of chapter 6.77 for 5 years cannot apply to get a new sight seeing permit,” Hadley said, citing the ordinance language he referenced.

Staff and Metro Legal clarified the commission’s options. Director Rooker said the commission was not changing ordinance language but was creating a separate administrative rule section for seated sightseeing vehicles and moving three rules from the Entertainment Transportation Vehicle chapter; Metro Legal noted that prohibitions written into the ordinance (including the alcohol prohibition) can only be amended by Metro Council. Metro Legal said drivers shall receive and discharge passengers at designated sightseeing vehicle stands, and that stand locations must be approved by the NDOT director (or designee) and the Traffic and Parking Commission.

Operators raised several recurring issues during public comment: whether designated public right-of-way sightseeing stands would be exclusive or open to any approved seated sightseeing permit holder; the requirement in Section 6.78.0.04 (as referenced in comments) that an applicant own a vehicle to apply for a permit; and inconsistent or late road-closure information that complicates operations. Director Rooker said fees and insurance requirements would remain the same as in the prior rule set and that staff would share road-closure reports and posting locations with operators.

A commissioner moved to approve the rule adjustments to move rules 801, 802 and 804 into the new category; that motion carried. Later the commission voted to adopt the new sightseeing rules (sections 1000–1003). The commission’s action creates a distinct administrative category for seated sightseeing vehicles and leaves ordinance-level prohibitions unchanged.

The commission closed the public hearing after taking the votes. Staff said operators interested in changing ordinance-level provisions (for example, alcohol allowances) must bring those requests to their Metro Council representatives.

Next steps: staff will publish the adopted rules in the new Section 1000, share road-closure resources with operators and accept any administrative requests that comply with the adopted rule language.