Q1G |
When does a transportation service provider have to be licensed by the PTC? |
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A1G |
If a company is providing for-hire passenger transportation, in Hillsborough County, in the form of taxicab, van, limousine, handicab (paratransit), basic life support ambulance or if the company is providing a towing service for a government agency, then the service provider probably needs to be licensed by the PTC. There are some limitations regarding size of vehicles, passenger carrying capacity, type and age of vehicles that enter into the process. Contact the Office of the PTC for specifics. |
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Q2G |
What is the enabling legislation for the PTC? |
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A2G |
Chapter 2001-299, Laws of Florida. |
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Q3G |
How do I get licensed to operate in Hillsborough County by the PTC? |
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A3G |
You must complete an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the particular service you wish to perform, i.e. taxicab, limousine, van, handicab, BLS ambulance, wrecker. |
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Q4G |
How long does this process take? |
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A4G |
It averages about 60 days for all except wrecker service, which is considerably quicker.There is a requirement to schedule and publicly notice a Hearing Officer public hearing to seek a recommendation and then to schedule and notice a public hearing with the Public Transportation Commission to seek approval. |
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Q5G |
Where can I find this law? |
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A5G |
Laws of Florida - 2001. You won’t find it listed in the Florida Statutes because it is a local law. You can find a copy of it on this web site under enabling legislation. |
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Q6G |
If my business is based in a county other than Hillsborough County, do I have to have a PTC license to operate? |
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A6G |
The basic answer is that if you are picking up passengers, for hire, in a vehicle that is regulated by the PTC, you most likely need a license from the PTC. If you are delivering customers to Hillsborough County, you don't. |
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Q7G |
Can I bring customers to Hillsborough County and then pick them back up without a license? |
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A7G |
If you bring a customer to Hillsborough County and stay with the customer while they are here and then you return them to your county, you do not have to be licensed by the PTC. If you drop them off, leave and then come back at a later time or date, you must be licensed by the PTC. For example, if you bring someone to a football game, concert or restaurant and stay to return your customer, you do not have to be licensed. However, if you bring someone to the airport or cruise terminal and return to pick them up a week later, you do have to be licensed through the PTC. |
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Q8G |
If I pick up a customer outside of Hillsborough County and then pickup another customer inside Hillsborough County, do I need to be licensed by the PTC? |
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A8G |
The general interpretation is that if you pick up a customer inside Hillsborough County, regardless of whether another customer was originally picked up outside of Hillsborough County, you are considered as operating in Hillsborough County and you need to be licensed. It is suggested that you contact the Office of the PTC beforehand if you have questions. |
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Q9G |
If I rarely operate in Hillsborough County and only have to make one or two pickups a year at the airport or cruise terminal, can I get authorization to do so without obtaining a license? |
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A9G |
The enabling legislation for the PTC makes no provisions for exceptions to the licensing requirements, even if for one pick up. The staff of the PTC has no authority to make an exception. |
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Q10G |
What would happen if I operate without a license (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity)? |
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A10G |
It is a second degree misdemeanor to do so. An individual could be subjected to arrest, court appearance, fines and so forth. |
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Q11G |
Are there other licenses required to operate in Hillsborough County as a for-hire transportation service? |
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A11G |
Yes. Your vehicle must be inspected and receive a vehicle permit and the driver must be issued a Public Vehicle Driver’s License (PVDL) which is issued by the PTC. |
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Are there age limits for vehicles? |
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A12G |
Yes, all vehicles, except wreckers, must be 5 model years or less when they are first placed into service. Once placed into service, they may remain in service until they exceed 10 model years. |
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Q13G |
Is there a criminal background check for drivers? |
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A13G |
Yes. There are certain criminal offenses that might prevent someone from being authorized a PVDL. You cannot be on probation. Most convictions for felonies, drug related crimes, sex offenses and drinking and driving will make an individual ineligible. You can discuss your history with the staff before you submit an application if you have questions. |
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Q14G |
As a driver, am I required to be drug tested? |
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A14G |
Every Certificate holder (licensed operator) is required to maintain a drug-free workplace. It is their responsibility to require the drug testing of drivers. |
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Q15G |
If the PTC regulates my vehicle and it transports over 15 passengers, do I need to register the vehicle with the Florida Department of Transportation? |
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A15G |
In general, being regulated by the PTC does not exempt one from FDOT requirements. The same is true in reverse. If one has a vehicle registered with FDOT, it does not necessarily expempt the vehicle from PTC licensing requirements. Contact the Office of the PTC to be sure. |
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Q16G |
If I am licensed by the PTC, do I need a separate license from Tampa International Airport? |
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A16G |
At this time, Tampa International Airport recognizes the licensing by the PTC and requires no registration or separate licensing for limousines. They do, however, have a requirement for those operating van services. Contact TIA Ground Transportation at (813) 870-8712. |
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Q17G |
If I am licensed by the PTC, do I need a separate license from the Tampa Port Authority to pick up at the cruise terminal? |
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A17G |
The Port Authority does have a separate licensing requirement for commercial for hire vehicles you need to contact them for information at (813)905-7678 |
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Q18G |
If my vehicle is licensed at another location in the state such as Orlando or Cape Canaveral, am I allowed to operate in Hillsborough County? |
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A18G |
At this time, no. The licensing by one agency does not provide authorization in the jurisdictional area of another except in areas that may have established a reciprocal agreement. Hillsborough County has none at this time. |
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Q19G |
Is there a Public Transportation Commission in each Florida county? |
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A19G |
No. Some counties perform the licensing function through different agencies and some are performed by agencies in the city. You must check with those local governments to see what, if any regulatory requirements they may have. |
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Q20G |
What do you need to do to start a taxicab, limousine, van or handicab service in Hillsborough County? |
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A20G |
Step 1. Read Chapter 2001-299, Laws of Florida, and the Rules of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. Both of these documents describe the process for becoming licensed to operate a public vehicle in Hillsborough County. |
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Step 2. Fill out an application provided by the PTC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The application requires a good deal of information about the applicant including a criminal background check, fingerprinting, a credit report on the individual or the corporation, information about the business’s financial status, the individual’s driving history, an explanation about how the service will operate and a justification as to why the service is needed considering the adequacy of the existing service providers. The credit bureau report may be obtained through Merit Credit at (800) 371-3348.The application also requires you to request a specific number of vehicle permits. |
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Step 3. Pay a non-refundable filing fee of $500 when you submit the completed application. We are not allowed to accept a partially completed application. |
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Step 4. Pay a $400 hearing officer fee and at the scheduled public hearing, you must be prepared to present and discuss information in your application to a Hearing Officer who will review the application, ask questions about the application and listen to opponents to the application, if any. He will prepare a report of recommendation to be presented at a public hearing in front of the full Public Transportation Commission at the next available monthly Public Transportation Commission meeting. |
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Step 5. If approved by the Commission, the applicant must then pay the annual permit fee for the number of permits approved. The $500 (taxicab), $290 (all others) per permit fee will be pro-rated based on what fiscal year quarter we are in at the time of approval. Those services approved for a restricted service (limousine and van only) will pay the pro-rated amount of the $150 annual permit fee. |
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Step 6. Following approval and prior to beginning service, the company must present each vehicle for inspection, provide an insurance certificate to the PTC, and have each driver properly licensed by the PTC to operate a vehicle for hire. Prior to vehicle inspection, the vehicle must be inspected by an ASE Certified Inspector and the PTC inspection form must be completed and signed. Additionally, the Certificate holder must sign a PTC form that signifies he or she has inspected the vehicle as well. |
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The process takes approximately 60 days to complete. |
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Operating prior to approval, without the proper licensing, is illegal and the violator is subject to arrest. |
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You must have a separate Certificate for each category of service intended to operate (i.e. taxicab service, limousine service, handicab service, van service). |
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The Rules contain information about insurance levels required, specific vehicle requirements, rates allowed to be charged, individual operator requirements and much, much more. |
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Q21G |
What do you need to do to receive a Certificate for a wrecker service that is eligible to serve government agencies such as the Sheriff’s Office or TPD? |
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A21G |
Step 1. Read Chapter 2001-299, Laws of Florida, and the Rules for Wrecker Service of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. Both of these documents describe the process for becoming licensed to operate a public vehicle in Hillsborough County. |
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Step 2. Fill out an application provided by the PTC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The application requires a good deal of information about the applicant including a criminal background check, fingerprinting, a credit report on the individual or the corporation, information about the business’s financial status, the individual’s driving history, an explanation about how the service will operate and a justification as to why the service is needed considering the adequacy of the existing service providers. The application also requires you to request a specific number of vehicle permits. |
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Step 3. Pay a non-refundable filing fee of $500 when you submit the completed application. We are not allowed to accept a partially completed application. |
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Step 4. Have your facilities and vehicles inspected by the PTC to ensure they meet the requirements described in the Rules and in Florida Statutes. |
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Step 5. The application is reviewed by the PTC Director and he will make a recommendation and will present the application to the Commission at the next scheduled monthly Commission meeting. If approved by the Commission, the applicant must then pay the annual fee for the number of permits approved. The permit cost is $290 for the first wrecker permit and $75 for each permit after that. These amounts will be pro-rated depending upon what quarter of the fiscal year the application was approved. |
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Step 6. Following approval and prior to beginning service, the company must provide an insurance certificate to the PTC and have each driver properly licensed by the PTC to operate a vehicle for hire. |
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The process takes approximately 30 days to complete. |
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Once approved, the Certificate information will be provided to local law enforcement agencies. They may or may not be taking on additional wrecker services to add to their rotation lists. |
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Operating prior to approval, without the proper licensing, is illegal and the violator is subject to being arrested. |
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There is no legal way to operate temporarily pending Commission approval. |
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The Rules contain information about insurance levels required, specific vehicle requirements, rates allowed to be charged, individual operator requirements and much, much more. |
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Q22G |
What do you need to do to obtain a Public Vehicle Driver’s License (PVDL) to operate a taxicab, limousine, van or wrecker? |
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A22G |
Step 1. Read the Rules of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. This document describes the process for becoming licensed to operate a public vehicle in Hillsborough County. |
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Step 2. Obtain an application from the company you intend to drive for. Complete the application, have it signed by the company representative and make sure it is properly notarized. |
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Step 3. Take the application to the PTC where it will be accepted and you will have a photograph taken. You will be provided a fingerprint card. |
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Step 4. Take the fingerprint card to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office ID section on Falkenberg Road to have your photo taken again and your fingerprints taken. Pay $35 cash to the Sheriff’s office. |
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Step 5. Approximately two days later, you can call the PTC, 272-5814, or go to the PTC to see if your Public Vehicle Driver’s License is ready. This is the amount of time necessary to conduct a criminal background check on you. If the background check reveals negative information, you may be denied the license or asked to obtain additional information to clear up information from your background check. |
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Step 6. Once you obtain your license, you are required to wear/have the license whenever you are operating a public vehicle (taxicab, van, limousine, van, handicab, wrecker). |
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The process takes approximately 3 days to complete. |
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Operating prior to approval, without the proper licensing, is illegal and the violator is subject to arrest. |
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There is no legal way to operate temporarily pending receipt of your license. |
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You must notify the PTC whenever you change companies, change address or other information required when you obtained the license. |
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The license must be renewed annually at a cost of $10 or $15 if late. |
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You cannot get a license if you are on parole, have a serious criminal history or a poor driving history. Read the Rules for other limitations. |
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The Rules contain information about vehicle requirements and individual operator requirements and much, much more. |
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