Subchapter 8 - SIGHTSEEING GUIDES

Section 20-242

Section 20-242

  § 20-242 Definition. Whenever used in this subchapter the term "guide"
shall mean and include any person who engages in the business of guiding
or  directing people to any place or point of public interest or who, in
connection with any sightseeing trip or  tour,  describes,  explains  or
lectures  concerning any place or point of public interest to any person
within the city or obtains the patronage of any person  for  such  trip.
Nothing  herein  contained  shall  be construed to include any person or
persons who describes, explains or  lectures  concerning  any  place  or
point  of  public  interest  while  aboard  a sightseeing boat or vessel
regularly  engaged  in  scheduled  trips  around  Manhattan  island   on
navigable waters.

Section 20-243

Section 20-243

  §  20-243 License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to act
as a guide without a license therefor from the commissioner.

Section 20-244

Section 20-244

  §  20-244 Applications. a. Each applicant for such license shall be at
least eighteen years of age; and
  b. Each such applicant  shall  be  required  to  pass  an  examination
satisfactorily.  Such  examination shall be under the supervision of the
commissioner and shall test the knowledge of  the  applicant  concerning
places  or  points of historic or public interest in and about the city.
Any person who can present satisfactory proof to the  commissioner  that
he  or  she  has  been  engaged as a sightseeing guide in the city for a
period of at least two years prior to August  second,  nineteen  hundred
thirty-seven shall be exempt from such examination.

Section 20-245

Section 20-245

  §  20-245  License  fee;  display.  a. The annual fee for such license
shall be twenty-five dollars.
  b. Each such license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in  the
office or place of business of the licensee, or if a vehicle is used, in
such  vehicle, or if a guide has no office or uses no vehicle, he or she
shall carry such license on his or her person at all times.

Section 20-246

Section 20-246

  §  20-246 Fees charged. a. In each bus or vehicle used for sightseeing
purposes a schedule shall be permanently displayed showing the full cost
per passenger for the trip to be taken.
  b. It shall be unlawful for any licensed guide  to  charge  a  fee  in
excess of one dollar per hour per person.

Section 20-247

Section 20-247

  § 20-247 Regulations. a. The commissioner may prescribe such rules and
regulations as he or she deems necessary to protect persons and property
in the enforcement of this subchapter.
  b.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for the driver of any vehicle to explain,
describe, or lecture while such vehicle is in motion, unless the seating
capacity of such vehicle is seven passengers or fewer. Each such  driver
who talks or lectures must be a licensed guide.
  c.  It  shall  be  unlawful for any licensee to obstruct any street or
public space, or to touch any person  or  to  interfere  with  the  free
passage  of  the public along any street or public space for the purpose
of soliciting employment as a guide.
  d. It shall be unlawful for any such guide to wear a  uniform  or  any
part  thereof  and  hold himself or herself forth as a guide unless such
uniform or part thereof shall be approved by the commissioner.
  e. Each licensee shall wear on the left breast of  his  or  her  outer
garment  a  badge,  while  engaged  in his or her occupation as a guide,
bearing his or her number and the date  of  expiration  of  his  or  her
license. Such badge shall be furnished by the commissioner. The color of
such badge shall be changed each year.
  f. It shall be unlawful for any licensee to guide or direct any person
to  a  place  of ill repute, house of ill fame or assignation, or to any
house or place of amusement kept for immoral purposes, or to  any  place
resorted  to  for  the  purpose of prostitution or gambling. It shall be
unlawful for any such licensee to  impart  any  information  as  to  the
location  or  address  of  any  such houses or places, or to solicit the
patronage of any person or persons  for  any  hotel,  lodging  house  or
boarding  house  or  place  of  temporary or permanent abode, or for any
place where refreshments are served or amusement of any type provided.
  g. It shall be unlawful for any licensee to engage in business  or  do
business with any unlicensed guide.