Section 32-7C-36 Legislative Intent, Scope, and Construction of Article.
Local governments generally may not impose TNC-specific taxes, licenses, or operating requirements tied to prearranged rides, but municipalities, airports, cruise terminals, the state port authority, and law enforcement have listed exceptions and permissions.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for uniformity of laws governing TNCs, TNC drivers, and TNC vehicles throughout the state, and to provide that TNCs, TNC drivers, and TNC vehicles be governed exclusively by state law, including Article 1 of this chapter, governing insurance requirements for TNCs and TNC drivers, and any rules adopted by the commission consistent with this article. (b) A county, municipality, special district, airport authority, port authority, or other local governmental entity or subdivision may not do any of the following: (1) Impose a tax on, or require a license for, a TNC or a TNC driver or TNC vehicle if the tax or license relates to providing prearranged rides. (2) Require a TNC or a TNC driver to obtain a business license or any other type of similar authorization to operate within the jurisdiction. (3) Subject a TNC, a TNC driver, or a TNC vehicle to a rate, entry, operation, or other requirement of the county, municipality, special district, airport authority, port authority, or other local governmental entity if the rate, entry, operation, or other requirement relates to providing prearranged rides or transportation network services. (c) This section does not prohibit the governing body of a municipality from electing by ordinance to prohibit TNCs from providing prearranged rides that originate within its corporate limits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the governing body of a municipality may not specify additional or alternative requirements, taxes, or licenses for TNCs, TNC drivers, or TNC vehicles as conditions for operating within its corporate limits (d) This section does not prohibit an airport or cruise terminal from charging reasonable pickup fees at that airport or cruise terminal, for use of the airport’s or cruise terminal’s facilities, or designating locations for staging, pickup, and other similar operations at the airport or cruise terminal. (e) This section does not prohibit the Alabama State Port Authority from regulating access to its properties and facilities or from charging reasonable and necessary fees, provided the regulations, fees, and any required credentials are consistent with regulations, fees, and credentials that apply to taxicab companies. (f) This section shall not be construed to prohibit any law enforcement officer from enforcing applicable criminal or traffic laws, or, in connection with the enforcement of applicable criminal or traffic laws, from requesting to review a TNC driver’s electronic waybill within the TNC’s digital network.