The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Certificate means the certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the city manager to persons in the business of operating public vehicles.

Driver means any person in charge of or operating any public vehicle.

Owner means any person having control of the operation or maintenance of a public vehicle, including any person having control of the collection of revenue derived from the operation of public vehicles and including the purchaser of any public vehicle under a conditional sales contract or other title-reserving agreement.

Public vehicle means any motor-driven vehicle used for the transportation for hire or reward of passengers upon the streets of the city, operated continually or occasionally as a taxicab, for-hire car, or other such vehicle, except buses being operated under franchise and over fixed routes and between fixed termini and ambulances and conveyances used in connection with the conducting of funeral services.

Specified criminal offense means any criminal offense described in F.S. ch. 794, Sexual Battery; F.S. ch. 796, Prostitution; F.S. ch. 800, Lewd, Indecent Exposure; F.S. ch. 810, Burglary and Trespass; F.S. ch. 812, Theft, Robbery and Related Crimes; F.S. ch. 817, Fraudulent Practices; and/or F.S. ch. 893, Drug Abuse Prevention and Control.

Street means any street, alley, avenue, lane, public place or highway within the city.

Taximeter means a meter instrument or device attached to a public vehicle which measures the distance driven and the waiting time upon which the fare is based.