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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 281.010: Definitions for chapter.

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  1. KRS Chapter 281

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Automobile club" means a person that, for consideration, promises to assist its

members or subscribers in matters relating to the assumption of or reimbursement

of the expense or a portion thereof for towing of a motor vehicle; emergency road

service; matters relating to the operation, use, and maintenance of a motor vehicle;

and the supplying of services which includes, augments, or is incidental to theft or

reward services, discount services, arrest bond services, lock and key services, trip

interruption services, and legal fee reimbursement services in defense of traffic -

related offenses;

(2) "Automobile utility trailer" means any trailer or semitrailer designed for use with

and towed behind a passenger motor vehicle;

(3) "Automobile utility trailer cert ificate" means a certificate authorizing a person to

engage in the business of automobile utility trailer lessor;

(4) "Automobile utility trailer lessor" means any person operating under an automobile

utility trailer certificate who is engaged in the busin ess of leasing or renting

automobile utility trailers, but shall not include the agents of such persons;

(5) "Broker" means a person selected by the cabinet through a request for proposal

process to coordinate human service transportation delivery within a specific

delivery area. A broker may also provide transportation services within the specific

delivery area for which the broker is under contract with the cabinet;

(6) "Bus" means a motor vehicle operating under a bus certificate transporting

passengers for hire between points over regular routes;

(7) "Bus certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of one (1)

or more buses;

(8) "Cabinet" means the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet;

(9) "Certificate" means a certificate of complian ce issued under this chapter to motor

carriers;

(10) "Charter bus" means a motor vehicle operating under a charter bus certificate

providing for-hire intrastate transportation of a group of persons who, pursuant to a

common purpose under a single contract at a fixed charge for the motor vehicle,

have acquire d the exclusive use of the motor vehicle to travel together under an

itinerary either specified in advance or modified after having left the place of

origin;

(11) "Charter bus certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of

one (1) or more charter buses;

(12) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Vehicle Regulation;

(13) "CTAC" means the Coordinated Transportation Advisory Committee created in

KRS 281.870;

(14) "Department" means the Department of Vehicle Regulation;

(15) "Delivery area" means one (1) or more regions established by the cabinet in

administrative regulations promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A for the purpose of

providing human service transportation delivery in that region;

(16) "Disabled persons ve hicle carrier" means a motor carrier for hire, transporting

passengers including the general public who require transportation in disabled

persons vehicles;

(17) "Disabled persons vehicle" means a motor vehicle operating under a disabled

persons vehicle ce rtificate especially equipped for the transportation of passengers

with disabilities in accordance with 49 C.F.R. pt. 38, and is designed or constructed

with not more than fifteen (15) regular seats. It shall not mean an ambulance as

defined in KRS 311A.01 0. It shall not mean a motor vehicle equipped with a

stretcher;

(18) "Disabled persons vehicle certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the

operation of one (1) or more disabled persons vehicles transporting passengers for

hire;

(19) "Driveaway" means the transporting and delivering of motor vehicles, except

semitrailers and trailers, whether destined to be used in either a private or for -hire

capacity, under their own power or by means of a full mount method, saddle mount

method, the tow bar method, or any combination of them over the highways of this

state from any point of origin to any point of destination for hire. "Driveaway" does

not include the transportation of such vehicles by the full mount method on trailers

or semitrailers;

(20) "Driveaway certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of

one (1) or more motor carrier vehicles operating as a driveaway;

(21) "Driver" means the person physically operating the motor vehicle;

(22) "Flatbed/rollback service" means a form of towing service which involves moving

vehicles by loading them onto a flatbed platform;

(23) "Fully autonomous vehicle" has the same meaning as in KRS 186.760;

(24) "Highway" means all public roads, highways, streets, and ways in this state,

whether within a municipality or outside of a municipality;

(25) "Household goods" has the same meaning as in 49 C.F.R. sec. 375.103;

(26) "Household goods carrier" has the same meaning as "household goods motor

carrier" in 49 C.F.R. sec. 375.103;

(27) "Household goods certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the

operation of one (1) or more household goods vehicles;

(28) "Human service transportation delivery" means the provision of transportation

services to any person that is an eligible recip ient in one (1) of the following state

programs:

(a) Nonemergency medical transportation under KRS Chapter 205;

(b) Mental health, intellectual disabilities, or comprehensive care under KRS

Chapter 202A, 202B, 210, or 645;

(c) Work programs for public assistance recipients under KRS Chapter 205;

(d) Adult services under KRS Chapter 205, 209, 216, or 273;

(e) Vocational rehabilitation under KRS Chapter 151B or 157; or

(f) Blind industries or rehabilitation under KRS Chapter 151B or 163;

(29) "Interstate commerce" has the same meaning as in 49 C.F.R. sec. 390.5;

(30) "Intrastate commerce" has the same meaning as in 49 C.F.R. sec. 390.5;

(31) "Limousine" means a motor vehicle operating under a limousine certificate that is

designed or constructed with not more than fifteen (15) regular seats;

(32) "Limousine certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of

one (1) or more limousines transporting passengers for hire;

(33) "Mobile application" means an application or a computer program designed to run

on a smartphone, tablet co mputer, or other mobile device that is used by a TNC to

connect drivers with potential passengers;

(34) "Motor carrier" means any person in either a private or for -hire capacity who owns,

controls, operates, manages, or leases, except persons leasing to au thorized motor

carriers, any motor vehicle for the transportation of passengers or property upon

any highway, and any person who engages in the business of automobile utility

trailer lessor, vehicle towing, driveaway, or U-Drive-It;

(35) "Motor carrier veh icle" means a motor vehicle, including a fully autonomous

vehicle, used by a motor carrier to transport passengers or property;

(36) "Motor carrier vehicle license" means a license issued by the department for a

motor carrier vehicle authorized to operate under a certificate;

(37) "Motor carrier license plate" means a license plate issued by the department to a

motor carrier authorized to operate under a certificate other than a household goods,

property, TNC, peer-to-peer car sharing, or U-Drive-It certificate;

(38) "Motor vehicle" means any motor -propelled vehicle used for the transportation of

passengers or property on a public highway, including any such vehicle operated as

a unit in combination with other vehicles;

(39) "Passenger" means an individual or group of people;

(40) "Peer-to-peer car sharing":

(a) Means the authorized use of a motor vehicle by an individual other than the

vehicle's owner through a peer-to-peer car sharing program; and

(b) Does not:

1. Include the operation of a U -Drive-It certi ficate as defined in this

section; or

2. Involve the sale or provision of rental vehicle insurance as defined in

KRS 304.9-020;

(41) "Peer-to-peer car sharing certificate" means a certificate granting the authority for

the operation of a peer-to-peer car sharing program;

(42) "Peer-to-peer car sharing company" means a person that operates a peer -to-peer car

sharing program;

(43) "Peer-to-peer car sharing program":

(a) Means a business platform that connects shared vehicle owners with shared

vehicle drivers to enable the sharing of motor vehicles for financial

consideration; and

(b) Does not include a:

1. U-Drive-It;

2. Motor vehicle renting company as defined in KRS 281.687;

3. Rental vehicle agent as defined in KRS 304.9-020; or

4. Service provider that is solely providing hardware or software as a

service to a person or entity that is not effectuating payment of financial

consideration for use of a shared vehicle;

(44) "Permit" means a temporary permit of compliance issued under this chapter for a

specified period not to exceed ten (10) days, and for a specific vehicle, to any motor

carrier, including one who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth, who operates a

motor vehicle and is not entitled to an exemption from the payment of fees imposed

under KRS 186.0 50 because of the terms of a reciprocal agreement between the

Commonwealth and the state in which the vehicle is licensed;

(45) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company,

association, or joint stock association, and includes an y trustee, assignee, or

personal representative thereof;

(46) "Platoon" means a group of two (2) individual commercial motor vehicles traveling

in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds at following distances that

are closer than would ordinarily be allowed under KRS 189.340(9)(b);

(47) "Prearranged ride" means the period of time that begins when a transportation

network company driver accepts a requested ride through a digital network or

mobile application, continues while the driver transpo rts the rider in a personal

vehicle, and ends when the transportation network company services end;

(48) "Pre-trip acceptance liability policy" means the transportation network company

liability insurance coverage for incidents involving the driver for a p eriod of time

when a driver is logged into a transportation network company's digital network or

mobile application but is not engaged in a prearranged ride;

(49) "Property" means general or specific commodities, including hazardous and

nonhazardous materials;

(50) "Property certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the transportation of

property, other than household goods, not exempt under KRS 281.605;

(51) "Recovery":

(a) Means a form of towing service which involves moving vehicles by the use of

a wheel-lift device, such as a lift, crane, hoist, winch, cradle, jack, automobile

ambulance, tow dolly, or any other similar device as requested by a state or

local law enforcement agency; and

(b) Includes:

1. Relocating a vehicle or cargo from a place where towing is not possible

to a place where towing is possible; and

2. The cleanup of debris or cargo, and returning an area to pre -event

condition;

(52) "Regular route" means the scheduled transportation of passengers between

designated points over designated routes under time schedules that provide a

regularity of services;

(53) "Regular seat" means a seat ordinarily and customarily used by one (1) passenge r

and, in determining such seating capacity, the manufacturer's rating may be

considered;

(54) "Shared vehicle":

(a) Means a motor vehicle that is available for car sharing through a peer -to-peer

car sharing program; and

(b) Does not include a motor vehicle leased or rented by a person operating under

a U-Drive-It certificate;

(55) "Shared vehicle driver" means an individual who has been authorized to drive the

shared vehicle by the shared vehicle owner under a car sharing program agreement;

(56) "Shared vehicle owner":

(a) Means the registered owner, or a person designated by the registered owner,

of a motor vehicle made available for sharing to shared vehicle drivers,

through a peer-to-peer car sharing program; and

(b) Does not include a:

1. Person operating a U-Drive-It certificate;

2. Motor vehicle renting company as defined in KRS 281.687; or

3. Rental vehicle agent as defined in KRS 304.9-020;

(57) "Storage facility" means any lot, facility, or other property used to store motor

vehicles that have been removed from another location by a tow truck;

(58) "Street hail" means a request for service made by a potential passenger using hand

gestures or verbal statement;

(59) "Subcontractor" means a person who has signed a contract with a broker to provide

human service transportation delivery within a specific delivery area and who meets

human service transportation delivery requirements, including proper operating

authority;

(60) "Tariff" means the listing of compensation received by a motor carrier for

household goods that includes the manner in which and the amount of fares an

authorized motor carrier may charge;

(61) "Taxicab" means a motor vehicle operating under a taxicab certificate that is

designed or constructed with not more than eight (8) regular seats and may be

equipped with a taximeter;

(62) "Taxicab certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of one

(1) or more taxicabs transporting passengers for hire;

(63) "Taximeter" means an instrument or device approved by the departme nt that

automatically calculates and plainly indicates the charge to a passenger for hire who

is being charged on the basis of mileage;

(64) "Tow truck" means a motor vehicle equipped to provide any form of towing

service, including recovery service or flatbed/rollback service;

(65) "Tow truck operator" means an individual who operates a tow truck as an employee

or agent of a towing company;

(66) "Towing" means:

(a) Emergency towing, which is the towing of a motor vehicle, with or without

the owner's consent, because of:

1. A motor vehicle accident on a public highway;

2. An incident related to an emergency; or

3. An incident that necessitates the removal of the motor vehicle from a

location for public safety reasons;

(b) Private property towing, which is the towing of a motor vehicle, without the

owner's consent, from private property:

1. On which the motor vehicle was illegally parked; or

2. Because of an exigent cir cumstance necessitating its removal to another

location; and

(c) Seizure towing, which is the towing of a motor vehicle for law enforcement

purposes involving the:

1. Maintenance of the chain of custody of evidence;

2. Forfeiture of assets; or

3. Delinquency of highway fuel tax, weight distance tax, or any other taxes

and fees administered by the Transportation Cabinet;

(67) "Towing and storage certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the

operation of one (1) or more tow trucks, storage facilities, or both;

(68) "Towing company":

(a) Means a service or business operating as a motor carrier that:

1. Tows or otherwise moves motor vehicles by means of a tow truck; or

2. Owns or operates a storage facility;

(b) Includes a tow truck operator acting on behalf of a towing company when

appropriate in the context; and

(c) Does not include an automobile club, car dealership, insurance company,

repossession company, lienholders and entities hired by lienholders for the

purpose of repossession, local gover nment, or any other entity that contracts

with a towing company;

(69) "Transportation network company" or "TNC" means a person or entity that

connects passengers through its digital network or mobile application to its drivers

for the provision of transportation network company services;

(70) "Transportation network company certificate" or "TNC certificate" means a

certificate granting the authority for the operation of one (1) or more transportation

network company vehicles transporting passengers for hire;

(71) "Transportation network company driver" or "TNC driver" means an individual

who operates a motor vehicle that is owned or leased by the individual, or a motor

vehicle for which the driver is an insured driver and has the permission of the

owner or l essee of the motor vehicle, and used to provide transportation network

company services;

(72) "Transportation network company service" or "TNC service" means a prearranged

passenger transportation service offered or provided through the use of a

transportation network company mobile application or digital network to connect

potential passengers with transportation network company drivers;

(73) "Transportation network company vehicle" or "TNC vehicle" means a privately

owned or leased motor vehicle, includin g a fully autonomous vehicle, designed or

constructed with not more than eight (8) regular seats, operating under a

transportation network company certificate;

(74) "U-Drive-It" means any person operating under a U -Drive-It certificate who leases

or rents a motor vehicle for consideration to be used for the transportation of

persons or property, but for which no driver is furnished, and the use of which

motor vehicle is not for the transportation of persons or property for hire by the

lessee or rentee; and

(75) "U-Drive-It certificate" means a certificate granting authority for the operation of

one (1) or more U-Drive-Its.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:53:32Z. Source file · JSON

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