[1]
Editor’s Note: The title of this article, formerly Vehicle Licenses, was amended 6-27-2017 by Ord. No. 4-2017.
No person shall operate for hire upon the streets of the City any taxicab without first obtaining a license therefor from the City Clerk.
No license required by this chapter shall be granted until the person applying for such license has secured from the Mayor a certificate certifying that public convenience and necessity require the operation of the taxicab.
Applications for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be made by the applicant upon blanks to be furnished by the Police Department and such application shall contain the full name and address of the applicant and such other matters as may be required.
A certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be issued only to a person who is a citizen of the United States and is of good moral character or to a copartnership, all of whose partners shall meet the above specifications, or to a corporation authorized to operate taxicabs and doing business in accordance with the laws of the state.
In determining the public convenience and necessity for the operation of the taxicab sought to be licensed, the Mayor shall consider the number of taxicabs then operating in the City and whether the demands of the public require additional taxicab service; the financial responsibility of the applicant; the number, kind and type and equipment of those taxicabs for which licenses are asked; the traffic conditions in the City and whether the additional taxicab service will result in a greater hazard to the public; and such other relevant facts as the Mayor may deem advisable or necessary. The judgment of the Mayor on questions of public convenience and necessity shall be conclusive.
In issuing certificates of public convenience and necessity, the Mayor shall give preference to applicants then owning or operating taxicabs.
Application for licenses for taxicabs shall be made by the owner upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk, and such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, a description of the vehicle for which a license is desired, including the make, motor and serial number and the number of persons it is capable of carrying.
No taxicab shall be licensed until it has been thoroughly and carefully inspected and examined and found to be equipped with not less than three (3) doors, one (1) of which shall be on either side of the passenger compartment, and to be in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers, clean, fit, of good appearance and well painted.
If, upon inspection, the taxicab sought to be licensed is found to be of lawful construction and in proper condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations established hereunder and all other conditions precedent to the issuance of such license have been complied with, there shall be delivered to the owner a license card of such size and form as may be prescribed by the Police Department.
The license card provided in § 265-25 shall contain the official City number of the taxi license, together with the date of inspection of the same, and a statement to the effect that, in case of any complaint, the Police Department shall be notified. Such card shall be signed by the City Clerk and the officer of the Police Department having charge of the enforcement of this chapter and shall contain blank spaces upon which an entry may be made of the date of every inspection of the vehicle by the inspector. Such card shall also contain the name of the person owning the taxicab and the engine number thereof.
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Editor’s Note: Former § 265-27, License fee, as amended, and § 265-28, Duration of license, as amended, were repealed 6-27-2017 by Ord. No. 4-2017. See now § 265-52, License fee, and § 265-53, Duration of license.
[Amended 3-22-1988]
No taxicab license shall be assigned or transferred to another vehicle except as follows: upon any transfer of ownership of any taxicab or upon the furnishing of evidence that a licensed taxicab, by reason of destruction or otherwise, is no longer to be used as such, the Police Department may validate, by appropriate endorsement thereon, such license for use on another taxicab to be designated by such transferor, or on the same taxicab if it is to continue in use as such. In no event, however, shall any transfer be made as hereinbefore contemplated unless and until the transferee in all respects complies with the terms and provisions of this chapter. For every transfer of license, the City Clerk shall collect from the applicant a fee of $10.
[Amended 3-22-1988; 3-26-1991 by Ord. No. 91-8; 4-9-2013 by Res. No. 39-2013]
A. 
All taxicabs shall be registered with the City Clerk at a cost of $10 per taxicab. The Office of the City Clerk shall supply the Taxicab Inspector with a list of taxicabs that are registered.
B. 
All taxicabs shall be inspected by the Inspector at the Police Department twice per calendar year, with approximately six months between each inspection.
C. 
When a new taxicab is registered with the City Clerk's Office, it shall be inspected by the Police Inspector within two weeks of the taxicab's initial registration. If said inspection is not performed within two weeks, then such new taxicab shall not be permitted to pick up any fares within the City of Gloversville. It shall be the duty of the owner of the taxicab company to contact the Police Inspector to arrange the aforementioned inspection of newly registered taxicabs.
D. 
There shall be a fee of $20 for each of the two inspections per calendar year. In the event that a vehicle fails inspection, there shall be a fee of $10 for each reinspection.
E. 
Taxicab inspections shall be done by a police officer designated by the Chief of Police.
F. 
Taxicab inspections will include the following:
(1) 
Headlights – both high and low beams.
(2) 
Parking lights and taillights.
(3) 
Front and rear signal lights.
(4) 
Brake lights.
(5) 
Backup lights.
(6) 
Safe tires on all four wheels.
(7) 
Horn.
(8) 
Windshield wipers.
(9) 
Exterior of taxi should be clean and not have extensive body damage or rust.
(10) 
Interior of taxi should be clean, and seats and floor carpet should not be torn, and floors should be sound.
(11) 
Side and rear view mirrors.
(12) 
All glass in place with no cracks, chips or discoloration.
G. 
Any taxicab that fails any of the inspection points shall be reinspected within 24 hours, if at all possible. Taxicabs that fail reinspection shall not be allowed to operate in the City of Gloversville until said taxicab passes inspection.
H. 
The Taxicab Inspector can do spot inspections on any taxicab he has complaints on or any taxicab that appears to have a code violation.
I. 
All taxicabs found to be in violation of any code requirements shall be ticketed for such violation. Fines shall be no less than $10 nor more than $25.
J. 
No taxicab that fails reinspection shall be allowed to operate within the City of Gloversville. Notice of said violation shall be given to the registered owner of said taxicab. If notice of a violation has been given to the registered taxicab owner and said taxicab is found to be operating with the City of Gloversville, then a ticket for a violation of this section shall be issued to the owner of the taxicab company. Fines shall be no less than $25 and shall be no more than $50.
K. 
An inspection card shall be provided to the taxicab owner and each taxicab licensed must have prominently displayed, on the dashboard, the inspection card. Inspections are required twice yearly, and the inspection card will be validated in the month the inspection is performed. The inspection card must be kept on the dashboard so that it is visible.
Every taxi licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall have the license card conspicuously displayed on the inside thereof.
[Amended 12-28-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2011]
Upon paying the fee established by resolution of the Common Council and furnishing proof of affidavit of the loss or destruction of the taxicab license issued under the provisions hereof, the licensee shall be entitled to the issuance of a duplicate. Such duplicate shall contain appropriate notation thereon that it is a duplicate.
A. 
Any taxicab license granted under the terms of this chapter may be temporarily suspended by the Chief of Police and may be revoked by the Mayor if the taxicab shall, with the knowledge and consent of its owner, be engaged in immoral or illegal business in violation of any City ordinance, state or federal law, or in violation of the terms of this chapter.
B. 
Any person being aggrieved by reason of the conduct or action of any taxicab operator or owner may present his complaint to any police officer. Such complaint shall be promptly investigated by the Police Department, and should it be determined that there has been a violation of the standards as set forth in § 265-33, the license of the person complained of may be suspended by the Chief of Police or revoked by the Mayor.
No taxicab license shall be suspended for more than ten (10) days without a hearing before the Chief of Police, nor shall such license be revoked without a hearing before the Mayor.
In the event of the revocation of a license issued under the terms of this chapter, the owner of such taxicab shall be ineligible for a period of one (1) year thereafter to receive another license.