No person shall drive a taxicab and no person shall permit anyone
to drive a taxicab within the limits of the City of North Tonawanda
without such driver or owner having first obtained and paid for and
having in force and effect a taxicab license under the provisions
of this chapter.
Vehicles operated as part of the bus transportation system or
operating with permission of the Interstate Commerce Commission, ambulances,
vehicles used by undertakers in the conduct of their business and
vehicles rented for the purpose of being driven by the person renting
the same shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
Each applicant for a taxicab license must comply with the following,
to the satisfaction of the City Clerk.
A. The
applicant must first have obtained a New York State chauffeur's
license.
B. The
applicant must provide the following information on an application
to be provided by the City Clerk:
(1) The name, residence and age of the owner of the taxicab.
(2) The manufacturer and type of vehicle to be used, the serial number,
the New York State license number, the year of manufacture and the
seating capacity of the vehicle.
(3) A photocopy of the applicant's New York State chauffeur's
license.
(4) The date, location and expiration of the taxicab's most recent
inspection pursuant to § 306(b) of the New York State Vehicle
and Traffic Law.
(5) Whether the vehicle has been previously licensed to operate as a
taxicab and, if so, for what year or years and in what municipality.
If an inspection exemption is being sought, the applicant must provide
a copy of any other valid taxicab license he may hold.
(6) Whether the applicant has previously held an owner's license
and if said license has ever been revoked, and, if so, for what cause.
(7) Number of taxicab licenses desired by the applicant.
(8) Whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony
or misdemeanor.
C. The
application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and filed
with the City Clerk as a permanent record.
D. Any
false statements contained in such application for a taxicab license
shall be cause for refusing the license or revoking the license after
it is issued.
E. Any
person, including but not limited to City officials, who is aware
or becomes aware of any false statement made by an applicant shall
promptly report the alleged false statement made by an applicant to
the Chief of Police who shall take the appropriate action.
F. The
City Clerk is hereby authorized and empowered to require such additional
information as he may deem necessary.
G. The
applicant shall, at the time of the filing of his application, provide
a certificate of insurance showing that the applicant has automobile
insurance covering property damage and bodily injury. The policy shall
indicate that notice of cancellation shall be given to the City of
North Tonawanda at least 10 days prior to the same. Further, the applicant,
by signature of the permit form, will agree to hold and save the City
harmless from any and all damages and/or causes of action which may
arise from his or her operating a taxicab within the City of North
Tonawanda.
[Added 3-19-2003]
H. The
license holder shall sign an application indicating that he agrees
to hold the City harmless for any and all damages or suits or causes
of action arising out of his operating a taxicab within the City.
[Added 3-19-2003]
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license must file
with his application two unmounted, unretouched photographs of himself
in such position as the City Clerk may direct, taken within 30 days
preceding the filing of his application. Photographs shall be two
by two inches in size. One photograph shall be attached to the license
when issued, and the others shall be filed with the application. The
photograph shall be so attached to the license so that it cannot be
removed and another photograph substituted without detection. Each
licensed driver shall, upon demand, exhibit his license and photograph
for inspection. When the application for a taxicab driver's license
is denied, the photographs shall be returned to the applicant by the
City Clerk.
Taxicab licenses shall be issued as of January 1 of each year,
and all of said licenses shall expire on the last day of December
of such year, unless sooner suspended or revoked. Any owner to whom
a license is issued during the license year shall pay the full amount
of the annual license.