As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DRIVER
Any person driving a taxicab upon the public highways for
hire.
OWNER
A person owning or controlling one or more taxicabs and driving
or causing any such vehicle to be driven upon the public highways
for hire.
PERSON
Includes an individual, partnership, unincorporated association,
corporation and any other legal entity.
TAXICABS
A vehicle engaged in the business of carrying passengers
for hire, but not operating on a fixed route.
TAXIMETER
A mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for
hire of a taxicab may be mechanically calculated either for the distance
driven or waiting time, or both, and upon which such charge is indicated
by means of figures.
TOWN
The Town of Amherst, not including the Village of Williamsville.
The fee for a taxicab owner's license shall be the sum
of $15 per year per each vehicle. For replacing a lost plate, the
fee shall be $5. In case of the sale or disuse for taxicab purposes
of any licensed taxicab, the owner of the taxicab license may have
the same transferred to another vehicle owned by him with the approval
of the Town Clerk and the payment of a transfer fee of $2.50. A fleet
operator may pay a license fee of $110 per year, which shall entitle
him to licenses for 10 taxicabs.
A copy of the rates to be charged shall at all times be displayed
in each vehicle in such a manner that it is easily visible from the
rear seat of the vehicle. Upon demand, the driver of a taxicab shall
furnish to the passenger a receipt for the fare paid, showing the
name and photograph number of the driver.
[Added 9-26-1966, effective 10-17-1966]
A. No owner or operator of any taxicab, for the purpose of securing
passengers, shall stand on any Town street, highway or place other
than those designated as taxi stands as herein provided, except that,
to meet special conditions, the Chief of Police is hereby authorized
to designate additional places where taxicabs may stand while awaiting
employment, but the use of such stands shall be subject at all times
to the orders of said Chief of Police.
B. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting the temporary
occupation of any street in the vicinity of theaters and places of
public entertainment by any taxicab while actually engaged by one
or more passengers; provided, however, that in such case, the vehicle
and the operator shall be subject at all times to the orders of the
police.
C. Taxi stands shall be authorized by the Town Board of the Town of
Amherst after a public hearing and shall be construed as an amendment
of this chapter.
Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any provision
of this chapter shall be guilty of an offense and subject to a fine
of not more than $100, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed
on each day during or on which a violation occurs and continues. In
addition thereto, upon conviction for any violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter, the license issued hereunder may be revoked
by the Town Clerk.
This chapter shall become effective immediately upon publication
and posting within the provisions of law.