[Code 1992, § 12.13(9)(a); Ord. No. 03-14, § I, 10-27-2003]
Every person driving a taxicab, except the owner, shall be licensed
as such, and each applicant for a driver's license shall fulfill
the following requirements:
(1)
At least 18 years of age.
(2)
Of sound physique with good eyesight and not subject to epilepsy,
vertigo, heart trouble or any other infirmity of body or mind which
might render him unfit for the safe operation of the vehicle.
(3)
Able to speak, read and write the English language.
(4)
Clean in dress and person and not addicted to the use of alcohol
beverages or habit forming drugs.
(5)
Fill out, upon a form provided by the City Clerk, a statement giving
his full name, residence or places of residence for the three years
previous to his present address; age, color, height, color of eyes
and hair, place of birth, length of time he has resided in the City;
whether a citizen of the United States; place of previous employment;
whether he has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; whether
he has been previously licensed as a driver or chauffeur and, if so,
when and by what authority; whether his license has ever been revoked
or suspended and, if so, for what cause. Such statement shall be signed
and sworn to by the applicant and filed with the City Clerk and kept
as a permanent record. Each licensed driver shall, upon demand of
a police officer or passenger, exhibit his license for inspection.
(6)
Each
applicant shall be subject to a background investigation conducted
by the Chief of Police to ensure that such license shall not be granted
to any person who has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction,
or has charges pending against her or him, of any offense, the circumstances
of which substantially relate to the circumstances of taxicab or other
public passenger vehicle operation. Such offenses include, but are
not limited to, crimes against persons or property or driving a vehicle
while under the influence of intoxicants or controlled substances;
provided, however, that the Chief of Police shall grant a license
to such convicted person if the conviction is reversed or if the person
is granted a pardon for the offense in question. In determining whether
or not the circumstances of a conviction or a pending charge are substantially
related to the circumstances of taxicab or other public passenger
vehicle operation, the Chief of Police shall consider the number of
convictions, the nature and seriousness of the crime or crimes, whether
they involved violence, whether they involved theft or other evidence
of lack of trustworthiness with money, whether the crime involved
driving, the age and maturity of the individual at the time of the
conviction, the amount of time elapsed since the last conviction,
and any evidence of personal rehabilitation.
[Added 7-23-2012 by Ord. No. 12-14[1]]
(7)
Photocopy of driver's license.
(8)
Upon compliance with all of the provisions of this section, the City
Clerk shall issue a taxicab driver's license to each applicant
therefor, which shall be in force for one year or less, expiring on
June 30.
(9)
Appeals. If the City Clerk denies a public passenger vehicle driver
permit, he or she shall notify the applicant in writing, and shall
state the reasons for the denial. The applicant may appeal the denial
by notifying the City Clerk within 15 days of the date of the written
denial. The appeal proceeding shall be held within 45 days after the
date of the appeal and shall be conducted by the City Council.
[Added 7-23-2012 by Ord. No. 12-14]
[Code 1992, § 12.13(9)(b)]
The City Clerk may renew a driver's license from year to
year by appropriate endorsement. A driver applying for a renewal of
this license shall make application upon a form furnished by the Clerk
entitled "Application for Renewal of License" which shall be filled
out with the full name and address of the applicant, together with
a statement of the date upon which his original license was granted
and the number of such license.
[Code 1992, § 12.13(9)(c)]
The City Clerk shall keep a complete record of each license
issued to a driver and all renewals, suspensions and revocations which
shall be kept on file with the original application of the driver
for a license.
[Code 1992, § 12.13(10)]
A taxicab driver's license may be suspended or revoked
at any time for a violation of any provision of this division or for
any cause deemed reasonable by the Council, after affording such driver
a hearing thereon, or by a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction.
When the license is suspended or revoked by an authority other than
the Council, the taxicab driver's license and a record of such
revocation or suspension shall immediately be forwarded to the Council.
If the penalty is suspension of license, the license shall be returned
to the driver at the expiration of the suspension period. A second
suspension for the same reason and a third suspension for any reason
shall be cause for revocation of the driver's license. A driver
whose license has once been revoked may again be licensed as a driver
in the City, provided that a new license is granted by the Council.
Where a license has been suspended or revoked by a court, the approval
of such court shall be necessary for the restoration or reissue of
such license. Where any driver's license shall be suspended or
revoked by the Council, the Chief of Police shall be immediately notified.
[Code 1992, § 12.13(11)]
It shall be grounds for revocation for any person to give any
fictitious information or practice any fraud, misrepresentation or
subterfuge to secure any license provided by this division.
