[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Northbridge 4-9-2007 Amendments noted where applicable.]
Motor vehicles for hire are regulated and licensed by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Northbridge to ensure the safety of the public. These rules and regulations are adopted pursuant to MGL Chapter 40 § 22 and Chapter 4, Administrative Organization, and Chapter 199, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Code of the Town of Northbridge.
The Board of Selectmen may promulgate rules and regulations
for the administration, ownership and operation of livery vehicles
and taxicabs. The Board of Selectmen reserve the right to amend any
section of these rules and regulations after proper public notice.
The Board of Selectmen may suspend or revoke the license to own or
operate a livery or taxicab for cause.
For the purposes of this section, whenever the following terms
are used they will have the meanings ascribed to them:
The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Northbridge.
A vehicle for hire for livery purposes not equipped with
taxi meter, does not operate on a fixed route and is hired by means
of a telephone request or a contract for a prearranged fare arranged
in advance of the time of the designated pickup. A livery vehicle
will display a livery motor vehicle registration plate issued by the
Registry of Motor Vehicles. The definition of a limousine is within
this class of vehicle. The definition of a limousine shall not include
vehicles engaged exclusively to provide services to funeral homes.
A person who has an operator's license from the Commonwealth
or other state to operate motor vehicles and also a license to operate
vehicles for hire in the Town of Northbridge.
Any vehicle which carries passengers for hire; it may or
may not be equipped with a taxi meter. A taxi is used to solicit passengers
for hire on streets and parking areas open to the public.
A mechanical instrument or device by which a charge for hire
is calculated either for distance traveled or for waiting time or
both, and upon which such charges shall be clearly indicated by means
of a figure displayed.
All provisions of these rules and regulations shall be in effect
beginning 45 days following the date of adoption by the Board of Selectmen.
Permits shall be issued for a term of one calendar year or portion
of a calendar year, if issued in mid-year and shall be renewable during
the month of December of each year for the following calendar year.
The annual fee for a Livery/Taxi license shall be $25 payable
by check to the "Town of Northbridge."
The annual fee for a Livery/Taxi Operator's license shall
be $25 payable by check to the "Town of Northbridge."
The fee for a Livery/Taxicab license or a Livery/Taxi Operator's
license shall be set by the Board as authorized under MGL Chapter
40, § 22F and in § 5-107 of the Code of the Town
of Northbridge.
All complaints and violations of these Rules and Regulations
against operators of Livery Vehicles or Taxicabs and the owners of
Livery Vehicles and Taxicabs shall be brought before the Board of
Selectmen. After a hearing at which all pertinent facts will be heard
a decision will be made and if the operator or owner is found guilty
of the complaint or violation then the Board of Selectmen may revoke
or suspend the license of the offending owner, or revoke or suspend
the operator's right to operate Livery Vehicles or Taxicabs for
hire.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions
of these rules and regulations may be ordered to pay a fine not exceeding
$100 for each offense.
The Board is authorized in accordance with these rules and regulations
to grant Livery and Taxicab Licenses to suitable persons, firms and
corporations who are owners or lessees of such vehicles and whose
principle place of business is in the Town of Northbridge.
The Board is authorized in accordance with these rules and regulations
to grant Livery and Taxi Operator's licenses to suitable persons.
No license shall be sold, transferred or assigned without the
prior written approval of the Board. The Board shall determine that
the proposed licensee is a suitable person, firm or corporation.
Licensed owners shall maintain a central place of business in
the Town of Northbridge. The Board is authorized to waive this requirement
when in the opinion of the Board the public interest would be served.
Licensed owners shall provide the names, addresses and license
information of all operators of livery vehicles or taxicabs who will
be employed by their firm or corporation.
No Taxicab shall operate without permanent decals or marking
on each side of the vehicle identifying the firm, corporation or business.
Removable magnetic signs are expressly forbidden.
Operators shall not knowingly operate a taxicab or livery vehicle
that is unsafe for passenger service. Owners shall not allow the operation
of taxicabs or livery vehicles that are unsafe for passenger service.
Change of address of the business and or the owner of Livery
Vehicles or Taxicabs shall be reported to the Board within five days.
No person shall operate or own a Livery Vehicle or Taxicab without
being deemed a suitable person by the Chief of Police.
The Chief of Police may consider owners and operators as unsuitable
persons for the following reasons:
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Person under 18 years of age.
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Conviction of a felony.
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Violations of parole or probation.
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Conviction of a sex offense or is currently a registered sex
offender.
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Conviction of alcohol related offenses including operating under
the influence of alcohol.
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Conviction of narcotics offenses.
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Unlawful possession of any controlled substances delineated
in MGL Chapter 94C.
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Conviction of firearms offenses.
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Any justifiable cause in addition to those specifically enumerated.
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The length of time since the offense, the severity of the offense
and any rehabilitation or treatment shall be considered prior to denial.
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Every owner of a vehicle for hire shall have his vehicle(s)
inspected on an annual basis during the month of January or prior
to filing an application for a Livery or Taxicab license by the Chief
of Police or his designee. The inspection shall include but not limited
to the following:
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Verification that the vehicle is properly registered and has
a current safety inspection sticker.
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Inspection of the interior and exterior of the vehicle for cleanliness.
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Verification that the vehicle has a properly operating odometer.
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Interior surfaces must be intact. Seats must be free of tears.
Floors must be free of holes and covered completely with carpet or
rubber matting.
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Seats must be functioning properly and all seat belts must be
operable and available for use by passengers.
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Windows and doors must be operable from the passenger compartment
at all times.
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All tires must meet Registry of Motor Vehicles standards for
tread depth.
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All safety equipment of any type including lights, signals,
glass, windshield wipers and bumpers must be intact and operational.
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All safety lights and other required lights must be intact and
operational.
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These sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases included
in these rules and regulation are severable, and if any phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or section of the rules and regulations shall
be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by a valid judgment
or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality
or invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses,
sentences, paragraphs and sections of these rules and regulations.
