This Article 7 shall not be deemed or interpreted to prevent
taxicabs or limousines licensed by other municipalities from entering
the Village for the purpose of depositing or picking up passengers.
All taxicabs and limousines must prominently display a vehicle license
issued by either the Village or other governmental body within the
United States.
An application filed with the Village pursuant to Section 9-1-5 of this Code for a taxicab or limousine shall include, in addition to the requirements set forth in Section 9-1-5 of this Code:
(A)
The number of vehicles, and the class, age, seating capacity, and
motor power of all vehicles for which the business license is sought;
(B)
Identification of all other municipalities for which the applicant
has a current business and/or vehicle license, or has had at any time
a business and/or vehicle license;
(C)
The names of banks or other financial or credit institutions at which
the applicant does business or has accounts, and any additional credit
references;
(D)
The schedule of maximum rates proposed to be charged; the proposed
color scheme to be used on the licensed vehicles by the applicant;
and
(E)
Proof that all proposed drivers of the taxicab or limousine are properly
licensed as a driver by the State of Illinois.
In addition to the inspections required pursuant to Section 9-1-6 of this Code, the Chief of Police, or his or her designee, shall have the right to inspect any taxicab or limousine operating within the Village as he or she deems necessary to determine whether the taxicab or limousine complies with all applicable provisions of this Code. Such inspections shall be conducted at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner. The Chief of Police may direct that the inspection be performed at a reputable testing lane or garage, and by an inspection or testing firm, selected by the Chief of Police. At least once each year, the Chief of Police shall make a written report of all inspections performed pursuant to this Section 9-7-3.
(A)
Public service of vehicles required; abandonment. A business licensee
for a taxicab or limousine shall regularly and daily operate his or
her vehicle or vehicles during each day of the licensed year to the
extent reasonably necessary to meet the public demand for such service.
Such service shall be deemed abandoned when the service is discontinued
for a period of 10 consecutive days by the business licensee.
(B)
Vehicles to be kept in good condition. It shall be unlawful for the
owner or operator of a taxicab or limousine to operate or keep in
use a vehicle which is not kept and maintained in good working order
and in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers,
clean, fit, of good appearance, and well painted.
(C)
State licensing. All drivers of taxicabs and limousines shall be
properly licensed as a driver by the State of Illinois.
(D)
Practices prohibited; duties of taxicab and limousine drivers. It
shall be unlawful for taxicab or limousine drivers to engage in the
following practices:
(1)
Defacing, removing or obliterating any official entry made upon
his or her taxicab driver's license or taxicab business license.
(2)
Charging or attempting to charge any passenger a greater fare
than that to which such driver is entitled under a rate schedule for
taximeters established by, or under a flat rate approved by the Village
which has issued the license to operate that taxicab. In addition,
all rate schedules shall be displayed in a prominent place within
the taxicab.
(3)
Repeatedly and persistently driving his or her taxicab about
the streets of the Village or otherwise interfering with the proper
and orderly access to or egress from any place of public gathering.
(E)
Taximeters required. Each taxicab shall have affixed thereto in good
working order a taximeter in accordance with the following:
(1)
No person shall detach any certified or inspected taximeter
from any taxicab and attach the same to any other taxicab, the front
wheels of which are of different diameter from those with the reference
to which such taximeter was originally tested, unless a new inspection
or certification is had on such taximeter.
(2)
The dial of the taximeter with shall show only one tariff, which shall be in compliance with the schedule of rates and fees provided in Section 9-7-5 of this Code.
(3)
The taximeter shall also properly and accurately register, indicate
and display the time consumed by the taxicab while in waiting, the
distance traveled, and the amount of fare to be determined and charged
therefor.
(4)
The taximeter shall be equipped with a flag at least three inches
by two inches in size, either painted red or bearing thereon in letters
at least one inch in height, the word "vacant," or the words "for
hire." The flag post of such flag shall be kept up or towards a vertical
position when the taxicab is for hire, and when such taxicab is engaged
in the service of a passenger, such flag post shall be kept down or
in a horizontal position.
(5)
The taximeter shall be equipped with a light which shall be
so reflected upon the dial of the taximeter as to enable the passenger
engaging and using such taxicab to read the figures indicated thereon
at all times.
(6)
Every taximeter shall be arranged that the dial thereof is in
plain view of the passenger while riding in such taxicab, or upon
alighting from the same.
The rates and charges of taxicabs and limousines licensed pursuant to this Chapter 9 shall not exceed those allowed by the City of Chicago.
All business licensees for taxicabs and limousines shall maintain automobile liability insurance for all licensed taxicabs and limousines in accordance with Section 9-1-14 of this Code.
In addition to the grounds set forth in Section 9-1-16(A) of this Code, the Village Manager may, in his or her discretion and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 9-1-16, suspend or revoke any business license for a taxicab or limousine upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(A)
The business licensee is convicted of the violation of any law of
a type that indicates that the licensee is unable to operate or participate
in a safe, honest and legitimate business operation within the Village;
or
