[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 12, Licenses and Permits Generally.
[Ord. of 6-8-1999; Ord. of 4-10-2007; Ord. of 4-8-2014; Ord. of 11-28-2023]
No person shall drive a taxicab, and no owner or person having the care or management of a taxicab shall employ or suffer any person to drive the same, other than a person licensed by the City Council. Such applications shall be approved by the Chief of Police or their designated alternate; and must be approved by a majority vote the City Council. Incomplete Taxi Driver's license applications shall not be submitted to the City Council for approval, nor shall applications with missing information be submitted. Any application submitted without complete information, shall not be acted upon by the City Council and such applications shall be returned to the Police Department. On January 1 and July 1 of each year, taxi business operators shall provide the City Clerk with a list of current drivers. Failure to provide the list will result in the suspension or revocation of the taxi business operator's license..
[1-27-1970; Ord. of 11-12-1980; Ord of 3-25-1997; Ord. of 9-27-2005; Ord. of 4-10-2007; Ord. of 2-10-2009; Ord. of 11-28-2023]
No taxicab driver's license shall be granted to any person unless:
a) 
They possess a valid Massachusetts driver's license and must be licensed to operate a motor vehicle in Massachusetts or any other state for no less than two years consecutively from the time of application and without interruption due to suspension, revocation, or failure to renew.
b) 
Is at least 21 years of age.
c) 
Address with Registry of Motor Vehicles shall be applicant's current legal address.
d) 
A Taxicab Driver's license application will not be approved if:
e) 
They have been convicted of operating under the influence, both drugs and alcohol, or a like offense in another state, within the past 60 months or has two such convictions in a lifetime.
e.)
They have been convicted of reckless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle or operating to endanger under Massachusetts General Law Ch. 90, Sec. 24 within the past 60 months or two such convictions in a lifetime.
f) 
They have an outstanding arrest warrant or be listed as a fugitive from justice from another state.
g) 
They do not have a license to operate a motor vehicle revoked by Massachusetts or another state for any reason within the past 60 months.
h) 
They have been convicted of a violent felony.
i) 
They have an active Abuse Prevention Order or Harassment Prevention Order against them.
j) 
They have a license status listed as "Non-Renewable" at the time of the application.
k) 
They take any medication that would hinder the applicant's ability to drive a motor vehicle.
l) 
The Police Department may deny or revoke a taxicab driver's license for any other reason not specifically covered in this section should the applicant be deemed unsuitable.
m) 
The City Council may, without prejudice approve or deny the taxicab driver's license application.
n) 
Any taxi cab driver who has been approved by the City Council, may have their license revoked or suspended for failing to comply with any of the above-mentioned requirements.
o) 
A Taxicab Driver that has suffered a suspension or revocation may file an appeal as described in Section 23-3.6.
Such applicant or taxi company representative shall appear before the City Council at which meeting the license is acted upon. If the applicant or taxi company representative fails to appear, the application shall be postponed until the next regular meeting of the City Council. Failure to appear at the second meeting shall require a new application and fee to be submitted before a license is issued.
If such license, once granted, is not obtained from the City Clerk's office within five days, it shall be automatically revoked and the City Clerk shall so inform the taxi operator noted on the application.
All taxicab drivers' licenses shall be numbered in order as granted, shall be recorded in the office of the City Clerk and, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall continue in force until the 31st day of December next after the date of issuance thereof.
[6-27-1972, § 3]
The City Clerk, when issuing a license under this division, shall deliver to the licensee an identification card, setting forth the number and term of the license, the name of the licensee and a personal description of the licensee including his photograph, size 21/4 inches by 31/4 inches, which shall be furnished by the licensee, age, height, weight, complexion, color of hair and color of eyes. The licensee shall at all times when driving or in charge of a taxicab display such card so as to be plainly visible to the occupants thereof and carry the license under which the taxicab is operated, and he shall show such whenever so requested by any police officer or passenger.