State Law Reference: Authority of
City to license and regulate taxicabs, § 94.110, RSMo.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.010; Ord. No. 7230, 6-15-1992]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following words shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
Any motor vehicle performing a bona fide for hire taxicab
service having a capacity of not more than seven (7) passengers, exclusive
of the driver, and not operated on a regular route or between fixed
termini.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.020; Ord. No. 2249 § 1, 7-14-1958; CC 1970 § 25-1]
No person shall engage in, operate
or conduct a public taxicab business within this City without first
having secured a license therefor as provided in this Chapter.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.030; Ord. No. 2249 § 2, 7-14-1958; CC 1970 § 25-2]
An applicant for a license of a public
taxicab business within this City shall file a written application
therefor with the City Clerk, setting forth the name of the applicant
and the ownership of such proposed business, the number of taxicabs
applicant proposes to operate, a description of each such taxicab,
by whom such cabs are owned and a statement of all indebtedness of
such applicant upon such taxicabs, if any, a description of any and
all other equipment to be used in the business, the hours during which
the taxicabs will be operated, and the charges to be made for such
service and evidence of having complied with the public liability
insurance requirement set forth in this Chapter.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.050; Ord. No. 2249 § 5, 7-14-1958; CC 1970 § 25-4]
All licenses to operate a public
taxicab business in the City shall terminate on June 30 of each year,
and such licenses shall be issued annually.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.060; Ord. No. 2249 § 3, 7-14-1958; CC 1970 § 25-5]
It shall be unlawful to operate a
taxicab for hire or for the transportation of passengers within the
City without procuring and maintaining in full force a policy of liability
insurance upon each such taxicab for injuries to person or property
in sums of not less than that required by the Missouri Motor Vehicle
Safety Responsibility Law, with some insurance company to be approved
by the Mayor or providing a surety bond or cash deposit against such
liability, either of which are to be approved by the Mayor and in
the amounts aforesaid.
[R.O. 1992 § 640.070; Ord. No. 05-9861 § 1, 9-19-2005]
A.
Vehicle Equipment And Inspections.
1.
Required Equipment. Every vehicle
governed by this Chapter shall have and maintain the following equipment:
a.
Two (2) doors affording direct entrance
and exit to and from both the front and rear seats; provided, however,
minivans may have one (1) side door, which may be on the non-driver's
side, as a means of direct entrance and exit from rear seats.
b.
An adequate light in the passenger
compartment.
c.
Cards containing the following:
(1)
A card located in the
passenger compartment, not less than four (4) inches by six (6) inches
in size, which shall have plainly printed thereon the name of the
taxicab company, its business address and telephone number and the
current schedule of fares on file with the City Clerk to be charged
for the conveyance of passengers.
(2)
A separate card provided
by the City Clerk to be located in the passenger compartment, not
less than four (4) inches by six (6) inches in size, which shall have
plainly printed thereon the address and telephone number where the
customer may register complaints and comments about the taxicab service.
d.
A copy of the license issued by the
City Clerk.
B.
Cleanliness And Condition Of Vehicles.
Every taxicab governed by this Chapter shall be kept in a clean and
sanitary condition and shall be swept and dusted at least once a day.
Every taxicab shall be kept in such condition of repair as may be
reasonably necessary to provide for the safety of the public and for
continuous and satisfactory operation. Every taxicab shall be comfortable
for the passengers and free from debris. If the vehicle has a trunk,
it shall be kept clear of articles to allow for storage of passenger
items, except that the taxicab may store adequate tools, first aid
kit, blanket and spare tire. Every taxicab shall have no offensive
odors. Smoking shall not be permitted in any taxicab.
C.
Refusal Of Service. It shall be unlawful
for a driver of a taxicab to refuse service to a member of the general
public except when such person is intoxicated, has an open container
of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating beer, uses profanity, is
abusive, desires to use the service for an illegal purpose, presents
an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the driver, has an outstanding
amount due for past fares or is unable to pay the legal fare. However,
a driver of a taxicab shall not be required to provide service to
an individual under the age of twelve (12) without an adult passenger
accompanying him/her.
D.
Use Or Possession Of Intoxicating Beverages
Or Controlled Substances By Owner, Driver Or Employees. No taxicab
owner, driver or employee, while on duty, shall have in his/her possession
an open container of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating beer
or controlled substances, nor shall he/she drink or consume such items
while on duty. No driver shall knowingly purchase, carry or transport
controlled substances. A passenger may have in his/her possession
unopened containers of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating beer.
E.
Use Of Vehicle For Unlawful Purpose. No
person shall use a vehicle governed by this Chapter for any unlawful
purpose, nor shall any owner or driver knowingly permit such unlawful
use. When such unlawful use has occurred with the knowledge of the
owner or driver of such vehicle and he/she shall be duly convicted
thereof, the City Clerk shall revoke the license to operate such vehicle.
F.
Refusal To Pay Fare. No person shall hire
or permit himself/herself to be carried as a passenger for hire in
any taxicab in the City of Washington, Missouri, and refuse to pay
the fare for such trip.
G.
Disposition Of Property Found In Vehicles.
A driver shall deliver all lost or misplaced property found in the
vehicle to the holder of the taxicab license for such vehicle at the
end of the driver's tour of duty. The taxicab company shall keep such
property for one (1) week, or a shorter time if the rightful owner
of such property requests the release of such property. At the end
of one (1) week, the taxicab company shall deliver such property or
the name and address of the owner of and description of such property
to the Police Department. The Police Department shall provide a receipt
for all such property delivered to it.
H.
Number Of Passengers In Taxicab. There
shall not be more passengers than that recommended by the manufacturer
of the vehicle, including the driver, carried in a taxicab at one
time. The front seat of a taxicab shall only be occupied by the driver
and one (1) passenger.
I.
Driver Appearance. Drivers shall present
a neat and orderly appearance and shall be clean in dress and in person.
Drivers shall not use cell phones or other portable phones while passengers
are in the taxicab except for conducting taxicab business.
