[Ord. No. 480, passed 4-26-1993]
No person shall engage in the business of operating a taxicab
on the streets of the City without having first obtained a license
therefor, for each of such taxicabs, as provided in this chapter.
No person shall operate a taxicab on the streets of the City without
having first obtained a taxicab driver's license as provided in this
chapter.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Application for a taxicab license under this chapter shall be
made in writing on application forms to be furnished by the Police
Department and shall state the applicant's full name, marital status,
age and residence and the make, ownership, vehicle identification
number, license number and seating capacity of the automobile or automobiles
to be used in the business.
For a taxicab driver's license, the application shall state
the applicant's name, age, residence and experience as a driver, and
shall further state the number of the applicant's chauffeur's license
issued by the State, the name of the taxicab owner for whom such applicant
shall be employed and such other information as may be necessary in
the enforcement of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
The Chief of Police shall cause an investigation to be made
as to the applicant's fitness and ability to serve the public in a
safe, fair, honest and competent manner and the applicant's ability
to comply with this chapter. This investigation shall include, but
is not limited to, the following:
(a) The applicant's criminal history, if any; and
(b) The applicant's driving record.
No license shall be issued to any person who does not possess,
at the time of issuance of such license, a certificate of registration
as a licensed chauffeur under the laws of the State, to any person
who has, in the preceding 12 months, been convicted or found responsible
for any violation of the traffic laws of this State, any other state
or any political subdivision thereof, or to any person who, within
the last seven years, has been convicted of any offense involving
the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs.
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[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Before any vehicle is licensed under the provisions of this
chapter to be operated as a taxicab, the owner thereof shall file
with the Chief of Police a statement from a qualified mechanic licensed
by the State to the effect that the vehicle has been carefully checked
and inspected and found to be in a safe condition to be used as a
taxicab. Such statement must bear the date that the inspection was
made and the serial number of the vehicle. The statement shall be
filed within 10 days from the date of the inspection. Such statement
shall be filed with the Chief of Police every year. Failure to file
such a statement in a timely fashion shall automatically cause a forfeit
of the license for such vehicle.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
All persons operating taxicabs in the City shall, for the protection
of the persons carried in the taxicabs owned by them and for the protection
of the public, carry on each taxicab insurance in the amount of a
minimum of $100,000 for bodily injury to any one person, $300,000
for liability growing out of any one accident, and not less than $50,000
for damage to property that may result from an accident. This insurance
shall be carried with insurers licensed to do business in the State,
and such taxicab operators shall furnish a certificate that such insurance
is in effect. Failure to furnish such certificate or to maintain such
insurance shall result in automatic forfeiture of the taxicab license,
or shall be grounds for denial of a license.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
The fee for a taxicab license is as presently established or
as hereafter adopted by resolution of Council.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
The Chief of Police shall issue a taxicab license as provided
in this chapter if it appears that the applicant will serve the public
in a safe, fair, honest and competent manner, and will comply with
the provisions of these Codified Ordinances and all other applicable
Federal, State and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
Such license shall expire on January 1 following its date of issuance.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit any person
from operating more than one taxicab, provided that the remaining
provisions of this chapter are observed, and provided, further, that
the driver of a taxicab obtains a taxicab driver's license as provided
in this chapter.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the licensing of
a corporation, partnership or association as the owner of a taxicab,
but each driver of such taxicab, if a partner or a member of an association
or an employee of a corporation, shall be licensed in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
A license issued as provided in this chapter shall not be transferable.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Each taxicab operator and driver licensed as provided in this
chapter shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local
laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
There shall be posted by the owner or driver of each taxicab
licensed as provided in this chapter, in a conspicuous place on the
inside of such taxicab and in full view of each occupant thereof,
a notice containing the rates of the fares to be charged for the use
of such taxicab.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Any person who shall solicit and receive the service of any
taxicab within the City without paying therefor, with the intent to
defraud the owner or operator of such taxicab out of the pay for the
service rendered, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Refusal or neglect
to pay for such service on demand, or leaving such taxicab without
paying or offering to pay for such service, shall be prima-facie proof
of fraudulent intent.
[Ord. No. 480,
passed 4-26-1993]
Existing taxicab licenses shall be valid until January 1, 1994.