[CC 1987 §625.010; Ord. No. 501 §1, 10-30-1961]
Unless it appears that a different meaning is intended, the
following words shall have the meaning given them by this Section:
Any individual, company, partnership or corporation.
This Chapter shall not apply to any motor vehicle used as
a sightseeing car, a "sightseeing car" being defined
as a "motor vehicle having a seating capacity in excess of ten (10)
persons and which is used for the purpose of conveying passengers
on sightseeing tours as the term is generally understood, and where
the basis for charge is the time or circuit route traveled by such
cars in regular trips". Nor shall it apply to "service cars" or "buses", as those terms are generally understood.
Any street, alley, avenue, boulevard, court, lane or public
place in the City of Northwoods.
Any motor vehicle performing a bona fide for hire taxicab
service having a capacity of not more than five (5) passengers, exclusive
of the driver, and not operated on a regular route or between fixed
termini.
[CC 1987 §625.020; Ord. No. 501 §2, 10-30-1961]
A.
No person
shall engage in the business of operating a taxicab or taxicabs upon
the streets of the City of Northwoods without first obtaining a license
to do so. Such license shall be issued by the City Collector or Deputy
Collector after the application therefor has been approved and the
requisite fee paid, as hereinafter prescribed, and after all other
provisions of this Chapter pertaining to the obtaining or issuing
of said licenses have been complied with.
B.
Application
for a license to engage in the business of operating a taxicab or
taxicabs shall be filed with the City Collector or Deputy Collector
and referred to the Board of Aldermen for consideration and action.
The application shall be in writing, verified by the affidavit of
the applicant; or, if the applicant be a corporation or a partnership,
by its duly authorized officer or agent; and shall state the following
facts.
1.
The
full name and address of the applicant; if a partnership, the names
and addresses of all the partners; if a corporation, the names and
addresses of all the officers and directors thereof.
2.
The
name and address of the owners of the vehicles proposed to be operated.
3.
A statement
of the previous experience the applicant has had, or if the applicant
be a partnership, the partners thereof have had; or, if the applicant
be a corporation, the officers and directors have had, in the taxicab
business.
4.
The
number of taxicabs the applicant desires to operate within the City.
5.
The
seating capacity of each vehicle proposed to be used as a taxicab
according to the manufacturer's rating, which must not be less than
three (3) in the tonneau thereof.
6.
The
type of motorcar to be used, horsepower, name of manufacturer, the
length of time such vehicle has been in use, the insurance proposed
to be carried, the amount of same and the name of the company issuing
the policy.
7.
The
color scheme of the taxicab or taxicabs proposed to be used.
C.
The application
shall be accompanied by a certificate of inspection from the Marshal,
who shall inspect all taxicabs as hereinafter provided; such certificate,
however, shall not be necessary in case the vehicles proposed to be
operated as taxicabs are now and have not been in use.
[CC 1987 §625.030; Ord. No. 501 §3, 10-30-1961]
The Board of Aldermen shall have power to approve any such application
and order a license issued or refuse to do so, as it may deem proper.
In determining whether such application shall be approved and the
license issued, or otherwise, the Board of Aldermen shall take into
consideration whether the demands of the public require such proposed
or additional taxicab service within the City of Northwoods, the financial
responsibility of the applicant, the number, kind and type of equipment,
and the color scheme proposed to be used, the increased traffic congestion,
and the demand for increased parking space upon the streets of the
City which may result, and whether the safe use of the streets by
the public both vehicular and pedestrian will be preserved by the
granting of such license, and such other relevant facts as the Board
of Aldermen may deem advisable or necessary.
[CC 1987 §625.040; Ord. No. 501 §4, 10-30-1961]
If the Board of Aldermen shall approve the application and authorize
the issuance of the license applied for, the City Collector or Deputy
Collector shall, after payment by the applicant of the fee prescribed
therefor, issue such license and deliver the same to the applicant.
If the Board shall refuse to approve the application, the City Collector
or Deputy Collector shall make a memorandum to that effect thereupon
and notify the applicant that his/her application has been disapproved.
[CC 1987 §625.050; Ord. No. 501 §5, 10-30-1961]
Before such license shall be issued, the applicant shall pay
to the City Collector or Deputy Collector of the City of Northwoods,
the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) as an annual license tax for each
taxicab to be operated for the conveyance of passengers upon, along
or over the streets of this City, and license to expire on the first
(1st) day of January after the date of its issuance, provided that
when any license issued after the first (1st) day of July of any year,
the fee for the remaining portion of the year shall be five dollars
($5.00). All such licenses may be thereafter renewed annually upon
the first (1st) day of January of each year upon payment of the required
fee.
Nothing herein shall be construed to require a license of taxicabs
licensed by any other incorporated municipality and operating out
of that other incorporated municipality for the purpose of carrying
fares into the City of Northwoods, if no fares in the City of Northwoods
are solicited for transportation.
[CC 1987 §625.060; Ord. No. 501 §6, 10-30-1961]
All licenses issued under this Chapter shall be conspicuously
posted in the driver's compartment of the taxicab for which it was
issued.
[CC 1987 §625.070; Ord. No. 526 §1, 5-22-1962]
Every applicant for a license to operate a taxicab as herein
defined, and the owner of the said taxicab, in addition to the requirements
herein mentioned, shall maintain and carry for each taxicab licensed
to be operated, liability insurance in the amount of twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000.00) because of bodily injury to or death of one (1)
person in any one (1) accident, and, subject to said limit for one
(1) person, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) because
of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one
(1) accident, and in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00)
because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one
(1) accident. Said insurance shall be carried in a firm or corporation
which has been duly licensed or permitted to carry on such business
in the State of Missouri, and shall be kept and maintained continually
in force and effect so long as such applicant and owner of such taxicab
shall be licensed to operate the same on the streets of the City of
Northwoods, and shall file Affidavit of Insurer that insurance remains
in force, provided that any taxicab operator, making an application
under the provisions of this Chapter who shall furnish to the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen annually, and at such other times as may be
required, satisfactory proof and evidence of such taxicab operator's
financial ability to properly protect the interest of the public and
pay compensation for injury to persons and loss or damage to property
on account of, or arising out of negligent operation of such taxicab,
shall not be required to furnish liability insurance as herein set
forth. This may be accomplished by showing clear real property deeds
of at least twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) assessed valuation
on property located in St. Louis County, or by depositing a corporate
surety bond in amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) per
taxicab with the City Clerk.
[CC 1987 §625.080; Ord. No. 501 §8, 10-30-1961]
Every taxicab licensed under this Chapter or authorized to do
business within the City of Northwoods shall be equipped with a fare
register or taximeter, which shall indicate the distance traveled
and the fare charged therefor, either in a manner which is visible
to the passengers or by a legible printed receipt containing such
information. Every taxicab shall have printed on the outside of one
(1) door on each side of the taxicab, in letters at least two and
one-half (2½) inches high, the initial fare rate per mile or
fraction thereof, and the rate for each mile or fraction of a mile
thereafter, and the additional charge, if any, for additional passengers.
It shall be a violation of this Chapter to charge or attempt to charge
any greater amount than is indicated by the fare register or taximeter,
or than indicated by the fare register or taximeter, or than indicated
by the printing on the outside of the taxicab as provided above.
[CC 1987 §625.090; Ord. No. 501 §9, 10-30-1961]
It shall be unlawful for any operator of a taxicab to drive
or attempt to drive passengers over any route but the most direct
route to their indicated destination.
[CC 1987 §625.100; Ord. No. 501 §10, 10-30-1961]
No taxicab company shall incorporate the name of the City of
Northwoods into its company name.
[CC 1987 §625.110; Ord. No. 501 §11, 10-30-1961]
No taxicab shall be permitted to be parked upon any street within
the City of Northwoods between the hours of 12:00 Midnight and 6:00
A.M. of any day, except when the driver is in the taxicab or within
calling distance of the taxicab.
[CC 1987 §625.120; Ord. No. 501 §12, 10-30-1961]
Every licensee hereunder shall, on or before the fifth (5th)
day of each month, file with the City Clerk a report showing the number
of accidents in which any taxicab owned or operated by him/her was
involved during the preceding month, the nature of the damage, if
any, to person or property resulting therefrom, the names and addresses
of all persons claiming damage arising from any taxicab accident and
the amount so claimed, and the amount, if any, paid during the preceding
month in settlement of such claims arising out of accidents with amount
sued for and the status of said suits. The failure to file such report
within the time herein provided for, or the filing or causing or intentionally
permitting the filing of a false report, shall be a violation of this
Chapter and shall also be grounds for forfeiting the said principal's
certificate of convenience and necessity and for forfeiting his/her
license. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation
to operate or drive, or cause to be operated or driven, any taxicab
along or upon any public street, highway, or other public place in
the City of Northwoods, unless the policy of insurance required by
this Chapter for such taxicab shall have been filed with the City
Collector or Deputy Collector, and be in full force and effect. If
any policy of insurance or bond required by this Chapter and covering
any or all of the taxicabs authorized to be operated under a certificate
of convenience and necessity be canceled, or for any reason including
the expiration of its terms be permitted to lapse, and the holder
of such certificate of convenience and necessity fail to replace same
immediately with another policy of insurance fully complying with
the provisions of this Chapter, such certificate of convenience and
necessity and the taxicab licenses issued thereunder shall be ipso
facto suspended.
[CC 1987 §625.130; Ord. No. 501 §13, 10-30-1961]
No person shall drive a taxicab licensed under the provisions
of this Chapter who is not a duly licensed chauffeur as required by
the laws of the State of Missouri, and who has not submitted and given
his/her fingerprints, photo and other requested information to the
Police Department of the City of Northwoods. Each person, before so
operating a taxicab, shall be fingerprinted and shall submit to the
Marshal for inspection his/her chauffeur's license and shall have
said chauffeur's license at all times available for the inspection
and examination by the Marshal or any Police Officer of the City upon
demand.
[CC 1987 §625.140; Ord. No. 501 §14, 10-30-1961]
The Marshal shall maintain constant vigilance over all taxicabs
and shall inspect all such vehicles to ascertain that they are in
a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers,
clean, fit, of good interior and exterior appearance and well painted.
Such inspection shall be made annually before the issuance of any
license therefor, and shall be made thereafter from time to time,
or at the complaint of any person, as often as may be deemed necessary
to ascertain that such taxicabs are kept in a condition of continued
fitness for public use; and he/she may forbid the use of any vehicle
by the owner thereof found to be unfit or unsuited for public patronage.
He/she shall also examine the taximeter, odometer, or any other measuring
device attached to any taxicab and see that the same is at all times
accurate. At the Marshal's direction he/she may have any or all of
these inspections performed by a garageman or other agent of his/her
choice at no expense to the City of Northwoods.
[CC 1987 §625.150; Ord. No. 501 §15, 10-30-1961]
The license tax herein required shall be a tax on the business
of conveying passengers over and upon the streets in the City of Northwoods
by means of taxicabs, and nothing herein shall be so construed as
to exempt the owner or owners from paying to the City of Northwoods
the tax imposed by said City in licensing motor vehicles or automobiles
to be operated on its streets, or any registry tax which the City
of Northwoods may levy on motor vehicles or automobiles, or the tax
which the City of Northwoods levies on motor vehicles or automobiles
as personal property; nor shall anything herein be so considered as
to exempt the owner or driver of a vehicle from the qualifications
which the City of Northwoods or the State of Missouri may require
of persons who operate motor vehicles or automobiles.
[CC 1987 §625.160; Ord. No. 501 §16, 10-30-1961]
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any licensee who
desires to decrease the number of taxicabs to be operated, and no
person who has been licensed to operate taxicabs may discontinue any
or all of them without first filing with the City Collector or Deputy
Collector a statement verified by affidavit of the number of vehicles
he/she desires to discontinue operating and the reasons therefor.
The withdrawal of any vehicle from operation for a reasonable period
of time for the purpose of conditioning, overhauling or repairing
the same shall not be considered discontinued operation under this
Section. Upon complete abandonment of taxicab service for a period
of thirty (30) days by any owner or operator of taxicabs, the Board
of Aldermen may recall or revoke the license issued to such owner
or operator.
[CC 1987 §625.170; Ord. No. 501 §17, 10-30-1961]
The Marshal, with the approval of the Board of Aldermen, shall
designate such stands or stopping places for taxicabs as he/she may
determine, taking into consideration the public need and the facilities
and qualifications of applicants for such stands. No taxicab while
waiting for time to depart shall stop or stand on any public street
or place, except at such place as shall be designated by the Marshal,
with the approval of the Board of Aldermen.
[CC 1987 §625.180; Ord. No. 501 §17, 10-30-1961]
While a taxicab is on a public street or place, passengers shall
be solicited by no other means than by having a printed sign on the
vehicle stating that the same is for hire and the rate of fare; nor
shall any driver or chauffeur of any such vehicle seek employment
by repeatedly and persistently driving his/her taxicab in and about
a short space; but such driver or chauffeur, in addition to the sign
on such vehicle as herein provided, may solicit employment by driving
through any public street or place without stops other than those
due to obstruction of traffic thereon, or to temporary traffic signals
or rules, may pass and repass before any theatre, hall, hotel, restaurant,
place of amusement or public resort provided that after passing any
such place he/she shall not repass the same until he/she shall have
gone a distance of at least four (4) blocks upon the streets of the
City. Five (5) passengers shall constitute the maximum allowable load
to be carried in a taxicab at any one time.
[CC 1987 §625.190; Ord. No. 501 §18, 10-30-1961]
A.
Before
any such stand or stopping place for taxicabs shall be designated
by the Marshal, with the approval of the Board of Aldermen, written
application for such allocation shall be filed with the City Collector
or Deputy Collector and referred to the Marshal. The application shall
be in writing, verified by the affidavit of the applicant, or if the
applicant be a corporation or a partnership, by its duly authorized
officer or agent, and shall state the following facts:
1.
The
full name and address of the applicant; if a partnership, the names
and addresses of all the partners; if a corporation, the names and
addresses of all the officers and directors thereof.
2.
The
name and address of the owner or owners of the vehicles proposed to
be operated.
3.
The
number of spaces the applicant desires to have allocated.
[CC 1987 §625.210; Ord. No. 501 §20, 10-30-1961]
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen shall have authority at any
time to revoke any and all licenses granted under this Chapter after
first having granted the owner or operator of said taxicab or taxicabs
a hearing on the question of whether or not said license should be
revoked. Reasons for revocation of any or all licenses shall include
repeated violations of any or all specific Sections of this Chapter
and any other conduct by owner or operators which may directly or
indirectly affect, in an adverse manner, the general health, safety
or welfare of the passengers, pedestrians or residents of the community.
Upon revocation of any license, no portion of the license fee shall
be refunded.
[CC 1987 §625.220; Ord. No. 501 §21, 10-30-1961]
Any person, firm or corporation who violates or who fails to
comply with or who permits or causes any person in his/her or its
employ to violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of
this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars
($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each and
every violation and/or have the license suspended not in excess of
thirty (30) days for each and every convicted violation.
