[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 2.1]
Each taxicab operated upon the streets of the City and each
driver who operates a taxicab for hire upon the streets of the City
must be licensed in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions
II and III of this division.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, §§ 2.2.1, 2.2.2]
(a) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any owner to:
(1)
Operate or cause to be operated in the City any taxicab without
having first obtained a taxicab license provided for in subdivision
II of this division; or
(2)
Permit any unlicensed driver to operate a taxicab upon the streets
of the City.
(b) Exception. A motor vehicle licensed by another municipality to operate
as a taxicab need not be licensed by the City provided it does not
pick up any passengers in the City whose destination also lies within
the City.
Subdivision II. Taxicab License
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[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 4]
Upon the granting of a certificate of public convenience and
necessity, a taxicab license may be issued by the City Clerk for each
taxicab in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) Application forms for a taxicab license are available from the City
Clerk. The applicant must compete the application and file it with
the City Clerk.
(2) Each initial application for a taxicab license must be accompanied
by written statements from:
a. The director of public safety or his designee stating that an inspection has been made of the taxicab for which the taxicab license is sought, and that such taxicab has been found to be safe and suitable for taxicab service in accordance with section
14-252.
b. A licensed insurance agency providing written documentation that the taxicab for which the taxicab license is sought is insured in accordance with section
14-253.
(3) Each renewal application for a taxicab license must be accompanied by written documentation from a licensed insurance agency stating that the taxicab for which the taxicab license is sought is insured in accordance with section
14-253. A statement of inspection from the director of public safety or his designee is not required for a renewal license.
(4) Each initial or renewal application for a taxicab license must be
accompanied by an annual taxicab license fee as established by the
City council.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 4.1]
(a) Initial inspection. At the time of licensing, the director of public
safety or his designee shall inspect each taxicab to determine that
such taxicab meets the following criteria:
(1)
The taxicab has a valid state motor vehicle registration.
(2)
The taxicab has a current and valid official state inspection
sticker placed in the lower lefthand corner of the windshield or in
the center of the windshield in back of the rearview mirror or where
required by state law.
(3)
The taxicab meets the identifying lights and identifying design requirements of section
14-212(4).
(b) Periodic state inspections. Each taxicab must undergo an official
state inspection every six months. Following each inspection, the
taxicab must be brought within five days to City hall for the Clerk
to verify that an official inspection sticker has been placed on the
windshield of the vehicle.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 4.2]
Each taxicab shall be insured for the period over which the
taxicab license is to remain in force, insuring persons and property
for injuries and damages resulting from the use and operation of such
taxicab. Such insurance policy or coverage shall be issued for a principal
sum sufficient to satisfy state statutes or to provide $300,000 single
limit liability coverage, whichever is greater.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 4.3]
The expiration, termination, suspension or revocation of a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall cause the immediate termination of any and all taxicab licenses issued thereunder. Unless revoked or suspended under section
14-255, each taxicab license shall expire on May 1 next after the date of issuance.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 9.2]
The City council may, after notice to the owner and public hearing,
suspend a taxicab license for a period of not more than 90 days or
revoke the taxicab license of such licensee if the City council finds
that:
(1) The rate card or taxicab license has consistently not been on display as required by section
14-184; or
(2) Such licensed taxicab has consistently failed to meet the standards required under section
14-252.
Subdivision III. Taxicab Driver's License
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[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.1; Amd. of 6-21-2011]
Applications for taxicab driver's licenses shall be made upon
forms furnished by the City Clerk and shall require the applicant
to set out such information as the City council may reasonably require.
Before the City Clerk shall issue such license, the director of public
safety or his designee must approve the application. To qualify, the
applicant must:
(1) Present a valid state driver's license;
(2) Present a letter from a reputable physician dated not more than 30
days previous to submission stating that the applicant has no physical
or mental condition, which would affect his ability to function as
a taxicab driver and thereby impair the safety of himself or that
of his passengers;
(3) Submit two passport-style photographs of self; and
(4) Pay the annual license fee as established by the City council of
$10 for the two-year period.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, §§ 5.2-5.6]
(a) No person who has been convicted of a felony or class A, B, or C
offense within five years prior to the application shall be issued
a taxicab license.
(b) No person shall be issued a license whose driver's license is revoked
or has been revoked within three years prior to the application.
(c) No person shall be issued a license who has been convicted of any
of the following offenses within five years prior to the application:
(1)
Homicide by means of motor vehicle;
(2)
Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
(3)
Leaving the scene, bodily injury;
(5)
Speeding in excess of 25 miles per hour over the posted speed
limit; or
(d) No person shall be issued a license who has been convicted of any
of the following offenses within three years prior to the application:
(1)
Leaving the scene, property damage;
(2)
Taking a motor vehicle without consent;
(3)
Operating after suspension or revocation;
(4)
Loaning or altering license or permit;
(5)
Passing a stopped school bus;
(7)
Speeding in excess of 25 miles per hour over the posted speed
limit; or
(e) Repeated convictions of any motor vehicle violations shall be grounds
for denial of a taxicab license.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.7]
The City Clerk shall make and keep a written record of every
decision to deny an application for a taxicab driver's license in
the manner required by 1 M.R.S.A. § 407.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.8]
Any applicant denied a taxicab driver's license by the City
Clerk may appeal such denial to the City council by filing with the
City Clerk a written notice of appeal. The City council shall hear
the appeal within 30 days of its filing and shall afford the applicant
an opportunity to testify as to why he should be granted a license
in the face of the Clerk's reason for denial and to challenge the
validity of the Clerk's action or the underlying basis for the denial.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.9]
A taxicab driver's license shall be signed by the City Clerk
and shall be numbered in the order granted. Upon the issuance of the
license, the City Clerk shall also deliver to the licensee an identification
card bearing a recent photograph of the licensee, the number of the
taxicab driver's license, the licensee's name, and the words "Licensed
Taxicab Driver - City of Belfast, Maine." The identification card
shall be conspicuously displayed in the taxicab.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.10; Amd. of 6-21-2011]
Unless suspended or revoked under section
14-278, all taxicab drivers' licenses will continue in force until two years after the date of issuance.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 5.11]
Every owner shall, on the first day of each calendar month,
file with the director of public safety or his designee a current
list of all taxicab drivers in his employ.
[Ord. of 6-3-1997, § 9.3]
The City Council may, after notice to the licensee and public
hearing, suspend for a period of not more than 90 days, or revoke,
the taxicab driver's license of such licensee if the City Council
finds that:
(1) The licensee has been convicted of a moving violation while operating
a taxicab containing a passenger; or
(2) The licensee has consistently failed to display his identification card as required by section
14-275.