[Added 12-7-2015 by Ord. No. 1936]
The transportation of persons by means of quadricycles is a matter affecting the public interest. The public interest requires that quadricycle drivers be properly qualified, that quadricycles be fit for their intended purpose, and that the safety and welfare of both quadricycle passengers and other persons and vehicles using public streets be protected.
No person who owns or controls a quadricycle shall permit it to be driven or otherwise operated upon the streets and highways of the City without securing from the City Clerk an operating permit and City-issued decal for each quadricycle. Quadricycles shall be driven and operated in compliance with all of the requirements of this article.
A. 
The City Clerk is responsible for issuing operating permits and decals for quadricycles. Every owner of a quadricycle desiring to obtain an operating permit is required to make written application to the City Clerk, which shall be accompanied by the fee established by resolution of the City Commission. An applicant shall truthfully and fully provide the following information requested on the application:
(1) 
The applicant's full name, business address, e-mail address and phone number;
(2) 
The name of the business entity under which the applicant will be operating;
(3) 
The names and residence addresses of all shareholders, members, or partners of the entity applying for an operating permit;
(4) 
A copy of the applicant's Michigan driver's license and number;
(5) 
A certificate of insurance satisfying the requirements of MCLA § 257.518a, which shall name the City of Kalamazoo and its officers and officials as additional insureds;
(6) 
A map of the City showing proposed routes, stands and pickup points;
(7) 
A list of the applicant’s authorized quadricycle drivers, including name, address, date of birth, driver’s license number, and documentation that the driver has completed the required quadricycle drivers' training program established by this article and otherwise meets the requirements of this article;
(8) 
A description of each quadricycle intended to be used by the applicant, including trade name, number of seats, serial number, if any, and body style; and
(9) 
Such other information as the City Clerk may require.
B. 
If the applicant is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other such business entity, the person who will be acting as principal in charge of the business to be licensed shall sign the application, and all owners of the business entity shall meet all the requirements for individual applicants.
C. 
If, after the issuance of an operating permit, a quadricycle owner desires that a person drive a quadricycle and such person was not listed in the application described above, the owner shall submit such required driver information to the City Clerk before such person is permitted to drive a quadricycle upon the streets and highways of the City.
D. 
An owner shall not permit a driver to operate a quadricycle upon the streets and highways of the City who falls out of compliance with the requirements of this article.
A. 
Upon filing of the application for an operating permit, the City Clerk shall review and evaluate the application. In determining whether an operating permit should be issued, the City Clerk shall evaluate whether the application is complete, and whether the applicant has violated two or more provisions of this article within the past year. Any driver with three or more points on his/her driving record or who is registered as a sex offender in this or another state shall be ineligible to operate a quadricycle. Any application that does not include all the information required by this article, is not supported by the materials required by this article, or if the application has two or more violations of this article in the past year, shall result in the denial of an operating permit.
B. 
Before the issuance of an operating permit by the City Clerk, the Department of Public Safety shall inspect each quadricycle proposed to be used by the applicant and notify the City Clerk whether it satisfies the requirements of this article.
C. 
If an operating permit is not approved, the applicant may file an appeal as provided in this article.
D. 
The City Clerk shall approve, deny or approve with conditions an application which is complete for an operating permit within 42 days of its being filed.
A. 
Prior to its operation on a public street, each quadricycle shall be inspected by the Department of Public Safety. All quadricycles must be constructed for and have the structural integrity necessary to support their operation. Each quadricycle must be equipped with the following:
(1) 
Front and rear turn signals;
(2) 
A headlight capable of emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front;
(3) 
A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle which may be supplemented by a taillight capable of emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear;
(4) 
Rearview mirror;
(5) 
A bell or horn;
(6) 
Seatbelts for passengers;
(7) 
Reflectors placed on each wheel and at each corner of the body of the quadricycle;
(8) 
A proper braking system that enables the driver to bring the quadricycle to a controlled stop; and
(9) 
Any other equipment required to comply with all applicable federal and state laws.
(10) 
A quadricycle must not have any cracks, broken or missing parts, or other visible damage. All wheels must be firmly attached to the hub of a vehicle and all springs, axles, and supporting structures of each quadricycle must be intact.
B. 
Prior to the operation of any quadricycle and at the beginning of each shift or each day of operation, the driver shall thoroughly inspect the quadricycle for safe operating conditions, and shall maintain records of such inspection, which shall be provided to the City upon request. For any condition found, then or at any other time that will prevent the safe operation of the quadricycle, or noncompliance with this article, the driver shall immediately remove the quadricycle from service and correct the condition before the quadricycle is returned to operating service.
C. 
Each quadricycle owner shall prepare a training program for its drivers, which shall cover, at a minimum, safe operation of quadricycles, customer service policies and requirements of this article. The owner shall make the training program materials available to the City at its request.
D. 
If a quadricycle is involved in an accident or collision, the driver shall immediately notify the quadricycle owner and the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the police investigate the accident or collision.
A. 
Before allowing a quadricycle to be operated for hire, the owner shall obtain a City-issued decal. Upon issuance of an operating permit, the City Clerk shall issue a decal to be affixed upon each quadricycle intended to be operated in the City by the applicant. The decal form shall be prescribed by the City and contain a unique nontransferable quadricycle registration number.
B. 
It is unlawful for any owner to lease, rent or allow a quadricycle to be operated for hire without first having obtained a decal issued by the City and affixing the decal to the quadricycle in a manner prescribed by the City.
A. 
Operating permits shall expire on January 31 of each year.
B. 
The holder of an operating permit shall be entitled to renewal of the operating permit upon payment of the annual fee established by the City Commission and submission of any changes in information required under § 37-118 and if there has been not more than one violation of this article in the past year.
C. 
Operating permits shall immediately become invalid if any of the information provided to obtain the permit is determined to be false when it was submitted, the City-issued decal is defaced, altered, forged or counterfeited, or the quadricycle does not comply with the regulations set forth at § 37-120.
The City Clerk shall charge a nonrefundable fee to applicants to recover the cost of activities associated with the administration, regulation, and issuance of decals and operating permits. The fee shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the City Commission.
A. 
No person under the age of 18 shall operate a quadricycle.
B. 
No person shall drive a quadricycle unless the person has a currently valid driver's license and displays an identification badge provided by the owner. Each badge must contain the driver’s name and a recent photograph of the driver.
C. 
No person shall operate, or cause to be driven, a quadricycle in an unsafe condition.
D. 
All quadricycle drivers are subject to and shall obey all applicable traffic safety laws, rules and regulations of the City of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan.
E. 
A quadricycle should not be driven at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour and shall not be driven on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 45 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street.
F. 
A quadricycle shall not be driven on any street or highway under the jurisdiction of the state transportation department if so prohibited.
G. 
A quadricycle shall not be driven on sidewalks or on a trail intended for the use of pedestrians and nonmotorized vehicles.
H. 
Quadricycles are not permitted to park on streets, highways or a thoroughfare, except as follows:
(1) 
Any portion of a street so designated for the parking as a "quadricycle stand" by the Traffic Engineer.
(2) 
In a legal parking space, provided that the fee for occupying said space is paid, if applicable.
(3) 
A single quadricycle may park temporarily at the curb only as long as necessary for passengers to board and exit the vehicle.
(4) 
In all cases, quadricycles shall be parked in a location that does not impede other pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
I. 
No person shall use or allow any quadricycle to be used for any illegal purpose. No person shall use or permit or allow any quadricycle to be used in, or to aid or abet, any unlawful act.
J. 
No person shall operate or knowingly permit any other person to drive a quadricycle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any controlled substance or intoxicating substance, or any combination of intoxicating liquor, controlled substance or intoxicating substance.
K. 
No person shall drive a quadricycle when the number of passengers exceeds the number of available seats. No person shall operate a quadricycle unless all passengers are seated in a seat designated for that purpose and using the seat belt provided. Infant car seats are not be permitted to be used on a quadricycle.
L. 
Each quadricycle owner shall adopt and operate a system for the collection, storage, and return of personal property left in a quadricycle.
M. 
No person shall consume, or possess in a container which is open, uncapped or upon which the seal was broken, any alcoholic beverage within or on a quadricycle.
N. 
All beverages consumed by quadricycle passengers shall be contained in metallic or plastic containers.
O. 
A quadricycle driver shall at all times keep each quadricycle clean and free of refuse and in safe operating condition.
A Public Safety Department officer who has reasonable cause to believe that a person is or was driving a quadricycle upon a public highway or other place open to the public or generally accessible to a quadricycle, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles, and that the person by the consumption of alcoholic liquor may have affected his or her ability to drive a quadricycle, he/she may require the person to submit to a preliminary chemical breath analysis. A quadricycle driver's refusal to take or failure to properly take a preliminary chemical breath analysis as required by this section is a violation of this article and may result in the revocation or suspension of the owner's operating permit.
An operating permit may be denied, suspended or revoked by the City Clerk based upon any of the following grounds:
A. 
The owner or driver of a quadricycle fails or has failed to comply with any provision of this article.
B. 
The owner or driver of a quadricycle has been convicted of any felony involving force or violence; any reckless driving or driving under the influence offense; or any crime reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of the past-due transport business or the ability of the quadricycle owner or driver to safely transport passengers, unless five years have elapsed from the successful completion of the sentence for any such conviction.
C. 
A quadricycle driver has been convicted of a crime that requires registration under the Michigan Penal Code as a sex offender.
D. 
A quadricycle driver or owner has knowingly made a false statement of material fact, or knowingly failed to state a material fact in the application process for the operating permit.
E. 
A quadricycle driver’s ability to drive lawfully in Michigan or any other state is currently expired, suspended or revoked.
F. 
A quadricycle driver has engaged in activity that, in the judgment of the City Clerk, constitutes a serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare. Such threat may be indicated by but is not limited to:
(1) 
An arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or intoxicating substance while operating a quadricycle;
(2) 
An arrest for a crime that, if convicted, would require registration as a sex offender, and where a quadricycle was used in the planning of, perpetration of, or fleeing from the offense;
(3) 
A report from a law enforcement agency that a quadricycle driver was involved in an accident involving a quadricycle where the quadricycle passengers were injured.
A. 
An operating permit may be denied, suspended or revoked by the City Clerk for cause as defined by this article. Notice of the denial, suspension or revocation shall be served upon the operating permit holder by personal service or first-class prepaid mail. The holder of an operating permit or a person who has been denied an operating permit may request a hearing within 10 days after service of the denial, suspension or revocation. Any hearing shall be scheduled to be held by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee. Depending upon the necessity for prompt action, the hearing shall be held in accordance with one the following provisions:
(1) 
If there is no immediate threat to the public health, safety or welfare, the hearing shall be held to determine whether the operating permit should be denied, suspended or revoked. The holder or seeker of an operating permit shall be notified of the time, date and place of the hearing and shall be notified of the reason or reasons for the proposed denial, suspension or revocation. The operating permit holder or seeker of an operating permit shall be entitled to be represented by counsel, to submit evidence, to cross-examine witnesses and to make arguments concerning the factual and legal issues.
(2) 
If there is an immediate threat to the public health, safety or welfare, the operating permit may be suspended prior to the hearing. If an operating permit is suspended prior to the hearing, the hearing shall be commenced as soon as practical but in no case more than 10 days after the request for hearing. The hearing shall be held to determine whether to terminate or extend the suspension, or whether the suspension should be converted into a revocation of the operating permit. The holder of the operating permit shall be notified of the time, date and place for hearing and shall be notified of the reason or reasons for the already imposed suspension and for any contemplated future action. The operating permit holder shall be entitled to be represented by counsel, to submit evidence, to cross-examine witnesses and to make arguments on factual and legal issues.
B. 
In any hearing held pursuant to the provisions of this article, the rules of evidence shall be followed as far as practicable, but a hearing officer may admit and give probative effect to evidence of a type commonly relied upon by a reasonably prudent people in the conduct of their affairs. Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence may be excluded. Notice may be taken of facts within the general knowledge of the community. A record of the hearing shall be maintained by the hearing officer.
C. 
The hearing officer shall render a written decision stating the reasons for the decision. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final.
Any violation of this article is a municipal civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $200.