[4-15-1980; 2016 Code]
No person shall operate or cause to be operated any taxicab
within the limits of the city without having first secured a taxicab
business license.
[4-15-1980; 2016 Code; 2-22-2017]
In this chapter:
Means a motor vehicle regularly engaged in the business of
carrying passengers for hire, not operated on a fixed route. Taxicab
does not include transportation network company as defined by § 440.40
of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Means a person who operates a taxicab.
[4-15-1980; 2016 Code]
Any person licensed by any other municipality as a chauffeur
or operator shall not be required to procure a taxicab business license
in the city, to carry taxicab passengers for hire from another municipality
into the city, but this exception does not permit such chauffeur or
operator to operate a taxicab wholly within the limits of the city.
[4-15-1980; 6-3-1986; 2016 Code; 10-15-2018]
(A)Â
Application: Application for a taxicab business license or an annual renewal thereof, accompanied by the appropriate fees as prescribed by § 3-8-5 of this chapter, shall be made in writing to the City Clerk upon forms provided by said Clerk not less than 15 days before any license year, or not less than 15 days before commencing any taxicab business within the City.
(B)Â
License denied: No license shall be issued to any person who is
delinquent in payment of any taxes, assessments, claims or forfeitures
to the City.
(C)Â
Issuance of license: The City Clerk or its designee shall review
each complete application to determine whether the applicant has adequately
demonstrated that the applicant has complied with those items set
forth in this chapter and may conduct such investigation into the
content of the application as considered necessary. If the City Clerk
or its designee determines that the application should be approved,
then the license application shall be placed on the Council’s
consent agenda for final approval. If the City Clerk or its designee
determines that the application should not be approved, the City Clerk
or designee may administratively deny such application or refer the
application to the appropriate committee to consider such application.
Failure by the City Clerk or its designee to approve or deny an application
within 30 days of submission shall be considered a denial, unless
such action has already been referred to the appropriate committee.
Any denial by the City Clerk or its designee may be appealed to the
appropriate committee for review as long as such appeal has been made
in writing to the City Clerk within 30 days of the notice of denial.
[2-18-2004; 2016 Code]
The annual taxicab business license fee shall be set by resolution
of the council. The fee for a license issued for less than one year
shall be prorated accordingly. The license year shall be from July
1 through June 30 of the following year.
[2-18-2004; 2016 Code]
No person shall operate a taxicab business within the city unless
there shall be on file with the city clerk a good and sufficient indemnity
bond, policy or insurance or other contract in writing in such form
and containing such conditions and terms as may be approved by the
city attorney issued by a surety, indemnity or insurance company lawfully
qualified to do business in this state under which such indemnitor
shall assume the liability prescribed by this chapter with respect
to such vehicle. Said undertaking shall be subject to the approval
of the city attorney and shall provide that the indemnity be directly
liable for and shall pay all damages for injuries to persons or property
that may be recovered against the owner or operator of vehicles owned
by the taxicab business by reason of negligent use or operation thereof
in a combined property damage and personal injury coverage amount
of not less than $1,000,000.00 for each accident.
[4-15-1980; 2016 Code]
No such undertaking shall be terminated at any time before its
expiration under the terms thereof, nor canceled for any reason whatsoever,
unless there shall have been filed with the city clerk by the indemnitor
a notice thereof at least 10 days before the date of such termination
or cancellation. The provisions of this chapter shall be a part of
every such undertaking and no other provision thereof or agreement
between parties thereto shall operate the same.
[4-15-1980; 2016 Code]
(A)Â
Equipment. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter,
all provisions of chapter 347 of the Wisconsin statutes and Trans
305 of the Wisconsin administrative code describing and defining regulations
with respect to equipment on motor vehicles shall apply to all taxicabs.
References to specific statute sections and administrative codes wherever
used in this chapter, shall mean Wisconsin statutes 2013-14 and Wisconsin
administrative code of 2015, and acts supplementary and amendatory
thereto.
(B)Â
Police inspection. The police department shall inspect the mechanical
condition of each vehicle for which an application for a license is
made and shall make annual inspections of all licensed vehicles before
the license year. No vehicle shall be operated, whether licensed or
not, as a taxicab if the police department shall find that the mechanical
condition thereof makes it unsafe for the carrying of passengers.
Unannounced inspections shall be made by the police department upon
a valid citizen complaint. A written inspection report shall be completed
for each vehicle inspected. One copy of the inspection report shall
be retained on file at the city clerk's office.
[4-15-1980; 2016 Code]
(A)Â
Identification. All taxicabs shall be suitably marked or identified
as such.
(B)Â
Subject to traffic regulations. The state traffic code and the city
traffic regulations shall apply to the use and operation of taxicabs.
(C)Â
Operator not to drink or use drugs. No person driving or operating
a taxicab shall drink any intoxicating beverage or be under the influence
thereof, nor shall any person drive or operate a taxicab while under
the influence of a controlled substance.
[2-18-2004; 2016 Code]
A taxicab business license may be revoked by the council for
a violation of any provision of this chapter. The city clerk shall
notify the licensee, in writing, of such intent to revoke. The licensee
shall have 10 days from the date of the notice to submit a written
request for a hearing before the council regarding the revocation.
