[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Fox Crossing 7-13-2020 by Ord. No. 200713-1.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter derives from § 9.22 of the former Municipal Code, amended 7-25-2005 and 12-7-2015.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LIMOUSINE
Any vehicle used for the business of carrying passengers for hire on a prearranged and not on a demand basis at a premium fare.
OPERATE A TAXICAB OR LIMOUSINE BUSINESS
To have a base of operation, dispatch center, or registered business address of a taxicab or limousine business located within the Village of Fox Crossing, or to park or allow to be parked one or more unoccupied taxicabs or limousines within the Village of Fox Crossing for five or more successive hours on five or more occasions within any calendar month.
TAXICAB
Any vehicle used for the business of carrying passengers for hire on a prearranged or demand basis at a metered, mileage-based or per-trip fare.
A. 
No person or entity may operate a taxicab or limousine business within the Village of Fox Crossing unless said person or entity holds a valid taxicab/limousine business license issued by the Village Board.
B. 
No person shall solicit or pick up a passenger(s) in a taxicab or limousine within the Village of Fox Crossing unless the operator of said taxicab or limousine holds a valid taxicab/limousine operator's permit issued by the Village Board.
C. 
Subsection A shall not apply to persons or entities who hold a valid license or permit to operate a taxicab or limousine business issued by another Wisconsin municipality.
D. 
Subsection B shall not to apply to a person who holds a valid taxicab/limousine operator's permit issued by another Wisconsin municipality.
A. 
Application for taxicab/limousine business license. An application for a taxicab/limousine business license may be obtained from and returned to the Village Clerk, and shall contain the applicant's name, address, a list of vehicles owned or used by the applicant, including vehicle identification numbers and registration numbers, the usual parking location of each vehicle when not in use, a list of drivers currently employed or contracted by the applicant as of the date of the application, and proof of insurance meeting the requirements set forth herein. If the applicant is an entity, the application shall also contain the names of all owners of said entity owning a 10% or greater interest in said entity.
B. 
Issuance, expiration, and renewal of taxicab/limousine business licenses.
(1) 
A taxicab/limousine business license may be issued to an applicant if, and only if:
(a) 
The applicant pays any required fees in a timely fashion;
(b) 
The applicant and any related entities are not delinquent in the payment of any past-due required fees;
(c) 
The Village Board does not find that issuance of a taxicab/limousine business license will be detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the Village's residents;
(d) 
The applicant and/or related entities do not have a history of violations of any provision of this Code;
(e) 
The application is approved by the Police Chief following a background check; and
(f) 
All other requirements of this chapter are satisfied.
(2) 
All taxicab/limousine business licenses expire on June 30 of each year. Licenses may be annually renewed by filing a new application, which is due on or before April 15, provided the criteria set forth in this chapter are satisfied.
C. 
Application for taxicab/limousine operator's permits. An application for a taxicab/limousine operator's permit may be obtained from and returned to the Village Clerk and shall contain the applicant's driver's license number, date of birth, a list of pending intoxicated driving offenses and intoxicated driving offense convictions, a list of all charged moving traffic violations within the prior three years, a list of all traffic accidents that the applicant has been involved in within the prior three years, a list of any pending criminal charges against the applicant, a list of all criminal convictions, and a list of any revocations or suspensions of the applicant's driving privileges. If the applicant will operate a vehicle owned by the applicant, the applicant must also apply for and obtain a taxicab/limousine business license in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
D. 
Issuance, expiration, and renewal of taxicab/limousine operator's permits.
(1) 
A taxicab/limousine operator's permit may be issued to an applicant if, and only if:
(a) 
The applicant pays any required fees in a timely fashion;
(b) 
The applicant is not delinquent in the payment of any past due required fees;
(c) 
The Village Board does not find that issuance of a taxicab/limousine operator's permit will be detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the Village's residents;
(d) 
The applicant does not have a history of serious traffic violations and/or violations of any provision of this Code;
(e) 
The application is approved by the Police Chief following a background check;
(f) 
All other requirements of this chapter are satisfied;
(g) 
The applicant holds a valid Wisconsin driver's license; and
(h) 
The applicant is at least 18 years of age.
(2) 
All taxicab/limousine operator's permits expire on June 30 of each even-numbered year. Permits may be renewed by filing a new application which is due on or before April 15, provided the criteria set forth in this chapter are satisfied. An application may be denied for any legal reason, including but not limited to the following:
(a) 
Charges are pending against the applicant for an intoxicated driving offense or the applicant has been convicted of an intoxicated driving offense within the past three years.
(b) 
Applicant has been charged or convicted of one or more moving traffic violations in the past year.
(c) 
Applicant has been involved in one or more traffic accidents in the past year, regardless of fault.
(d) 
Applicant is charged with or has been convicted of an offense that substantially relates to the licensed activity. Such offenses include, but are not limited to, burglary, sex offenses, drug offenses, and possession or sale of stolen property. In determining whether the circumstances of the conviction are substantially related, the Chief of Police or designee shall consider the number of convictions, the nature and seriousness of the crime(s), whether the crime(s) involved violence, theft, or other evidence of lack of trustworthiness with money, whether the crime(s) involved driving, the age and maturity of the individual at the time of the conviction, the amount of time elapsed since the conviction, and any evidence of personal rehabilitation.
E. 
Fee. All license and permit applications shall be accompanied by the fee set forth in the Village Fee Schedule, reference this Code section.
A. 
No taxicab/limousine business license holder or taxicab/limousine operator's permit holder may operate a taxicab or limousine within the Village of Fox Crossing unless said permit or license holder deposits proof of insurance covering each taxicab or limousine so operated with the Village Clerk as required by this section. No taxicab/limousine business license may be issued unless proof of insurance covering each taxicab and/or limousine is provided as required by this section. All insurance policies required by this section shall be issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Wisconsin. The insurance policy shall provide coverage for damages in the minimum amount of $500,000, representing a combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage liability for any accident due to the negligent operation of such vehicle. Said policy shall also include the Village of Fox Crossing as an additional insured.
B. 
The policy or contract is to be approved by the Director of Finance for the Village before it is filed and shall contain a provision that the policy may not be canceled before the expiration of its term except upon 30 days' written notice to the Village Clerk.
A holder of a taxicab/limousine business license shall provide adequate off-street parking for all taxicabs or limousines operating under said license. Such off-street parking shall be explained in the application for a license.
All license holders and permit holders shall post fares and fare policies in taxicabs as required by this section. Fares and fare policies shall be posted in a conspicuous place and easily visible to passengers in all taxicabs. All business practices of license holders and permit holders shall be in compliance with Wisconsin laws.
Each taxicab or limousine covered by a taxicab/limousine business license shall carry proof of said license or pay penalties per the Village Bond Schedule, reference this Code section. A taxicab shall have painted in a prominent place on its exterior a unique number by which it may be easily identified.
The Village Clerk shall issue an identification card to each holder of a taxicab/limousine operator's permit. Said identification cards will remain the property of the Village of Fox Crossing and shall be surrendered upon expiration or revocation. Any permit holder who operates a taxicab or limousine in the Village of Fox Crossing without said identification card on his or her person shall be subject to penalties per the Village Bond Schedule, reference this Code section. The Village Clerk may issue replacement cards upon receipt of a reasonable replacement fee.
The Police Department may inspect any taxicab or limousine covered by a taxicab/limousine business license at any time for the purpose of discovering defects that might make it unsafe for the transportation of passengers. When defects are found, the taxicab or limousine shall not be operated for the transportation of passengers until the vehicle has been repaired and then approved by the Police Department.
All licenses and permits authorized or required by this chapter may be revoked by the Village Board for any legal reason, including, but not limited to, any reason that an application could be denied under this chapter prior to issuance. Before a license or permit is revoked, the Clerk shall provide five days' notice to the license holder or permit holder of a hearing at which revocation will be discussed by a committee or by the Village Board. Notice shall be deemed provided when sent by U.S. Mail.
Penalties for violating any provision of this chapter are set forth in the Bond Schedule approved by the Village of Fox Crossing, as amended from time to time.