[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CHIEF
The Chief of Police of the Town of Abingdon, Virginia.
COUNCIL
The elected governing body of the Town of Abingdon, Virginia.
DRIVER
Any person driving or in actual physical control of a taxicab.
OWNER
Any person having control of the operation or maintenance
of a taxicab or of the collection of revenue derived from its operation.
TAXICAB
Any motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than
six passengers, excluding the driver, not operating on a regular route
or between fixed terminals used in the transportation of passengers
for hire or for compensation, and not a common carrier, restricted
common carrier, transportation network company, TNC partner, or nonemergency
medical transportation carrier as defined in Virginia Code §
46.2-2000.
[Amended 7-6-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021.07.06A]
TOWN
The municipality of Abingdon, Virginia.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, or cause to
be operated, taxicabs in the Town except as provided in this article.
Any owner of a taxicab who violates or knowingly permits any of his
employees to violate any of the provisions of this article may, in
addition to any other penalty provided by this article, have his certificate
of public convenience and necessity and any license granted him hereunder
suspended or revoked.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
Every taxicab for which a certificate of public convenience
and necessity (See Division 2, below) has been issued shall be kept
in good mechanical condition and reasonably clean and sanitary at
all times, and all such taxicabs shall be subject to police inspection
and shall bear evidence of current state inspection approval at all
times. The name of the owner of such taxicab shall be displayed in
letters not less than two inches in height on both sides of the outside
of each taxicab.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
The Council may require each owner of a taxicab to have in operation
at least one such taxicab for a reasonable number of business hours
each day at the discretion of the Council, seven days a week, and
to answer promptly all calls for service unless all his taxicabs are
in use.
[Code 1985, § 18-6; Ord. of 1-4-2016]
No driver shall be on duty for more than 12 hours in any twenty-four-hour
period.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
Rates charged for the use of taxicabs shall be as proposed by
staff in such regulations as the Council may approve and adopt from
time to time by general resolution.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
The rates, proposed by staff and approved by Council, as provided in Section
82-31, above, shall be posted in a conspicuous place inside each taxicab and shall be exhibited to any person upon his/her request.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
Every owner or operator of a motor vehicle used as a vehicle
for the transportation of persons for a consideration on any highway,
street, road, lane or alley in the Town who violates any of the provisions
of this article or any Virginia DMV requirement or statute of the
commonwealth, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof be fined not more than $250 for the first offense and not
more than $500 for each subsequent offense.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
In providing services as described herein, no operator or driver
will discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age or national
origin.
[Ord. of 1-4-2016]
In providing services to the public, operators and/or drivers
will adhere to any/all applicable regulations under 49 CFR Part 38
required pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act to be in
compliance with handicap transportation requirements and regulations.