Conduct a taxicab business.
The use of one (1) or more taxicabs within the corporate limits of the city, by the owner thereof, for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire, either by driving the same himself or having the same driven by some other person qualified under this article.
Driver or taxicab driver.
Same as section 4.09.007(a).
Holder.
Same as “Permittee.”
Permittee.
The person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to whom the permit has been duly issued by the city.
Public convenience and necessity.
A public convenience which is fitting and suited to public need, and a public necessity. In determining whether public convenience and necessity require the issuance of the taxicab permit to the applicant, the city council shall take into consideration:
(1) 
The financial responsibility of the applicant.
(2) 
His moral character.
(3) 
Number of vehicles to be operated.
(4) 
Make, model, type and ownership of the vehicle or vehicles to be used.
(5) 
Color scheme to be used.
(6) 
The effect of additional vehicles upon the traffic congestion, vehicular and pedestrian alike.
(7) 
Whether ad valorem and other taxes have been paid when due.
(8) 
Whether the applicant proposes to own, rent or lease from another the vehicles to be used in operating such taxicab service.
(9) 
The make, model and type of taximeter, stool light and radio to be used.
(10) 
The total number of taxicab permits in operation and the number of taxicabs actually operating within the city limits.
(11) 
Whether the requirements of public convenience and necessity can be met and complied with only by the issuance of additional permits.
(12) 
The resulting effect upon the business of existing permit holders and upon existing agencies of mass transportation in the city.
(13) 
Any other facts the city council may deem relevant.
Taxicab.
Every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire, whether or not such vehicle is identified as a taxicab as set forth herein, with the exceptions listed in this article, over the public streets of the city, whether or not the operation extends beyond the city limits. The term “taxicab” shall not apply to limousines, school buses, emergency vehicles or sightseeing autos or buses that operate under a permit, franchise, or license issued to and regulated by the city or other regulatory authorities, and provided further that said term shall not apply to limousines which are chartered, hired or provided in connection with funeral services.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.521)
Any person who fails or refuses to comply with the terms and provisions of this article shall be guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof such a person shall be fined in an amount as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable as such.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.525)
Reference is hereby made to article XI of the city charter, which is incorporated herein by reference as though copied word for word, and if it is determined that the city charter is in conflict with any language contained herein, the city charter shall be controlling.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.524)
(a) 
Before any original or annual permit shall be issued under the provisions of this article, the taxicab shall be inspected to determine whether the same is in a safe condition to be operated as a taxicab.
(b) 
The inspection of the taxicab shall be made by the chief of police or by any competent mechanic that the city council might designate to make such inspection.
(c) 
Every taxicab granted a permit under this article shall be inspected at least once a year at the direction of the city chief of police. Approved inspections by the City of Houston shall be accepted in lieu of required inspections.
(d) 
Upon notifying the owner or operator of any taxicab that the same is not in a safe condition, the same shall not be used as a taxicab until the defects found in such taxicab are corrected and the same is reinspected and found to be in a safe condition.
(e) 
Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the city from inspecting any taxicab at any time deemed necessary and proper. If the city, through its agents, servants and employees, should find that such vehicle is in a defective condition, the chief of police shall order the use of the same discontinued until the same is approved.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.515)
(a) 
Every holder of a permit granted under the provisions of this article shall have and keep painted in fast colors, contrasting with the color of the vehicle, on each side of each and every vehicle used by him as a taxicab in the city, signs on the front doors of the taxicab stating the telephone number and the name or the assumed name under which the owner operates. Such name and numbers shall be in letters of not less than three (3) inches in height and not less than five-sixteenths (5/16) of one (1) inch in width.
(b) 
The telephone number shall also be placed on the rear of the taxicab and be plainly visible. No permittee shall operate or cause to be operated a taxicab in the city unless and until a number has been assigned by the city secretary at the time the permit is issued. Such number shall remain in full force and effect for each permit so long as the permit remains valid. The number shall be displayed on the taxicab in four (4) separate locations as follows: one shall be placed where plainly visible on the right of the trunk lid viewing from the rear, one shall be placed on the left of the hood when viewed from the front of the taxicab and be plainly visible, and one shall appear immediately below the handle of the rear door on each side of the taxicab. Such numbers, in each instance, shall not be less than three (3) inches high and not less than five-sixteenths (5/16) of one (1) inch in width.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.516)
No driver or permittee shall drive or cause to be driven any taxicab upon the streets of the city that is more than four (4) years old. For purposes of this article, a taxicab will be considered to be four (4) years old on the thirtieth (30th) day of June of the fourth year following the manufacturer's model year of the vehicle, regardless of the purchase date or the date it was originally placed into service.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.523(b))
(a) 
The term “driver” or “taxicab driver” shall mean any person duly licensed by the state who has registered as a taxicab driver with the city as required and has been duly employed to drive a taxicab by the holder of a taxicab franchise, or has entered into a written agreement for use of a taxicab with the holder of a taxicab franchise, in accordance with the requirements of this article. Such written agreement shall be signed by the franchise holder and the driver on a photostatically reproduced copy of the signed agreement placed on file with the city secretary. Such agreement shall provide that the holder assume full responsibility for compliance with the franchise, state laws, city ordinances and the city charter by the driver while in the course of operating a taxicab within the city. The agreement shall also contain the holder's covenant to indemnify and hold the city harmless from any claim or cause the action against the city arising from conduct of the driver or operation of the taxicab.
(b) 
Every taxicab driver shall, before operating in the city, furnish his name, address, and driver's license number to the city police chief, who shall maintain a record of all such persons. In lieu of such registration with the city police chief, [a person having] a driver's license to operate a taxicab in the City of Houston may without further notice operate a permitted taxicab in the city. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a taxicab on any fare originating inside the city without first having registered with the city police chief or obtaining a taxicab driver's license from the City of Houston. Any person convicted of violating any condition of this article shall be fined as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.517(a))
(a) 
It shall be the duty of every taxicab driver to be hygienically clean, well-groomed, neat and suitably dressed in compliance with all applicable requirements of this article at all times while a taxicab is in his or her custody.
(b) 
Male drivers shall be clean-shaven and hair shall be neatly trimmed. If a beard or mustache is worn, it shall be well-groomed and neatly trimmed at all times in order not to present a ragged appearance.
(c) 
The term “suitably dressed” shall be interpreted to mean the driver, if male, shall wear trousers, a shirt with collar, with or without a tie, shoes and, if desired, appropriate outer garments.
(d) 
The term “suitably dressed” shall be interpreted to mean the driver, if female, shall wear skirts, trousers, slacks, a shirt with collar or a blouse, shoes, and, if desired, appropriate outer garments.
(e) 
Clothing that is not considered appropriate and is not permitted when the driver, male or female, is in charge of a licensed taxicab includes: T-shirts, underwear, tank tops, body shirts, swim wear, jogging suits, or similar types of attire when worn as an outer garment, shorts or trunks (jogging or bathing) or sandals.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.517(b))
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a taxicab within the city unless he is duly licensed by the state, having this license on his person at all times while operating a taxicab.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.518)
(a) 
The rate of fares for all taxicabs operating in the city shall be such as is prescribed by the city council. Fares shall not be changed more frequently than once every twelve (12) months.
(b) 
The city council hereby fixes, authorizes and establishes the following schedule of taxicab rates and charges. All taxicab franchise holders and drivers shall comply with and abide by the schedule hereby established:
(1) 
A fee as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code for the first one-seventh (1/7) of a mile or less; a fee as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code for each additional one-seventh (1/7) of a mile or less;
(2) 
No additional charge shall be made for luggage;
(3) 
For waiting time an amount as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code per hour, provided the clock on the taximeter is set and regulated at a rate as provided for in fee schedule found in appendix A of this code.
(4) 
In the event two (2) or more passengers are going to the same destination, the driver shall collect only one (1) fare as recorded on the taximeter. If the passengers are going to different destinations, the driver shall clear his meter at the first destination and charge the first passenger the amount recorded on the taximeter, and proceed to the next destination as though it were a completely new trip. Other destinations shall be treated likewise.
(5) 
No driver shall drive or cause to be driven a taxicab in this city unless it is equipped with a taximeter. No driver shall carry a passenger, whether for hire or not, in such taxicab unless the meter flag is in the recording position. All charges and collections for hire shall be based upon the meter reading, and the dial showing the fare shall be in full view and readily visible and legible by the passenger or passengers at all times as such service is being rendered.
(6) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the legal fare of any taxicab after having hired the same. Any person who shall hire any taxicab with intent to defraud the person from whom it is hired shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(7) 
If any person operating any taxicab shall refuse to convey a passenger at the rates specified on the rate card, or shall demand or receive an amount in excess of the rates displayed on such card, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.519)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, operating, driving or in charge of a taxicab to operate or drive such taxicab unless a taximeter is used in determining the fare to be charged, and no other or different fare shall be charged than the fare recorded on the reading face of such taximeter for such trip and no other rates or methods of measuring the distance or time charges shall be allowed except as expressly permitted by this article.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.520)
All drivers of taxicabs shall promptly deliver to the police department of the city, or to their employers, all property left in such vehicles by passengers. If a driver delivers such articles to his employer, the latter shall deliver them to the police department. When articles left in taxicabs have been delivered to the office of the chief of police, he shall make an entry of the fact in a book provided for that purpose and shall keep all such articles until claimed by the owner, or as the city council may authorize. However, the taxicab company shall not be held liable for lost articles or articles left in the taxicab.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.522)
It shall be unlawful to carry more than five (5) passengers in any taxicab, and in no event shall more than two (2) passengers ride in the front seat with the driver.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.523(a))
Any passenger who engages the service of a taxicab shall have the exclusive right to the passenger compartment of the taxicab, and it shall be unlawful for a taxicab driver or permittee to carry additional passengers unless specific permission is obtained from the passenger who engaged the taxicab originally.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.523(c))