For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Every person who operates, drives or propels a taxicab upon
the streets, alleys and highways of the city.
An authority to operate a taxicab business in the city duly
granted by the city council by ordinance after a finding that public
convenience and necessity require the granting of the franchise in
accordance with the provisions of this article.
Any person holding a taxicab franchise in the city.
Daily record prepared by a taxicab driver of all trips made
by such driver showing time and place of origin, destination, number
of passengers and the amount of fare for passengers.
Every automobile or motor propelled vehicle with a seating
capacity of not more than five (5) passengers, exclusive of driver,
used for transportation of passengers for hire over the public streets
of the city, irrespective of whether the operation of such automobile
or vehicle extends beyond the limits of the city, at specified rates
for each trip, or for waiting time, or for both; provided, that the
term “taxicab” shall not apply to motorbuses regularly
operated in the city to or from points outside the city under permits
duly issued by the state, nor to motorbuses operated in interstate
commerce; provided, that automobiles for hire used in such limousine
service shall be subject to the franchise requirements of the charter
of the city; provided further the term “taxicab” shall
not apply to automobiles which are leased and rented as driverless
cars.
Any office, station, building, stand, substation or other
place of business of a duly authorized holder at which calls are received
or may be received, from prospective passengers for hire, and from
which place of business the holder directs the dispatch and return
of taxicabs used in the taxicab service for which the franchise or
operating contract has been granted.
The time when a taxicab is not in motion from the time of
acceptance to the time of discharge of a passenger, but does not include
any time the taxicab is not in motion due to any cause other than
the request, act or fault of the passenger.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-1)
Enforcement and administration of the provisions of this article
shall be a function of such officers and employees of the city as
may be designated by the city manager. The designated employees shall
exercise powers necessary to enforce the provisions of this article.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-2)
Every holder in the city shall employ as drivers of taxicabs
only persons who are physically and mentally fit and able to operate
a motor vehicle for hire. It shall be the full responsibility of the
holder to select and employ drivers who are qualified for taxicab
service, who can read and write the English language, who are familiar
with streets and addresses in the city, and who are morally acceptable
for such public service. The continued employment by any holder of
any person as a driver who is a known criminal, or whose record as
the driver of motor vehicles as reflected by official court and police
records, shows a lack of mental, emotional, moral or temperamental
capacity to be a safe and reliable driver, will be taken into consideration
by the city council when requested to grant or renew any franchise
to operate a taxicab service in the city. Every holder is enjoined
not to employ or retain in employment any person as a taxicab driver
who frequently violates laws governing morals and motor vehicle operations.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-3)
Every holder in the city shall render an overall service to
the public desiring to use taxicabs. Holders shall maintain a central
place of business for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching
taxicabs. All calls for such services within the city shall be answered
as soon as possible, and if the service cannot be rendered within
a reasonable time, it shall be the duty of the holder, his agent or
employee, to notify the prospective passenger how long it will be
before his call can be answered, and give the reason therefor. Any
holder who shall refuse to accept a call anywhere in the city limits
at any time when such holder has available taxicabs, or who shall
fail or refuse to give overall service, shall be deemed a violator
of this article, and the franchise of such person, or contract of
a person operating thereunder, shall be subject to immediate revocation
and cancellation by action of the city council; provided that no such
holder shall be required to subject any taxicab to mob violence and
destruction in order to render particular overall service.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-4)
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to engage in any
transportation by motor vehicle which is operated in the same or similar
manner employed by taxicab services, unless such transportation so
engaged shall be a duly authorized operation under franchise; however,
each and every person desiring to engage a taxicab shall be permitted
to select the taxicab of his choice at any place in the city.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-5)
It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the legal
fare of any taxicab after having hired the same, and it shall be unlawful
for any person to hire any taxicab with intent to defraud the person
from whom it is hired of the value of such service.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-6)
It shall be unlawful for any driver of a taxicab knowingly to
transport any passenger to the abode of a prostitute, or knowingly
to transport any criminal, narcotic peddler, prostitute or bootlegger
in the commission of a crime or infraction of the law in any manner,
or act in any manner as a panderer or pimp for prostitutes or a contract
for unlawful establishments of any character. Violations of this section
shall be brought to the attention of the holder in whose service the
taxicab driver is employed and repeated occurrences by the same or
other drivers shall be grounds for revocation and cancellation of
the holder's franchise.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-7)
Every police officer of the city is hereby given authority and
is enjoined to watch and observe the conduct of holders and drivers
operating under this article. Upon discovering a violation of the
provisions of this article, every such officer shall take immediate
steps to enforce the law, either by arrest or by report to proper
officials. Specific instructions in this connection shall be delivered
to every police officer of the city under the direction of the chief
of police.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-8)
Each vehicle used as a taxicab in the city shall be required
to have the name of the holder or the registered, assumed name of
the taxicab service, clearly marked on the vehicle so utilized, in
letters of a bold type, and such name must clearly reflect that the
vehicle is being used as a taxicab and bear an identifying vehicle
number.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30, Sec. 30-9)
