To qualify for a city chauffeur’s license, an applicant shall:
(1) 
Be at least 18 years of age;
(2) 
Be currently authorized to work full-time in the United States;
(3) 
Hold a valid driver’s license issued by the state;
(4) 
Be able to communicate in the English language;
(5) 
Not be afflicted with a physical or mental disease or disability that is likely to prevent the applicant from exercising ordinary and reasonable control over a motor vehicle or that is likely to otherwise endanger the public health or safety;
(6) 
Not have been convicted of more than four moving traffic violations arising out of separate transactions, or been involved in more than two automobile accidents in which it could be reasonably determined that the applicant was at fault during the preceding 36 months;
(7) 
Not have been convicted, placed on probation or deferred adjudication, or completed a sentence (including a term of probation or deferred adjudication) for any felony within the last five years or currently be on probation for any Class B or above misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, violence, or use of a motor vehicle;
(8) 
Not have been convicted of, or discharged by probation or deferred adjudication for, driving while intoxicated within the preceding 24 months more than one time within the preceding ten years;
(9) 
Not be addicted to the use of alcohol or narcotics;
(10) 
Be subject to no outstanding warrants of arrest;
(11) 
Be sanitary and well-groomed in dress and person in compliance with this chapter;
(12) 
Be currently sponsored by a franchise holder; said sponsorship must be in writing and said document must be given to director with the application; and
(13) 
Pay the city chauffeur’s license application fee and complete a chauffeur’s application form provided by director.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
Upon request of the director, the Police Department shall investigate each applicant and furnish the director a report concerning applicant’s qualification under this chapter.
(b) 
No city chauffeur’s license shall be issued to any person until the city performs a background check and a photograph is taken of such chauffeur’s applicant.
(c) 
The director may conduct such other investigations as he considers necessary to determine whether an applicant for a city chauffeur’s license is qualified.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
If the director determines that an applicant is qualified, the director shall issue a city chauffeur’s license to the applicant.
(b) 
The director shall delay until final adjudication the approval of the application of any applicant who is under indictment for or has charges pending for any offense listed in this article, or criminal attempt to commit any of those.
(c) 
The director may deny the application for a city chauffeur’s license if the applicant:
(1) 
Is not qualified under this chapter;
(2) 
Refuses to submit to or does not pass a medical or written examination authorized under this article; or
(3) 
Makes a false statement of a material fact in his application for a city chauffeur’s license.
(d) 
If the director determines that a license should be denied to the applicant, the director shall notify the applicant in writing that his application is denied and include in the notice the reason for denial.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
A city chauffeur’s license expires on December 31 of the year it was issued.
(b) 
If a licensee’s state driver’s license is suspended or revoked by the state, his city chauffeur’s license automatically becomes void. A licensee shall notify the director and the franchise holder for whom he drives within three days of a suspension or revocation of his driver’s license by the state and shall immediately surrender his city chauffeur’s license to the director.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
If the sponsoring franchise holder revokes its sponsorship of a holder of a city chauffeur’s license in writing to the director, the city chauffeur’s license becomes void immediately upon the director’s receipt of the revocation.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
After the chief of police has verified an applicant’s fingerprints and after the director has authorized issuance of a city chauffeur’s license, the director shall issue the chauffeur’s license to an applicant who has complied with the terms of this article. Said license shall contain a photo of the licensee and be on a form determined by the director.
(b) 
The driver shall conspicuously display a city chauffeur’s license on the clothing of the driver’s upper body when operating a vehicle for hire.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
A taxicab driver shall allow the director, his delegated representative, or a peace officer to examine the driver’s city chauffeur’s license upon request.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
If the director determines that a licensee has failed to comply with this chapter or a regulation established under this chapter, the director may suspend the driver’s city chauffeur’s license for a definite period of time not to exceed 60 days.
(b) 
If at any time the director determines that a licensee is not qualified under this article, or is under indictment or has charges pending for any offense involving driving while intoxicated or any offense involving a crime described in this article or criminal attempt to commit any of those offenses, the director shall suspend the city chauffeur’s license until such time as the director determines that the licensee is qualified or that the charges against the licensee have been finally adjudicated.
(c) 
A licensee whose city chauffeur’s license is suspended shall not drive a taxicab inside the city during the period of suspension.
(d) 
The director shall notify the licensee and the franchise holder, in writing, via certified mail or by hand delivery, of a suspension under this section and include in the notice the reason for the suspension, the date the director orders the suspension to begin, the duration of suspension or if it is under subsection (b) of this section, and a statement informing the licensee of a right of appeal. The period of suspension begins on the date specified by the director or, in the case of an appeal, on the date ordered by the appeal hearing officer.
(e) 
The director may revoke or suspend a city chauffeur’s license if the director determines that the licensee:
(1) 
Operated a vehicle for hire or a taxicab inside the city a period in which the city chauffeur’s license was suspended;
(2) 
Made a false statement of a material fact in an application for a city chauffeur’s license;
(3) 
Violated any provision of this chapter;
(4) 
Engaged in conduct that could reasonably be determined to be detrimental to the public safety;
(5) 
Used, possessed, or was under the influence of any form of alcoholic beverage or narcotic, or drug while on duty as a driver of a vehicle for hire, whether or not such drug or narcotic is defined as a dangerous drug or as a controlled substance under state or federal law;
(6) 
Was convicted of any felony offense while holding a city chauffeur’s license.
(f) 
A person whose city chauffeur’s license is revoked shall not:
(1) 
Apply for another city chauffeur’s license before the expiration of 12 months from the date the director revokes the license or, in the case of an appeal, the date the appeal hearing officer affirms the revocation; or
(2) 
Drive a vehicle for hire or a taxicab inside the city.
(g) 
The director shall notify the licensee in writing of a revocation and include in the notice the reason for the revocation, the date the director orders the revocation, and a statement informing the licensee of his right of appeal.
(h) 
After receipt of notice of suspension, revocation, or denial of license renewal, the licensee shall, on the date specified in the notice, surrender his city chauffeur’s license to the director and discontinue driving a taxicab inside the city.
(i) 
Notwithstanding subsections (c) and (h) of this section, if the licensee appeals the suspension or revocation under this section, the licensee may not continue to drive a taxicab pending the appeal.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
(a) 
Whenever a city chauffeur’s license denial, suspension or revocation is issued by the director, the licensee shall be notified in writing of the decision. Opportunity for a hearing will be provided if the licensee files a written request with the director not more than ten business days after receiving notice of the director’s action. The licensee shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing within ten business days of receipt of a request for a hearing. If no request for a hearing is filed within ten business days, the denial, suspension or revocation is sustained and becomes final.
(b) 
The city manager or his designee shall act as the appeal hearing officer in an appeal hearing under this section. The hearing officer shall give the appealing party an opportunity to present evidence and make argument in his behalf. The formal rules of evidence do not apply to an appeal hearing under this section, and the hearing officer shall make his ruling on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing.
(c) 
The hearing officer may affirm, modify, or reverse all or part of the action of the director being appealed. The decision of the hearing officer is final.
(d) 
A written report of the hearing decision shall be furnished to the licensee by the hearing officer. Such report is properly served when it is personally delivered to the licensee or when it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the licensee. A copy of the notice shall be filed in the records of the city.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
A person commits an offense if he:
(1) 
Forges, alters, or counterfeits a city chauffeur’s license; or
(2) 
Possesses a forged, altered, or counterfeited city chauffeur’s license.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)
An individual issued a city chauffeur’s license shall maintain a current mailing address on file with the director. The licensee shall notify the taxi inspector of any change in this mailing address within ten business days of the change.
(Ordinance 46-2016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/16)