Conduct a Taxicab Business.
The term "conduct a taxicab business" as used in this article shall be held to mean the use of one or more taxicabs within the corporate limits of the City of Levelland, for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire, either by driving the same himself or having the same driven by some other person; provided, that this definition shall not apply to any licensed chauffeur hired as a driver by some other person, firm, or corporation holding a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland.
Holder.
"Holder" shall mean any person holding a taxicab permit to conduct a taxicab business.
Manifest.
"Manifest" shall mean a daily record prepared by a taxicab driver of all trips made by such driver showing time and place, origin, destination, number of passengers and the amount of fare for passengers and extra luggage of each trip.
Person.
The word "person" and all personal pronouns used herein shall be held to apply to and include partnerships, firms, and corporations, as well as individuals.
Taxicab.
The term "taxicab" as used in this article shall mean any and all vehicles carrying passengers for hire over the public streets of the City of Levelland, irrespective of whether the operation of such vehicle extends beyond the limits of said city; provided, that the term "taxicab" shall not apply to motorbuses or motor coaches operated by bus lines over fixed or designated routes in and through said city nor to automobiles which are leased and rented as driverless cars.
Taximeter.
"Taximeter" shall mean a mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for hire of a taxicab, at a predetermined rate or rates, is mechanically calculated and registered for distance traveled, extra passengers, if any, and upon which such charge shall be indicated by means of clearly legible figures.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-1)
Before any person, firm, or corporation shall conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland, he shall file with the City Secretary of said city, an application to the City Council of said city for a permit to conduct such business in said city. The application shall state the following:
(1) 
Name and address of the applicant, and whether the applicant is an individual, firm or corporation and the full identification of all persons directly interested in the requested permit.
(2) 
If a partnership, then the member of the firm who will be in active charge and control of the affairs of the partnership be made to appear that he is a bona fide resident of the City of Levelland.
(3) 
If the applicant be a corporation, the name and place of residence of all of the officers of such corporation; the person who will be in active charge of the affairs of the corporation be made to appear that he is a bona fide resident of the City of Levelland; the amount of its capital stock and the amounts thereof fully paid up; the character and value of its assets, its liabilities and the security therefor; and such corporation shall file with its application a duly certified copy of its charter and by-laws, and if it be a foreign corporation, a duly certified copy of its permit to do business in the State of Texas.
(4) 
The amounts of all unpaid judgments against the applicant and the nature of the transaction or acts giving rise to said judgments.
(5) 
The number of vehicles proposed to be operated by the applicant. A complete description of such vehicles including the name, usual trade description, motor number, state license number, rated horsepower, and the year in which each was manufactured.
(6) 
The past experience, if any, that the applicant has had in rendering taxicab service or in the transportation of passengers and whether or not said applicant has ever had any permit or franchise issued to him that has been revoked and, if so, the circumstances of such revocation.
(7) 
The maximum amount of all fares proposed to be charged the public in the event such permit is granted.
(8) 
Any additional facts which the applicant believes will tend to prove that public convenience and necessity require the granting of the requested permit.
(9) 
Such further information as the City Council may require.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-2; Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be the duty of the City Secretary, when an application for a permit is filed with him, at the next regular or special meeting of the City Council of Levelland, following the filing of such application to call the attention of said City Council thereto; and upon consideration of such application, the said City Council may grant or refuse such permit, as in its discretion may seem to the best interest of the citizenship of the City of Levelland, and the public in general.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-3)
All permits for the conduct of a taxicab business in the City of Levelland, shall be issued and signed by the City Secretary of said city and sealed with the seal of his office; it shall be dated on the day of its issuance; shall bear a serial number; shall show the name and address of the permittee, the number and description of each vehicle to be operated thereunder, the maximum amount that may be charged the public for the use of each taxicab; and that the permittee has been authorized by the City Council of the City of Levelland to conduct a taxicab business in said city until the expiration of the 31st day of December next following the date of issuance; and that said permit is subject to cancellation at any time by said City Council. Said permit shall be countersigned by the permittee, and shall evidence the agreement on the part of the permittee to pay the sums of money herein mentioned, and to in all things comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the business for which said permit is issued.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-4)
At the time of issuance of a permit, the permittee shall pay to the City Secretary a sum as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code, for each taxicab to be operated in the City of Levelland for a twelve-month period ending December 31st; provided that, if such permit is granted for less than the full year, the permittee shall pay to the city an amount prorated according to the number of months for which the permit is issued. If at any time the holder of a taxicab permit shall desire to use any additional vehicles under the permit he may do so only after he has made application to the City Council for a permit to operate additional vehicles and has his application for such permit granted, and he shall furnish to the City Secretary the same information regarding such additional vehicles as is required in Section 4.102(6) regarding those covered by the original permit, and shall pay to the City Secretary the fee as herein provided.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-5)
The holder of any permit to conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland shall at all times during the life of such permit keep each and every vehicle operated by him under his permit insured from companies licensed to make and issue such insurance policies in the State of Texas, indemnifying the permittee in the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for bodily injury liability for each person and a total liability of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for each accident, and for property damage liability of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each accident, through and by reason of the operation of his taxicabs; and such policies or certificates of such insurance shall be approved by the City Attorney of said city, and filed and left with the City Secretary of said city. Said policies of insurance shall not be canceled or surrendered, except upon ten (10) days' written notice to the City Secretary of said city. Failure of any permittee to procure and file the policies of insurance as required by this section shall immediately forfeit and make null and void such permit, and all rights thereunder shall at once cease.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-6)
Every holder of a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland shall have each and every taxicab used in his business inspected once each month, and shall file with the City Secretary on or before the tenth day of each and every month, a statement in writing signed by a competent resident mechanic showing that he has inspected such vehicle, the date of such inspection, the license number of such vehicle or vehicles, the name of the permittee and the serial number of his permit; that the lights, brakes and steering apparatus of such vehicles so inspected by him are in good mechanical condition. The City Council may, at its discretion, designate a resident mechanic to perform the aforementioned inspection, in which case the permittee will be required to use said designated mechanic.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-7)
Any permit issued under the provisions of this article shall be nonassignable, and may be revoked by the City Council of Levelland at any time it shall appear to said City Council that the permittee has violated any provision of this article or failed to comply with any requirements thereof.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-8)
The fare to be charged for the transportation of passengers shall be measured by a taximeter, and the maximum amount shall be subject to regulation by the City Council. In the event that the holder of any permit to conduct taxicab business shall charge any member of the public a sum of money for the use of a taxicab in excess of that maximum stipulated in the permit, same shall be cause for cancellation by City Council of such permit. A current schedule of all maximum rates and fares to be charged by the holder shall always be on file with the City Secretary and same shall not be changed without approval of the City Council.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-9)
Unless the customer or customers first employing the taxicab shall consent, no additional passengers shall be picked up or permitted to ride in a taxicab on the same trip.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-10)
Every holder of a permit granted under the terms 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, the words: "TAXI PERMIT NO. _______ ," filling the blank with the figures denoting the serial number of his permit. The letters and figures shall be not less than five inches in height.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-11)
It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation holding a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland, to permit any person who does not hold a valid chauffeur's license from the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, to drive or operate on the public streets of said city any taxicab owned or used in connection with the business of the permittee. 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 said city and who are morally acceptable for such public service.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-12)
Non-use of the permit granted here under or failure on the part of the holder of the permit under this article to use or exercise the rights and privileges granted in such permit, or to comply with the conditions or duties prescribed herein for a period of thirty (30) days shall ipso facto operate as a cancellation of said permit, and said permit shall thereupon become null and void and of no effect.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-13)
Any person who shall conduct a taxicab business in the City of Levelland, without a valid permit as required by this article, or who shall fail to have all vehicles used by him as a taxicab lettered and painted as provided in Section 4.111 hereof, or who shall use or employ as a driver of any taxicab owned by him any person who does not have a valid chauffeur's license from the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, or any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision found in Section 1.106 of this code; and each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Article 1, Section 20-14)