(a)
Conduct of taxicab business
Taxicab
As
used in this article:
means the use of one 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, provided that this definition
shall not apply to any licensed chauffeur hired as a driver by any
person, firm or corporation holding a permit to conduct a taxicab
business in the city.
means any and all vehicles carrying passengers for hire,
except motor buses or motor coaches operated by bus lines over designated
routes in and through the city.
(b)
The
word “person” and all personal pronouns herein shall be
held to apply to and include partnerships, firms, and corporations
as well as individuals.
(1984 Code, secs. 11.60, 11.61, 11.65)
Any person who shall conduct a taxicab business in the city
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 herein, or who shall use or employ as a driver for any
taxicab owned by him any person who does not have a valid permit from
the city to drive a taxicab, or a person who parks or stands a taxicab
on the streets of the city except when loading and unloading passengers,
or any person who violates any provision of this article, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be punished by a fine.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.65)
Every holder of a permit granted under the terms of this article
shall 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 _____ PERMITTING _____”, filling the
blanks with the figures denoting the serial number of his permit.
The letters and figures shall not be less than four (4) inches in
height.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation
holding a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the city to permit
any person who does not hold a valid permit from the city, as a taxicab
driver, to drive or operate on the public streets of the city, any
taxicab owned or used in connection with the business of the permittee.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
Every holder of a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the
city 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 first day of each 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, and
that the lights, brakes and steering apparatus of all such vehicles
so inspected by him are in good mechanical condition.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
It shall be unlawful for the holder of any permit issued under
the terms of this article, or the agent, servant or employee of such
permittee, to park or leave standing any taxicab on the streets of
the city, except while loading and unloading passengers into and from
such taxicab.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
It shall be unlawful for any driver of any taxicab to drive
or cruise about the streets of the city seeking passengers who have
not theretofore ordered or called for a taxicab.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.65)
This article shall not apply to passenger buses operating under
the operations of the state railroad commission and coming into or
passing through the city for the purpose of loading and unloading
passengers.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.65)
It shall be unlawful for any person conducting a taxicab business
in the city to use or operate, or cause to be operated or used, as
a taxicab, any vehicle not owned by him.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.65)
(a)
Before
any person, firm or corporation shall conduct a taxicab business in
the city, he shall file with the city secretary an application to
the city council for a permit to conduct such business in the city.
The application shall state the name and address of such applicant,
whether the applicant is an individual, firm or corporation, and if
a firm, the name and address of each member thereof, and the number
of vehicles proposed to be operated under such permit.
(b)
It
shall be the duty of the city secretary, when an application for a
permit is filed with him, at the next regular meeting of the city
council following the filing of such application, to call the attention
of the councilmen thereto, and upon consideration of such application
the city council may grant or refuse such permit as in their discretion
may seem to the best interest of the citizenship of the city and the
public in general.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.62)
All permits for the conduct of a taxicab business in the city
shall be issued by the city secretary and sealed with the seal of
his office; it shall be dated on the day of its issuance, shall bear
a serial number, and shall show the name and address of the permittee
and that the permittee has been authorized by the city council to
conduct a taxicab business in the 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 the city council.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
At the time of issuance of a permit the permittee shall pay
to the city secretary the sum established by the city council for
the first vehicle, and if more than one vehicle is proposed to be
operated as a taxicab then the sum established by the city council
for each additional vehicle. At the time of the issuance of said permit,
the permittee shall file with the secretary a statement in writing
under oath signed by him, showing the number of vehicles proposed
to be operated by him, and the make, model, motor number, and state
license number of each. 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,
and been granted by the council, a permit to use such additional vehicles,
and he shall furnish to the city secretary the same information regarding
such additional vehicles as is required in this section regarding
those covered by the original permit, and shall pay to the city secretary
a sum as established by the city council for each such additional
vehicle.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
The holder of any permit to conduct a taxicab business in the
city shall at all times during the life of such permit keep each and
every vehicle operational by him under his permit insured in a company
authorized to do business in Texas, identifying [indemnifying] the
permittee in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for injury
or death or property damage resulting from any accident through and
by reason of the operation of his taxicab, and such policies or certificates
of insurance shall be approved by the city council and filed and left
with the city secretary. Said policies of insurance shall not be cancelled
or surrendered, except upon written notice to the city secretary.
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.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
Any permit issued under the provisions of this article shall
be non-assignable, and may be revoked by the city council at any time
it shall appear that the permittee has violated any provision of this
article or failed to comply with any requirements hereof.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.63)
If the applicant is an individual, before any permit is granted,
it shall be made to appear that he is a bona fide resident of the
city; if a partnership, then that a member of the firm who will be
in active charge and control of the city affairs of the partnership
is a bona fide resident of the city; and if a corporation, that the
president, or other executive officer, in active charge and control
of the affairs of the corporation is a bona fide inhabitant or resident
of the city.
(1984 Code, sec. 11.64)
