The following words, terms and phrases when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means and include any motor vehicle operated within the corporate
limits of the city for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire
for which charges are assessed on a time or distance-travelled basis,
except motor buses operating on fixed routes as hereinafter specified,
specially chartered buses and driverless cars. The term shall also
include motor driven vehicles with or without a taximeter and hired
or rented where rates are charged on the time basis or a distance-travelled
basis.
means and includes any street, alley, avenue, lane, public
place or highway within the corporate limits of the city.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(A)]
No public vehicle shall operate for the transportation of persons as passengers for compensation or hire within the corporate limits of the city without first having obtained from the city council under the provisions of this article, a certificate declaring that the public convenience and necessity require such operation and without having a license as provided in section 18-411.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(B)]
The operation of public vehicles shall be subject to the conditions,
regulations and restrictions set forth in this article, and it shall
be unlawful to operate or cause to be operated in the city any public
vehicle unless a license therefor shall have been issued to the owner
thereof in accordance with the conditions, regulations and restrictions
prescribed in this article. However, this section shall apply only
to vehicles operating wholly or principally within the corporate limits
of the city and shall not affect motor bus companies as defined and
regulated by state law and it shall not affect motor buses operating
on fixed routes and upon fixed schedules of time and fare, specially
chartered buses, sight-seeing buses, driverless cars or motor buses
owned and operated by any street railway company under authority of
state laws.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(O)]
A description of the owner's license and the driver's permit
shall be attached to the vehicle in some conspicuous place where it
may be easily seen by the passenger or passengers and shall state
the number of the car licensed and such other facts as will properly
identify it, the dates that such license and the permit were issued,
and any other information that may be deemed proper by the chief of
police.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(P)]
The officers charged with the duty of enforcing this article
shall promptly report any violations of the provisions in this article
or any other valid ordinance passed by the city council and shall
promptly report any facts showing a change in the conditions existing
at the time the license to operate any public vehicle was issued,
which shall subject the certificate of necessity and convenience that
may be granted under this article to cancellation. The certificate
may be cancelled if in the discretion of the city council the cancellation
due to the violation is in the public interest, after ten days notice,
and after a full hearing thereof.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(Q)]
(a)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and the person, firm or corporation, or any employee, agent, manager or officer thereof, who is guilty of violating any of the provisions shall upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in section 1-14. In case of willful or continued violations by any person, firm or corporation, or their agents, employees, servants, or officers, the municipality shall have power to revoke and repeal any license under which such person, firm or corporation may be acting, and revoke all permits, privileges and franchises granted to such person, firm or corporation.
(b)
But in case of any willful violations of any of the terms and provisions of this article, the city, in addition to imposing the penalties provided in subsection (a) of this section may institute any appropriate action or proceedings in any court having proper jurisdiction, to restrain, correct or abate such violation; and the definition of any violation of the terms of this section as a misdemeanor shall not preclude the city from invoking the civil remedies given it by the laws of the state, but shall be cumulative and subject to prosecution as described in this section for such violations.
[Code 1984, ch. 4, § 1(R)]
