Conduct a taxicab business.
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 some other person [sic], provided that this definition shall not apply to any licensed chauffeur hired by any person, firm, or corporation holding a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the city.
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.
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.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. I, adopted 5/14/96)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be found guilty of a class C misdemeanor and anyone convicted of said violation shall be fined as provided in section 1.01.009.
(Ordinance 2002-22, sec. 4, adopted 8/27/02)
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.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. VIII, adopted 5/14/96)
It shall be unlawful for any person conducting a taxicab business in the city to use or operate, or cause to be used or operated, as a taxicab, any vehicle not owned by him.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. IX, adopted 5/14/96)
This article shall not apply to passenger buses operating under the regulations of the state railroad commission and coming into or passing through the city for the purpose of unloading passengers.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. X, adopted 5/14/96)
Before any person shall conduct a taxicab business in the city, said person shall file with the city manager an application for a permit to conduct such business. 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; the number of vehicles proposed to be operated under such permit; and the year, make, model and Texas license plate number of each vehicle.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. II, adopted 5/14/96)
It shall be the duty of the city manager to review an application for a taxicab permit. The city manager may grant or deny such permit request as in his/her discretion may seem to be in the best interest of the citizenship of the city and the public in general.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. III, adopted 5/14/96)
All permits to conduct a taxicab business in the city shall be issued and signed by the city secretary and sealed with the seal of 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 one (1) year, and that said permit is subject to cancellation at any time by the city council.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. IV, adopted 5/14/96)
At the time of issuance of a permit, the permittee shall pay to the city a permit fee as set from time to time by resolution of the city council for each vehicle operated as a taxicab.
(Ordinance 2000-12 adopted 5/9/00)
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 operated under the permit insured by a company authorized to do business in Texas, indemnifying the permittee in a sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for injury or death per individual, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) for injury or death per occurrence, and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for property damage resulting from any accident, through and by reason of the operation of his taxicab, and proof of such coverage shall be filed with the city secretary. Said insurance shall not be canceled 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.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. VI, adopted 5/14/96)
Any permit issued under the provisions of this article shall be nonassignable, and may be revoked by the city manager at any time it shall appear that the permittee has violated any provision of this article or failed to comply with any requirements hereof. Upon revocation, the permittee shall have ten working days to appeal said action in writing to the mayor. The mayor shall then call a meeting of the city council to hear the appeal. Upon hearing from the permittee and the city manager, the city council may uphold revocation or reinstate the permit.
(Ordinance 9608, sec. VII, adopted 5/14/96)