As used in this article, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them:
Chauffeur.
One whose business or occupation is operating a motor passenger vehicle for compensation, wages or hire.
Conduct a taxicab business.
The use of one or more taxicabs within the corporate limits of the city, by the actual 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, this definition shall not apply to any licensed chauffeur hired as a driver by any person holding a permit to conduct a taxicab business within the city.
Taxicab.
Any vehicle carrying passengers for hire, except motor buses or motor coaches operated over designated routes through the city.
(Ordinance 122, secs. 1, 2, adopted 8/18/43; Ordinance 159, sec. 1, adopted 11/5/45; 1972 Code, sec. 25-1)
Before any person shall conduct a taxicab business in the city, he shall first file with the city secretary an application 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 to be operated under such permit.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 3, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-16)
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 the member of the firm who will be active in charge of the business and affairs of the partnership, and that he is a bona fide resident of the city; and if a corporation, the name of the corporation, and that the president or other active executive officer, in actual active charge and control of the affairs of the corporation, is a resident of the city.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 4, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-17)
It shall be the duty of the city secretary, when an application for a permit has been filed, at the next regular meeting of the council following the filing of such application, to call the attention of the council thereto; and upon consideration of such application, the council may grant or refuse such permit, as in its discretion may seem to be to the best interests of the citizens of the city and the public in general.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 5, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-18)
All permits for the conduct of a taxicab business in the city shall be issued and signed by the city secretary and sealed with the seal of the city; it shall be dated the date of its issuance; and shall bear a serial number; and shall show the name and address of the permittee, and that the permittee has been authorized by the council to conduct a taxicab business in the city until the expiration on the thirty-first day of December next following the date of issuance. Said permit is subject to cancellation at any time by the council.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 6, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-19)
Any permit issued under the provisions of this article shall be nonassignable, and may be revoked by the council at any time it shall appear that the permittee has violated any provisions of this article or failed to comply with any of the provisions thereof.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 12, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-20)
No permit shall be issued under the provisions of this article unless and until the applicant shall have applied for and secured and deposited with the city secretary a public liability and property damage contract written by some solvent insurance company, authorized to do business in the state, agreeing to indemnify any injured party for death or injury to any one person in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for any accident where more than one person has been killed or injured, and for at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) in either event, in cases where there has been property damage, and such contract is to be approved by the city attorney and a copy placed on file in the office of the city secretary. Such policies of insurance shall not be cancelled or surrendered except upon written notice to the city secretary. The failure of any permittee to secure and file the policies of insurance as required by this section shall immediately make null and void such permit and the rights thereunder shall at once cease.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 8, adopted 8/18/43; Ordinance 699, sec. 1, adopted 6/22/76; 1972 Code, sec. 25-21)
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 122, sec. 14, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-22)
Every holder of a permit granted under the terms of this article shall have and keep painted in fast colors contrasting with the colors of the vehicle, on each side and back panel of each vehicle used by him as a taxicab, the word “TAXI” in letters not less than eight (8) inches high.
(Ordinance 158, sec. 1, adopted 11/5/45; 1972 Code, sec. 25-23)
Every holder of a permit to conduct a taxicab business in the city shall have each taxicab used in his business inspected at least once each month, and shall file with the city secretary on or before the first of each month, a statement in writing signed by a competent resident mechanic showing that he has inspected the vehicle, the date of inspection, license number, motor number, 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.
(Ordinance 122, sec. 11, adopted 8/18/43; 1972 Code, sec. 25-24)