Recognizing the need for adequate taxicab service operated in a safe and efficient manner, the City of Irving has established this chapter.
(Ordinance 5009, § 1, adopted 8/14/2086)
The definition of a term in this section applies to each grammatical variation of the term. In this chapter, unless the context requires a different definition:
City
means the City of Irving.
Chief
means the chief of police of the city or his designated agent.
Director
is that person defined in section 37-3.
Driver
means an individual who drives or operates a taxicab.
Franchise
means an agreement between the city and another person, executed in the manner prescribed by the city charter, under which the other person is granted the privilege of operating a taxicab service inside the city for a specific period of time and in accordance with the specific terms and conditions of the agreement.
Holder
means a person who is granted an operating authority under this chapter. If the context in which the term is used applies to operations under a temporary permit, special event permit or reciprocal agreement the term "holder" includes a person who is granted a temporary permit, special event permit or reciprocal agreement.
Legal resident
means a citizen of the United States or a person residing in the United States in accordance with federal immigration laws.
Manifest
means a daily record, prepared by a taxicab driver of all trips made by such driver, showing time and place of origin, destination, number of passengers and the amount of fare for passengers.
Operating authority
means a franchise, and annual operating permit, temporary permit, special event permit or reciprocal agreement granted by the city.
Operate a taxicab
means the driving of a vehicle as a taxicab on any street of the city.
Person
means an individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision, or agency, trust, partnership, association, or two (2) or more persons having a joint or common economic interest.
Reciprocal agreement
means an agreement between the city and one (1) or more governmental entities relative to taxicab regulation.
Repair
means any work on a motor vehicle except work commonly associated with routine maintenance such as changing oil, spark plugs or filters.
Street
means any street, alley, avenue, lane, public place or highway within the city.
Taxicab
means a chauffeured motor vehicle with a rated passenger capacity of nine (9) or less, used to transport persons for hire that typically operates on irregular routes, irregular schedules, and on a call and demand basis.
Taxicab driver's permit
means a permit issued to an individual by the director authorizing that person to operate a taxicab in the city.
Taxicab service
means a passenger transportation service operated for hire that uses taxicabs in the operation of the service.
Taxicab stand
means a public place reserved exclusively for use by taxicabs.
Taximeter
means a device that mechanically or electronically computes a fare based upon the distance traveled, the time the taxicab is engaged, and any other basis for charges which are specified in the operating authority or rate ordinance pertaining to the holder.
Taxicab permit
means the individual permit issued by the director for a taxicab.
Temporary permit
means operating authority granted by the city to a person to operate a taxicab service inside the city for a specified period of time not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days.
Waiting time
means all time when a taxicab is not in motion, occupied by a passenger, and the time consumed while standing at the direction of the passenger or person who has engaged the taxicab.
(Ordinance 5009, § 1, adopted 8/14/1986)
(a) 
There shall be named by the city manager a director of transportation services. The director shall have overall responsibility for enforcement and implementation of this chapter and for coordination of all departments of the city involved in the application of this chapter.
(b) 
The director's powers include, but are not limited to:
(1) 
Temporary suspension of an operating permit, a taxicab permit, or a driver's permit;
(2) 
Recommending action including revocation of franchises to the city council;
(3) 
Promulgation of rules and regulations consistent with the intent of this chapter, which rules and regulations will have the full force and effect of law, except that violation of such rules shall not be the basis for criminal action and provided that all such rules and regulations shall be mailed to all franchise holders and will be delivered to the city manager who will forward them to the city council;
(4) 
Audit the books and records of a taxicab service for the purpose of assuring compliance with the chapter, rules and regulations;
(5) 
Call meetings of one (1) or more of the various cab services for dispute resolution and for other purposes that he may deem appropriate;
(6) 
Conduct the investigation of franchise applications, franchise transfer applications, annual operating permits, temporary operating permits, independent contractor contracts, taxi driver permits and taxicab permits;
(7) 
Investigate and make recommendations to the city council regarding reciprocal agreements with other governmental entities relative to taxicab regulation;
(8) 
Designate taxicab stands within the city;
(9) 
Administer the testing for the granting of taxicab driver permits;
(10) 
Issue correction orders to taxicab drivers, independent taxicab contractors and taxicab services; and
(11) 
Issuance of special event permits.
(Ordinance 5009, § 1, adopted 8/14/1986)
(a) 
A taxicab from outside the city may transport passengers to any point within or across the city without operating authority but a taxicab may not pick up passengers within the city without operating authority.
(b) 
Any business maintaining a service incidental to and as a part of another principal business may transport persons, if not for hire, without violating this chapter.
(Ordinance 5009, § 1, adopted 8/14/1986)