[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Ossining 12-16-2003 by L.L. No. 11-2003.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for the repeal of former Ch. 244, Taxicabs, adopted 7-21-1981 by L.L. No. 5-1981, as amended.
Chapter 244 of the Village Code of the Village of Ossining is adopted pursuant to the authority of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1640 as a local traffic regulation and shall be enforceable in the same manner as any other traffic law or regulation under the Vehicle and Traffic Law or the Codes of the Village of Ossining.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CRUISING
The operation of a taxicab upon Ossining streets when not employed by a passenger and, by words or actions, solicitation of prospective passengers for hire.
LICENSING OFFICIAL
The Village Clerk.
OPERATOR
Any person owning, leasing, franchising or having control of the use of one or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets of the Village or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab.
OWNER
The owner of a vehicle described herein is the person in whose name the state title is issued pursuant to the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
PRIVATE LIVERY CAB
A taxicab except that such private livery cab shall not:
A. 
Have the dome light or the external markings for taxicabs prescribed in this chapter.
B. 
Be allowed to use taxi stands prescribed in Chapter 250 of the Village Code.
C. 
Be used in the Village for hire except upon a unit of time for hire by the hour, day or week, which unit of hire may exceed that prescribed for taxicabs in this chapter.
STREET
Any highway, street, alley, avenue, court, bridge, lane or public highway or any other public way in the Village.
TAXICAB
Any motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than seven persons in addition to the driver, engaged in the business of carrying persons for compensation whether the same be operated from a street stand or subject to calls from a garage or otherwise operated for compensation, except vehicles subject to the provisions of the Public Service Law, or used by undertakers in carrying on their undertaking business.
TAXICAB DRIVER
Any person who drives a taxicab, whether such person is the owner, lessee or franchisee of the taxicab or employed as an operator.
TAXICAB DRIVER’S LICENSE
The document granting permission by the Village to any person to drive a licensed taxicab upon the streets of Ossining.
TAXICAB LICENSE
The permission granted by the Village to any person to operate or keep for hire any taxicab in the Village.
TAXICAB STAND
Any place alongside a curb of a street or elsewhere marked by a taxicab sign authorized and exclusively reserved by the Board of Trustees for the use of taxicabs.
No person shall drive a taxicab which picks up passengers within the Village limits and no owner of a taxicab shall permit a driver thereof to pick up passengers within the Village limits without said driver first having procured a taxicab driver's license from the Village Clerk and keeping the same in force and effect, under the provisions of this chapter.
No owner, lessee or franchisee of a taxicab which picks up passengers within the Village limits shall cause or permit such taxicab to be driven, operated or kept for hire or pay within the Village limits without first having procured a taxicab license for said taxicab and keeping the same in force and effect, under provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license must comply with the following to the satisfaction of the licensing official:
(1) 
Citizen or legal resident of the United States.
(2) 
Must first have obtained a Class E license.
(3) 
Be of the age of 18 years or over.
(4) 
Be of sound physique with good eyesight and not subject to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble or any other infirmity of body or mind which might render him unfit for the safe operation of a public vehicle.
(5) 
Be able to read and write the English language.
(6) 
Be clean in dress and person and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor or drugs.
(7) 
Produce, on forms to be provided by the licensing official, affidavits of good character from two reputable citizens who have known him personally and have observed his conduct for at least one year next preceding the date of his application, and a further testimonial on a form provided for that purpose from his employer, unless, in the opinion of the licensing official, sufficient reason is given for its omission. An applicant shall be exempt from the provision of this subsection if he has held taxicab driver's licenses from the Village for the five continuous years previous to application.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
(8) 
Fill out, upon a blank form to be provided by the licensing official, a statement providing the information below, which statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and filed with the licensing official as a permanent record.
(a) 
Full name.
(b) 
Residence, and applicant's other places of residence, if any, during the five years previous to application, with dates provided for each place of residence.
(c) 
Date and place of birth.
(d) 
Height.
(e) 
Color of eyes and hair.
(f) 
Places and dates of all previous employment during the five years previous to application.
(g) 
Place and date of any felony and misdemeanor convictions.
(h) 
Place and dates of any previous licenses issued by the Village.
(i) 
Place, date and description of any revocations or suspensions of licenses issued by the Village.
B. 
False statements.
(1) 
Each application shall contain the following statement:
NOTICE: PURSUANT TO THE PENAL LAW, § 210.45, IT IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE AS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR TO KNOWINGLY MAKE A FALSE STATEMENT HEREIN.
(2) 
Any false statements by the applicant for a driver's license shall be promptly reported by the licensing official to the corporation counsel of the Village of Ossining. The licensing official is hereby authorized and empowered to require such additional information as he may deem necessary.
Each applicant for a driver's license must file with his application two unmounted, unretouched photographs of himself, or herself, in such position as the licensing official may direct, taken within the 30 days preceding the filing of his application. Photographs shall be of a passport size which may be easily attached to his license, one of which shall be attached to the license when issued and the other shall be filed with the application. The photograph shall be so attached to the license that it cannot be removed and another photograph substituted without detection. Each licensed driver shall, upon demand, exhibit his license and photograph for inspection. When the application for license is denied, one copy of the photograph shall be returned to the applicant by the licensing official.
A. 
The Chief of Police shall request from the State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the State Division of Motor Vehicles record checks as to criminal and Vehicle and Traffic Law convictions for applicants for taxicab driver's licenses or applicants for renewal of taxicab driver's licenses to be issued by the Village. In connection thereto, every applicant for such licenses shall be fingerprinted by the Village of Ossining Police Department, under the supervision of the Chief of Police or his designee, which fingerprints shall be forwarded to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services by the Chief of Police for identification processing. The applicant will tender the usual fees as required by the Village's Fee Ordinance[1] for the taking of such fingerprints and shall pay the fee required by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, in the form prescribed by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Fingerprints and all appropriate processing fees shall be sent directly to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services by the Chief of Police. Only the Chief of Police or his designee may review the criminal history of the applicant. No license or renewal thereof shall issue, except a temporary license as provided in § 244-9, until the investigations as required herein shall be completed, except that an applicant shall be exempt from the provisions of this section if he has held taxicab driver's licenses from the Village for the five continuous years previous to application and the record checks conducted in said five years found no convictions against him during said period.
[Amended 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 11-2004]
[1]
Editor’s Note: The Fee Ordinance is on file in the Village offices.
B. 
Reasons for license denial; suspension, cancellation, revocation and refusal to renew or issue a license. The Village Clerk and/or the Chief of Police may suspend, cancel or revoke a taxicab driver's or taxicab license and may refuse to approve an application for renewal thereof for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
Conviction. The conviction of the applicant or licensee of a felony, the crime of driving while intoxicated, or any other crime or offense within the preceding five years involving violence, dishonesty, deceit, indecency, degeneracy, moral turpitude, gambling, frequent public intoxication, or the illegal use, sale or possession of drugs. The Chief of Police shall nevertheless apply the standards for licensure and as embodied in Article 23-A of the Correction Law.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004; 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005]
(2) 
False application. If the licensee or applicant has made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in connection with the application for a license or renewal thereof.
(3) 
Violations. If the licensee has violated any of the provisions of this chapter.
(4) 
Prior revocation or suspension. If the applicant, any officer, director, stockholder or partner or any other person directly or indirectly interested in the application for a taxicab license was the former holder or was an officer, director, or partner or stockholder in a corporation or a partnership which was the former holder of a taxicab license which has been revoked or suspended.
(5) 
True ownership requirement. If the applicant is not the true owner of the vehicle or of the taxicab business.
C. 
Hearings.
(1) 
Notice. Any suspension, cancellation or refusal to issue a license or to renew a license made hereunder shall be by written notice issued by the Village Clerk and/or the Chief of Police to the applicant or licensee who is entitled to demand a hearing, provided such demand is made in writing to the Village Clerk and/or the Chief of Police and such hearing shall be conducted within 10 business days after the imposition of such suspension or cancellation of a license hereunder if less then seven days’ prior notice thereof has been given. Where prior notice of at least seven days has been given with respect to a proposed suspension or cancellation of a license, a hearing shall be held within 15 business days after receipt of written demand.
(2) 
Demand for hearing. Demand for a hearing must be made within 30 days after mailing of the notice of the suspension, revocation or denial of a license, in default of which the right to a hearing will be deemed waived.
(3) 
Conduct of hearing. Upon receipt of a timely demand for a hearing, as provided above, the Chief of Police shall notify the office of the corporation counsel that such hearing has been demanded. The Chief of Police shall also transmit to the corporation counsel the documentation, application forms and a written statement of a reason for the revocation, suspension or denial of a taxicab driver's license or taxicab license. Within the time limits prescribed pursuant to § 244-6C(1) above, the corporation counsel, shall arrange for a hearing before a hearing officer, appointed by the corporation counsel, who shall not be a member or employee of the Village of Ossining Police Department. At such hearing, the licensing official shall present his reasons for the denial of the license in question, and the applicant whose license was denied, revoked or suspended shall be accorded every opportunity to bring forward all matters in his defense. An applicant shall be entitled to, but not be required to bring, counsel at any such hearing. Upon the conclusion of such hearing, the hearing officer shall make a binding determination of the licensing official. In the event the hearing officer shall reverse the revocation, denial or suspension in part, the hearing officer shall also provide such conditions as said hearing officer may deem reasonably appropriate. Any person aggrieved by a determination of the hearing officer, including the licensing official, shall have the right to challenge such determination pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York.
[Amended 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005]
(4) 
Surrender of license. In the event of a suspension or cancellation as provided for herein of taxicab operator's or owner’s license, the holder thereof shall deliver the affected license of the Chief of Police within 24 hours of receipt of notice.
Each application shall be accompanied by a certificate from a physician duly licensed by the state certifying that he or she has examined the applicant within the thirty-day period prior to the filing of the application and that in the doctor’s opinion the applicant is not affected with any disease or physical or mental condition or infirmity which might make the applicant an unsafe or unsatisfactory driver of taxicab for hire.
A. 
Form; issuance.
(1) 
Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the foregoing requirements, there shall be issued to the applicant a license, which shall be in such form as to contain a photograph and signature of the licensee and blank spaces upon which a record may be made of any criminal or Vehicle and Traffic Law convictions. Each license shall be stamped with the Village Clerk stamp upon at least a portion of the photograph. All licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued and shall contain the name of the licensee and the dates of issuance and expiration of the license. Any licensee who defaces, removes or obliterates any official entry made upon his license shall be punished by the revocation of his license.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
(2) 
The licensing official may, in his or her discretion, deny the issuance of a driver's license to an applicant whose application contains material false statements or whose health or previous criminal and Vehicle and Traffic Law conviction record would in his opinion endanger the general public or impair the applicant's ability to drive a taxicab. Such denial shall be in writing. Article 23-A of the New York State Corrections Law shall guide the licensing official in evaluating the applicant's conviction record, if any.
B. 
Taxicab driver's licenses shall be valid for one year, unless sooner Suspended or revoked.
C. 
Applications for renewal of a taxicab driver's license shall be filed in the office of the licensing official at least 45 days prior to the expiration of said driver's license.
D. 
A temporary permit may be issued by the licensing official pending receipt of the official record check detailed in § 244-6 above. Such issuance shall be at the licensing official's sole discretion and upon his finding that the applicant would not endanger the general public by driving a taxicab in the Village. Such temporary permit shall in no event be granted for a longer period than 45 days and shall be nonrenewable, and a fee of $50 shall be charged for its issuance, which fee shall not be applied toward the annual licensing fee detailed in § 244-13 below.
E. 
Such license or permit shall be prominently displayed by the taxicab driver at all times when driving a taxicab in the Village so as to be visible to all passengers riding in the taxicab.
F. 
Denial of license. If the results of any of the examinations are unsatisfactory in the opinion of the Village Clerk and/or the Chief of Police, the application shall be denied subject to the provisions hereof for hearings.
A. 
An application for a taxicab license shall be made by the owner of the vehicle upon blank forms furnished by the licensing official.
(1) 
Such application shall contain:
(a) 
Owner's full name and present residence.
(b) 
Model, year and present mileage of taxicab.
(c) 
Vehicle identification number of taxicab.
(d) 
Vehicle registration number and a copy of the current New York State vehicle registration and title for taxicab.
(e) 
Date of current New York State motor vehicle inspection of taxicab.
(f) 
Places and dates of previous taxicab licenses.
(g) 
Whether the owner's license to operate a taxicab has ever been revoked in the Village or elsewhere and, if so, for what cause.
(h) 
Proof of insurance.
(i) 
Proof of a certificate of doing business or incorporation.
[Amended 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005]
(2) 
Such statement shall be signed and sworn to by the owner and filed with the licensing official as a permanent record.
(3) 
The Chief of Police shall request from the State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the State Division of Motor Vehicles record checks as to criminal and Vehicle and Traffic Law convictions for applicants for taxicab licenses or applicants for renewal of taxicab licenses to be issued by the Village. In connection thereto, every applicant for such licenses shall be fingerprinted by the Village of Ossining Police Department, under the supervision of the Chief of Police or his designee, which fingerprints shall be forwarded to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services by the Chief of Police for identification processing. The applicant will tender the usual fees as required by the Village's Fee Ordinance[1] for the taking of such fingerprints and shall pay the fee required by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, in the form required by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.. Fingerprints and all appropriate processing fees shall be sent directly to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services by the Chief of Police. Only the Chief of Police or his designee may review the criminal history of the applicant. No license or renewal thereof shall issue, except a temporary license as provided in § 244-9, until the investigations as required herein shall be completed, except that an applicant shall be exempt from the provisions of this section if he has held taxicab licenses from the Village for the five continuous years previous to application and the record checks conducted in said five years found no convictions against him during said period.
[Amended 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 11-2004]
[1]
Editor’s Note: The Fee Ordinance is on file in the Village offices.
B. 
False statements.
(1) 
Each application shall contain the following statement:
NOTICE: PURSUANT TO THE PENAL LAW § 210.45, IT IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE AS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR TO KNOWINGLY MAKE A FALSE STATEMENT HEREIN.
(2) 
Any false statements by the owner for a taxicab license shall be promptly reported by the licensing official to the corporation counsel of the Village. The licensing official is hereby authorized and empowered to require such additional information as he may deem necessary.
A. 
Soliciting of patronage by taxicab operators at the railroad station on the approach thereto or in front thereof or upon the stairways within the limits of the subway exit from the station is forbidden. Taxicab operators are to remain in the areas designated for taxicab parking.
B. 
Taxicab operators may pick up passengers in front of the station only when the operator is specifically called by name for such purpose, and this right shall be limited to picking up the aged, infirm or other persons to whom the exit stairs offer difficulty. All other persons must be picked up in the taxicab area, as designated.
C. 
Not more than one taxicab from each organization to which a license to engage in the business of operating a taxicab has been issued shall be permitted to park or stand in the designated area while awaiting passengers. Such designated area shall be for active taxi parking or standing only.
[Amended 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005]
D. 
Taxicab operators may not enter the station, stairs, the subway or go to the platform of the station for luggage unless specifically called for such purpose by a passenger. When so called, the taxicab operator must wait until other passengers have departed from the stairs, subway or station, and the operator shall not, in entering or leaving the station exit, platform or stairs to pick up such luggage, unreasonably interfere with the use of such facilities by other persons.
E. 
Taxicabs authorized to use the area designated for taxicab parking at the railroad station are required to name the Village of Ossining as an additional insured on the vehicle and owner's automobile insurance policy.
[Added 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005]
A. 
No vehicle shall be licensed pursuant to this chapter until it has been inspected and examined and found to be in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers, clean, fit, of good appearance, well painted and in complete compliance with all requirements of the Village Code.
B. 
The Village Clerk and/or the Chief of Police of Ossining is hereby empowered to designate not more than two official inspection stations (which shall be designated New York State inspection stations) in the Village of Ossining for the purposes of this chapter of the Village Code.
C. 
In addition to the prelicensing inspection, it shall be the responsibility of each owner and driver of a taxi applying for or licensed in the Village of Ossining to cause such vehicle to be inspected by a designated inspection station at intervals of not more than six months.
D. 
A copy of the inspection report shall be given to the vehicle owner and the Chief of Police at the completion of the inspection.
E. 
The Inspection of the Taxis shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the following:
(1) 
Brakes.
(2) 
Tires.
(3) 
Steering.
(4) 
Shock absorbers.
(5) 
Exterior lights.
(6) 
Interior lights.
(7) 
Windshield/other glass.
(8) 
Windshield wipers.
(9) 
Mirrors (inside and out).
(10) 
Horn.
(11) 
Upholstery.
(12) 
Floorboards/floor mats.
(13) 
Door handles/doors.
(14) 
Body damage and rust.
(15) 
Paint.
(16) 
Directional signals.
(17) 
Heater.
(18) 
Speedometer.
F. 
Repair work which is required after inspection of a taxi must be completed within 10 days of the inspection, and satisfactory proof of repair shall be presented to the Chief of Police. Failure to make necessary repairs and to present satisfactory proof may be a ground for suspension of an owner's license.
G. 
Upon receipt of a report from any designated inspection station which finds a taxi to be unfit or unsuited for public patronage or which shall fail to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the licensing official shall refuse a license, or shall revoke or suspend the license previously issued.
H. 
Upon receipt of the appropriate report from a designated inspection station, the issuing license official will issue a suitable inspection sticker with the month and year of inspection expiration marked out.
I. 
Upon being issued a Village of Ossining taxi inspection sticker, the taxi owner will affix the sticker by placing it on the driver's side door of the vehicle where it shall be available for inspection by any member of the Ossining Police Department at all times while said vehicle is licensed within the Village of Ossining.
A. 
Every licensed vehicle shall be kept mechanically fit, keep the interior and exterior in a clean and sanitary condition and shall at all times bear a current New York State inspection sticker and Village of Ossining inspection sticker.
B. 
All licensed vehicles, except vans which have at least one sliding side door, shall have four doors, two of which lead into the driver's compartment, and all doors shall be so constructed that they may be opened from the inside and the outside.
C. 
Every licensed vehicle shall be equipped with an adequate heater and air conditioning of a type which will not permit exhaust gases to enter the interior of the vehicle.
D. 
Every vehicle licensed shall be equipped with two adjustable rearview mirrors, one in the driver's compartment and one installed on the exterior of the vehicle on the driver's side door.
E. 
Every licensed vehicle shall be equipped with a standard speedometer that is not inoperative or disconnected.
F. 
Each licensed vehicle shall have either an acceptable snow tire, radial tire or tire chains on the drive wheels of such vehicle when pavement conditions are such as to require said use for the safety of the driver, passenger and the general public.
G. 
Each licensed vehicle shall be equipped with dual windshield wipers properly installed and maintained in good working order, which shall be operated whenever weather conditions require. In addition, each licensed vehicle shall at all times remain in compliance with New York State regulations requiring that headlights be turned on at any time windshield wipers are in operation.
H. 
Each licensed vehicle shall contain original or replacement upholstery and floor mats in good and suitable condition for satisfactory use by the public. In the event that original upholstery or floor mats are found to be worn or otherwise deteriorated, such upholstery or floor mats must be replaced prior to the use of the licensed vehicle for conveyance of the public.
I. 
Each licensed vehicle shall be equipped with an interior light capable of illuminating the entire interior of said public vehicle after sundown. Said light shall be so arranged as to be automatically turned on by the opening of any door to the vehicle and shall also have a switch easily accessible to passengers.
J. 
Wherever glass is used in the construction of any licensed vehicle, such glass shall be safety glass clearly and permanently marked as such and of a type approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the State of New York. All glass in said licensed vehicle shall be in good condition and shall not contain air bubbles, cracks or fractures.
K. 
The fenders and body of each licensed vehicle must be rigidly and tightly fastened to said vehicle, free from dents or mutilation, and shall be so constructed as to allow the full opening of all doors of the vehicle. The exterior of the vehicle shall be well maintained and painted and the finish in good condition.
L. 
New York State license plates, Village inspection stickers and any other licensing or inspection identification shall be placed and maintained in such manner as to be clearly visible and unobstructed at all times.
M. 
No licensed vehicle shall be equipped with any equipment which is not reasonably useful or necessary to furnish safe, adequate and convenient taxicab service to the public. No licensed vehicle shall utilize exterior floodlights.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
N. 
It shall be unlawful for any licensed driver of any licensed vehicle to misrepresent or withhold the name of his employer or the address or telephone number of the same.
O. 
Maintain and furnish a current list of driver employees to the Chief of Police.
P. 
Provide a letter to the Chief of Police upon the discharge or termination for any reason of a driver/employee.
Q. 
Promptly report to the Chief of Police the transfer of ownership of any vehicle licensed by the Village and concurrently turn in to the Chief the taxicab license for use of such vehicle.
R. 
Maintain proper vehicle insurance for all owned or operated taxis in accordance with the New York State Motor Vehicle Law and report a revocation or cancellation of insurance immediately to the Chief of Police.
A. 
Upon meeting the inspection requirements set forth in §§ 244-12 and 244-13 hereof, a taxicab shall be licensed by delivering to the owner thereof a card of such size and form as may be prescribed by the licensing official. The card shall contain the official license number of the taxicab, together with the date of inspection and six months' reinspection of same and a statement to the effect that, in case of any complaints, the licensing official shall be notified, giving the license number of the taxicab. Such card shall be signed by the licensing official and shall contain blank spaces upon which an entry shall be made of the date of every inspection of the vehicle by the licensing official or his representation. The license number assigned hereunder shall, in each case, be the same as that assigned to the vehicle for that year, pursuant to law. Such license card shall be prominently displayed in the taxicab at all times so as to be visible to all passengers riding in the taxicab.
B. 
Taxicab licenses shall be valid for one year, unless previously suspended or revoked.
A. 
The annual fee for taxicab driver's license shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004; 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
B. 
The annual fee for taxicab license shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004; 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
C. 
The semiannual fee for inspection of taxicabs shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees for each such inspection, which shall be paid directly to the inspection station. In addition, the administrative fee for the issuance of the appropriate sticker shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees, to be paid to the Police Department of the Village of Ossining upon issuance of said sticker.
[Amended 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
D. 
The replacement fee for a lost or stolen license shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees. The replacement fee for medallion decals for a vehicle replacing a previously registered vehicle shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.
[Amended 11-15-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005; 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
E. 
Fees shall not be prorated.
F. 
In the event that the license is denied, suspended or revoked, there shall be no entitlement to reimbursement thereof, or proration thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Fees is on file in the Village offices.
A. 
A taxicab owner or driver shall not charge a fare for taxicab services in excess of the following schedule of rates:
(1) 
First passenger from any point having its origin within the Village of Ossining to any point having its destination within the Village of Ossining: as set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.
[Amended 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
(2) 
Each additional passenger going from the same point of origin to the same point of destination as first passenger: as set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees. (One child five years of age or under will ride free if accompanied by an adult passenger.)[1]
[Amended 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A(3), regarding senior citizens, was repealed 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004. Said ordinance also provided for the redesignation of Subsection A(4) through (8) as Subsection A(3) through (7), respectively.
(3) 
Baggage. No charge will be made for a suitcase, traveling bag, shopping bag or other package hand carried by a passenger, provided such items are limited to a total of three. Additional packages requiring handling by the taxicab driver shall be carried, provided that the weight of such package is less than 50 pounds. A charge as set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees for each additional package or packages requiring handling is authorized.
[Amended 12-16-2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008]
(4) 
The soliciting of tips, gratuities or any charges in addition to those authorized herein is a violation of this chapter.
(5) 
Out-of-town trips. If the taxicab is engaged for an out-of-town trip originating or terminating in Ossining, the operator of the taxicab shall agree with the passenger prior to the commencement of the trip for the rate to be charged, which shall include all tolls to be paid.
(6) 
Transport of animals. There is no additional charge for carrying a guide dog accompanying a blind person or hearing-handicapped person. No other animal need be transported in a licensed taxicab unless the animal is securely enclosed in a kennel case. A charge is payable at the baggage rate provided in Subsection A(3) of this section.
(7) 
Fare rate is to be displayed on right and left rear doors.
B. 
The licensing official shall issue a rate card to each taxicab owner, which rate card must be conspicuously posted in the interior of each taxicab.
The licensing official shall keep a complete record of all licenses issued and denied under this chapter, together with all applications, record checks, renewals, suspensions and revocations thereof.
A. 
Every person while operating a taxi vehicle licensed pursuant to this chapter:
(1) 
Shall not refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or persons upon request anywhere in Ossining. No taxicab driver shall carry any other person than the passenger first employing a taxicab without the consent of such first passenger.
(2) 
Shall keep the interior and exterior of the same in clean and sanitary condition and shall at all times maintain the taxicab in compliance with the requirements of § 244-13 hereof of this chapter.
(3) 
Shall examine the interior of the vehicle after the termination of each trip for any articles left or lost in the vehicle and immediately take any such property to the desk officer at the Police Department in compliance with Article 7-B of the Personal Property Law.
(4) 
Shall not smoke at any time. Taxis are to be smoke-free, subject to a fine of $50 for each violation.
(5) 
Shall at all times, while on duty, have displayed in the interior of the vehicle which he is operating, his taxicab driver’s license displayed in a place visible to any passenger in such taxicab usually on the passenger visor.
(6) 
Shall be required to be neat in dress and appearance at all times when on duty, and in the event a driver's appearance changes substantially, provide the Chief of Police with a new photograph and shall accompany such photograph with an application fee of $25 for a replacement license.
(7) 
Shall report to the police any unlawful act connected with his vehicle or any attempt to use his vehicle to commit a crime or escape from the scene of a crime.
(8) 
Shall not permit any passenger in the taxicab except a paying fare during such time as the taxi is being used for business purposes, except for not more than one driver trainee.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
(9) 
Shall not operate a taxicab when there is snow or ice on the pavement unless there are chains or snow tires on the drive wheels.
(10) 
Shall state his/her name and employer while on duty to any passenger or police officer on request.
(11) 
Shall not cruise within Ossining seeking passengers nor make any personal solicitation on any street or other public place for passengers to ride or hire any particular taxicab. Taxis shall not stand on any public street or place other than at or upon a taxicab stand designated by the Village.
B. 
No vehicle licensed as a taxicab shall be used for the carrying of any goods or merchandise of any nature whatsoever while carrying a fare unless such goods or merchandise are owned by the fare riding with same.
C. 
No vehicle may be licensed as a taxicab in the Village of Ossining unless same is of the type known commonly as a four-door sedan or is a station wagon or suburban vehicle with at least four doors. Under no circumstances shall any vehicle be licensed as a taxicab which has only two doors for the use of occupants, including the driver.
D. 
No vehicle shall display commercial advertising, except for a rootop sign.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
It shall be the duty of all police officers of the Village of Ossining to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
The taxi owner/company name, taxi number and Ossining, New York, shall be printed on both front doors of each taxi owned.
B. 
The signs must contain lettering not less than three inches in height and three inches in width with a quarter-inch paint stroke in a color contrasting to the door color to be readable during operation when the taxi is likely to be used.
C. 
Each taxi will display a Village-issued decal/medallion on right and left rear windows at the bottom rear-most point.
[Amended 1-20-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
A. 
Any person not having been duly licensed as a taxicab driver, or any person whose license has been suspended, and who, during the term of suspension, drives for hire a taxicab upon the Ossining streets, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. 
Any owner of a taxicab not licensed, inspected or equipped in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or of a taxicab the license of which has been suspended or revoked, who engages in the business of a taxicab as defined herein or attempts to engage in such business or solicits passengers for hire, or any owner of a taxicab who permits a taxicab driver not licensed under this chapter to drive a taxicab shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and of not more than $500 or imprisonment and for a term not exceeding 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
C. 
Upon conviction of any person for or any violation of a provision of this chapter for which no punishment is specifically provided, the punishment, upon conviction for such violation, shall be a fine of not less than $100 and of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. 
Each and every day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate and distinct violation of this chapter.
E. 
Suspension and revocation of license. In addition to the fine or imprisonment, or both, authorized by this chapter, any licensee shall be subject to the suspension or revocation of his license upon conviction for any violation of this chapter. The Village Judge may suspend or revoke a license granted under any provision of this chapter, pending or in advance of criminal prosecution of the licensee.
In the event any provision of this chapter shall be ruled invalid by a Court of competent jurisdiction, the provision shall be stricken and the remainder of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect as if said provision were not included herein.