[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Potsdam 7-12-1971 as Ch. 23 of the 1971 Code. Section 156-11 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Appearance tickets — See Ch. 10.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 168.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, whenever used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
STREET
Includes any public street, highway, road, avenue, alley or place.
TAXICAB
Includes any motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying persons for hire, whether the same is operated from a street stand or subject to calls from a garage or otherwise operated for hire, except ambulances, vehicles subject to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law or those used by undertakers in carrying on their business.
TAXICAB OPERATOR
Includes any person who operates a taxicab.
TAXICAB OWNER
Includes any person, firm, association or corporation who or which as owner of any motor vehicle causes or permits the same to be used as a taxicab.
TAXICAB STAND
Any place established under the authority of the governing body for taxicabs to park while waiting for business.
A. 
No person shall drive a taxicab or permit any other person to drive a taxicab upon any street within this municipality without such driver's having obtained and having in force and effect a taxicab operator's license issued under the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
No person who owns any motor vehicle shall cause or permit the same to be used as a taxicab within this municipality without having obtained and having in full force and effect a taxicab owner's license for such vehicle issued under the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Applications for all licenses under this chapter shall be made, in writing, by the applicant on a form furnished by this municipality as prescribed by the Administrator.
B. 
Applications for a taxicab owner's license shall, in addition to any other requirements, state:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
The present or intended place of business.
(3) 
The number of motor vehicles owned by the applicant to be used as taxicabs, a description thereof and the state registration number of each vehicle.
(4) 
A statement whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony.
(5) 
A statement listing any traffic infractions or misdemeanors or violations involving the use of a motor vehicle for which the applicant has been convicted during the past four years immediately preceding the date of the application.
A. 
No license shall be issued or held by any person who, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, is not a person of good character or who has been convicted of a felony. In the case of a corporation, no license shall be issued or held by such corporation if any officer or director would be ineligible under any of the foregoing provisions.
B. 
No taxicab operator's license shall be issued to any person who is not competent to operate a motor vehicle or who is not familiar with the Vehicle and Traffic Law and the traffic provisions of this Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 168, Vehicles and Traffic.
C. 
All applicants herein shall give satisfactory proof of financial responsibility and that they are capable and intend to continue in business for at least 12 consecutive months.
D. 
The Chief of Police shall examine each applicant for a taxicab operator's license to determine the competency of the applicant. No license shall be issued except on certification of the Chief of Police that the applicant has demonstrated his ability to operate a motor vehicle as required herein.
A. 
All licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall first be approved by the governing body. Payment of the required fees, as hereinafter provided, must accompany the application for the license to the governing body.
B. 
Upon approval of a taxicab owner's license, a metal tab, as selected by the governing body, shall be issued for each taxicab so licensed, which shall be kept in such place upon the taxicab or taxicabs used that it shall be in full view of the passenger or passengers at all times.
C. 
Upon approval of a taxicab operator's license, there shall be issued a license which shall also be placed in the taxicab used by said operator and which shall be in full view of the passenger or passengers at all times.
[Amended 12-9-2016 by L.L. No. 9-2016]
A. 
The annual fee for a taxicab owner's license shall be set by board resolution. Taxicab owner's licenses shall expire on the 30th day of April of each year.
B. 
The annual fee for a taxicab operator's license shall be set by board resolution. Taxicab operator's licenses shall expire on the 30th day of April of each year.
A. 
No person shall park a taxicab upon any street in this municipality for the purpose of soliciting fares, except at a designated taxicab stand.
B. 
No taxicab operator shall interfere with any other taxicab operator or vehicle when such operator is soliciting a fare at a taxicab stand or station.
C. 
No person shall solicit fares by cruising the streets of this municipality.
[Amended 6-16-1980 by L.L. No. 6-1980; 6-19-1989 by L.L. No. 5-1989; 3-1-2004 by L.L. No. 3-2004; 9-26-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005; 2-19-2008 by L.L. No. 1-2008; 12-9-2016 by L.L. No. 9-2016]
A. 
Each taxi company will submit a rate plan to the Village for adoption by Board resolution in order to obtain a taxi license. The initial rate plan shall be in effect from the filing of the law with the Secretary of State until April 2018. Rate plans will then be adopted by Board resolution annually in the month of April.
(1) 
The Village taxi rate shall be prominently posted in each vehicle such that it is readable by any and all passengers.
[Added 12-21-1981 by L.L. No. 11-1981]
A. 
Establishment of a multipassenger, destination-to-destination taxi service within the corporate limits of the Village of Potsdam may be authorized by the Village Board of Trustees.
B. 
The ability of the applicant to comply with the Department of Transportation, State of New York, rules and regulations for such service, including but not limited to inspection of any and all vehicles used in the service and physical examinations of the drivers, is required.
C. 
The fee for such service will be determined and approved by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees of Potsdam. No changes in the fee will be made without Board approval.
The Chief of Police shall have the authority to suspend or revoke any license granted under this chapter for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, repeated violations of traffic laws or ordinances, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation upon the application for any license or the use of any taxicab for illegal or immoral purposes.
[Amended 10-18-1993 by L.L. No. 5-1993]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine or penalty not exceeding $250 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both, for each and every offense.