[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Amityville 12-14-2009 by L.L. No. 56-2009.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law provided that it shall take effect on January 2, 2010, subject to acceptance and filing by the Secretary of State.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, whenever used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings given by this section:
TAXICAB
Includes any motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying persons for hire and subject to use by the general public, whether the same is operated from a street stand or subject to calls from a garage, or otherwise operated for hire, except vehicles subject to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, or used by undertakers in carrying on their business.
No vehicle shall be licensed until it has been inspected and examined by the Chief of Police or his designee and found to be in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers, clean, fit and of good appearance. The Chief of Police or his designee may also inspect any licensed taxicab from time to time to ascertain whether it is kept in condition of continued fitness for public use.
The following fare zones are hereby designated and established within the Village:
A. 
Zone A: all that portion of the Village north of the Sunrise Highway.
B. 
Zone B: all that portion of the Village lying south of the Sunrise Highway and north of Merrick Road.
C. 
Zone C: all that portion of the Village lying south of Merrick Road and north of Hamilton Street and Coles Avenue on the west side of the Amityville River, and north of Griffing Avenue on the east side of the Amityville River.
D. 
Zone D: all that portion of the Village lying south of Hamilton Street and Coles Avenue on the west side of the Amityville River, and south of Griffing Avenue on the east side of the Amityville River.
The maximum rates of fare for transportation of passengers and luggage in the Village shall be set by the Board of Trustees by resolution. Maximum rates of fare shall be set for the following categories:
A. 
One zone.
(1) 
A rate for transporting one passenger between any two points in any one zone.
(2) 
A rate for each and every additional passenger aged seven years or over.
(3) 
A rate for each and every passenger under the age of seven years, except infants in arms.
B. 
Contiguous zones.
(1) 
A rate for transporting one passenger between any two points in contiguous zones.
(2) 
A rate for each and every additional passenger aged seven years or over.
(3) 
A rate for each and every passenger under the age of seven years, except infants in arms.
C. 
Three or more zones.
(1) 
A rate for transporting one passenger between any two points involving three or more zones.
(2) 
A rate for each and every additional passenger aged seven years or over.
(3) 
A rate for each and every passenger under the age of seven years, except infants in arms.
D. 
Packages and luggage. A maximum rate for each group of three packages or fraction thereof which require the driver's assistance. A maximum rate for each and every large trunk or footlocker.
[Amended 3-8-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010]
E. 
Waiting time. A maximum rate to be charged for any and all authorized waiting periods.
No person shall charge or attempt to charge any passenger a greater rate of fare than that to which the taxicab is entitled under the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
No taxicab driver shall solicit passengers except while parked or standing at a taxicab stand and except when sitting in the driver's compartment of such taxicab or while standing immediately adjacent thereto, nor shall said driver solicit passengers in a loud or annoying tone of voice or by sign, nor shall he in any manner annoy, obstruct the movement of or follow any person for the purpose of soliciting patronage.
B. 
No taxicab driver or taxicab owner shall solicit employment by driving through the public streets, nor shall he cruise in search of passengers.
Each applicant for a driver's license hereunder shall comply with the following:
A. 
He shall have a New York State chauffeur's license in full force and effect.
[Amended 3-8-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010]
B. 
He shall be of good health and not subject to any infirmity of body or mind which might render him unfit for the safe operation of a vehicle servicing the public.
C. 
He shall furnish, on forms to be provided by the Village Clerk, affidavits of good character from two citizens of the Village, unless in the opinion of the Chief of Police, sufficient reason is given for omission thereof.
D. 
He shall fill out, upon a form to be provided by the Village Clerk, a statement giving his full name, dates and places of residence for the past five years, age, height, color of eyes and hair, place of birth, whether a citizen of the United States, places of previous employment, whether married or single, whether he has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or traffic infraction, whether he has been previously licensed as a driver or chauffeur, and if so, whether his license has ever been revoked, and for what cause, and the number of the chauffeur's license issued by the state, which statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and filed with the Village Clerk as a permanent record.
E. 
He shall submit with the application three current personal photographs as the Village Clerk may direct.
F. 
He shall file with the application fingerprint impressions of the fingers of each hand, the impressions to be upon forms furnished by the Village Clerk and to be taken under his supervision or by someone designated by him.
An application for a taxicab driver's license shall be referred to the Chief of Police for examination and investigation; the Chief or his representative shall obtain a current driver's record check and shall require each applicant to demonstrate his or her knowledge of this chapter. If the results of the investigation or examination are unsatisfactory, the applicant shall be refused a license.
A. 
Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements of §§ 161-11 and 161-12, there shall be issued to the applicant upon order of the Board of Trustees a license containing a photograph and signature of the licensee. Licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued, signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the Village Clerk, and shall contain the name and residence of the licensee and the dates of issuance and expiration of the license.
B. 
For sufficient cause shown, the Mayor may issue a temporary permit to a driver for not longer than 20 days.
Driver's licenses shall be issued as of the first day of February in each year and shall be valid to and including the last day of January next succeeding, unless previously suspended or revoked.
A driver's license may be renewed from year to year by endorsement thereon upon payment of the renewal fee therefor and approval of the application by the Chief of Police. At the time of renewal, such information may be required as will keep the data on the original application up-to-date.
[Amended 6-10-2024 by L.L. No. 3-2024]
A fee in an amount to be established by the Board of Trustees by resolution shall be paid for a driver's license for one year or any part thereof, or for a renewal of a driver's license. Receipt of such fee shall be endorsed upon the license. If the application for said license is withdrawn or denied, the applicant shall be charged an administrative processing fee of $50.
A driver's license issued under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended by the Mayor for violation of any provision of this chapter or any provision of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or other cause until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, and thereupon said license, after a hearing, may be suspended, revoked or continued by said Board. No driver whose license has been revoked shall again be licensed except on presentation of reasons satisfactory to the Board of Trustees.
Drivers' licenses and temporary drivers' permits issued hereunder shall be displayed conspicuously by the licensee or permit holder at all times when operating a taxicab, and each such driver shall upon demand exhibit his license or temporary permit for inspection.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit to be operated a taxicab upon the streets of the Village without first having obtained therefor a taxicab license under the provisions of this chapter.
Application for a taxicab license shall be made by the owner upon forms furnished by the Village Clerk and shall contain the following information:
A. 
The owner's name, age, residence and previous experience, if any, in such business.
B. 
The name, age and residence of the persons to be in operation of such taxicab.
C. 
The type and make of motor car to be used, the motor number, the state license number, the number of years the vehicle has been driven and the seating capacity.
D. 
Whether previously licensed to operate a taxicab and, if so, where.
E. 
Whether license to operate a taxicab has ever been revoked and, if so, for what cause.
F. 
Such other information as the Village Clerk may deem necessary.
Taxicab licenses shall be issued as of the first day of February in each year and shall be valid to and including the last day of January next succeeding, unless previously suspended or revoked.
If upon inspection a taxicab is found to be in safe operating condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and upon the payment of the license fee set forth in § 161-27, the same shall be licensed upon order of the Board of Trustees by delivering to the owner a card of such size and form as may be prescribed by the Village Clerk. The card shall contain the official license number of the taxicab, together with the date of inspection of the same, and the name of the owner, and shall be signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the Village Clerk.
A. 
If a taxicab shall become disabled, disqualified for service or sold, the Chief of Police shall permit the use of a license granted for such taxicab to be transferred and used for another, provided that such replacement vehicle complies with the provisions of this chapter and a fee is paid, as established by the Board of Trustees by duly adopted resolution.
B. 
If a license which has been granted for a taxicab is lost or destroyed, the Chief of Police shall issue and affix a replacement license for such vehicle, provided that it continues to comply with the provisions of this chapter and a fee is paid, as established by the Board of Trustees by resolution.
A taxicab license may be renewed from year to year by endorsement thereon, upon payment of the renewal fee therefor and after inspection of the vehicle and approval of the application by the Chief of Police.
[Amended 6-10-2024 by L.L. No. 3-2024]
A fee in an amount to be established by the Board of Trustees by resolution shall be paid for a vehicle for one year, or any part thereof, or for renewal of such license. Receipt of such fee may be endorsed upon the license. If the application for said license is withdrawn or denied, the applicant shall be charged an administrative processing fee of $50.
A taxicab license issued under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended by the Mayor for violation of any provision of this chapter or any provision of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or other cause until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, and thereupon said license, after a hearing, may be suspended, revoked or continued by said Board.
Every person licensed as a taxicab owner under this chapter shall maintain continuous service seven days each week, 24 hours each day, from at least one depot or terminal, except that individual owner-drivers shall maintain continuous service at least eight hours per day for at least five days each week.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any licensee hereunder to permit his license to be used by any other person or for any unlicensed person to use the license of another.