[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Havre de Grace 8-7-2006 by Ord. No. 880;[1] amended in its entirety 5-7-2012 by Ord. No. 938. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parking in taxicab stands — See Ch. 190, § 190-47A(9).
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 180, Taxicabs, adopted 12-6-1999 by Ord. No. 813.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
CHIEF
The Chief of Police of the City of Havre de Grace.
CITY
The City of Havre de Grace.
COUNTY
Harford County or the entity or county department responsible for enforcing Harford County Code Chapter 232, Taxicabs.
COMPANY
Every corporation, association, partnership, group of individuals or individual owning, controlling, operating or managing one or more taxicabs.
DRIVER
The same meaning as "operator" in this section.
MARYLAND DRIVER'S LICENSE
A valid Maryland driver's license issued from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, excluding a learner's permit and provisional license.
OPERATOR
Any person engaging in driving a taxicab for which a permit has been issued.
OWNER
The individual, partnership or company to whom a permit has been issued.
OWNER'S PERMIT
A permit issued by the county to the owner of the company.
REGISTRATION CARD OR PERMIT
A card or permit issued by the county to the owner for each taxicab registered with the county.
STATE
The State of Maryland.
TAXICAB
The same definition as provided in the Maryland Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, including any vehicle used in a sedan and/or van service, but excluding airport shuttles and limousines.
TAXICAB DRIVER PERMIT
A permit issued by the county to each driver of a taxicab operating in the city or county.
TAXICAB PERMIT
A permit issued by the county for each taxicab operating in the City or county.
Except as hereinafter provided, the county is hereby designated with the authority over taxicabs in the city. The county may delegate all or any part of the county's authority to such person or persons on the City Police Department staff as the county may deem necessary, provided that the same be done by and with the approval of the Mayor and City Council.
No person shall operate a taxicab company within the City without first obtaining a permit from the county. No person shall drive or operate a taxicab within the City without first obtaining a permit from the county.
There shall be maintained by the Chief and kept in the Police Department a complete record of all permits issued to taxicab drivers received from the county and all renewals, suspensions and revocations thereof by the county.
Representatives of the Chief when authorized by the county may make routine inspections of taxicabs and report violations to the county.
No driver of any taxicab shall operate such taxicab recklessly, in an unsafe manner or with disregard to the public, general or local laws governing the operation of a motor vehicle. No placards or other obstructions to view shall be attached to or rest against the windshield or rear window, except such certificate or sticker as may be required by law. No driver shall take or discharge passengers within the limits of street intersections nor when it is possible for another vehicle moving in the same direction to pass between the taxicab and the right-hand curb, nor receive or discharge passengers through the left-hand doors of the taxicab except on one-way streets. A violation of this rule or of duly prescribed traffic regulations shall be reported to the county.
Any taxicab business operating more than one taxicab within the City of Havre de Grace, must provide a designated off-street parking space for each taxicab. Only one vehicle assigned to a permitted taxicab driver may be parked overnight on a City street at his or her residence. All other taxicabs shall utilize the parking space designated and approved for them when not actually in operation on the streets or highways of the City. All designated parking shall be off-street and must be approved by the Havre de Grace Police Department.
Any person or persons who violate the provisions of this chapter or any part hereof, shall be charged with a municipal infraction subject to a civil fine of $250 for a first offense and for any subsequent violation shall be subject to another civil fine of $500 and charged with a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000 or confined in the Harford County Detention Center for a period of not more than 90 days, or both, as the court may see fit.