As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DRIVER
Any person who engages in the business of driving a taxicab,
whether such person is the owner, an employee, or an independent contractor.
HACK LICENSE
A license given to an individual who meets the United States
residency, New York State Department of Motor Vehicle licensing, New
York State Department of Financial Services, New York State Tax and
Finance, and municipality's criteria for the privilege of driving
a taxicab in the State of New York. Includes both municipal and unified
hack licenses.
LENS
The New York State License Event Notification System used
to monitor the driving records of any person applying and holding
a hack license or owner's license.
MEDALLION
A decal distributed by or on behalf of the municipality,
prominently placed on a vehicle used for hire that signifies it is
licensed to do business as a taxicab in the community in which it
is operating. Includes both municipal and unified medallions.
OPERATE A TAXICAB
Includes taxicab service that is conducted within the corporate
limits of the municipality.
OWNER
Any person or corporation owning or having control of the
use of one or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets of the
municipality or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab.
OWNER'S LICENSE
A license issued to a person and/or corporation owning, operating
or having control of one or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets
of the municipality that meets all of the criteria established for
that license including criteria established for that license including
criteria established by New York State Department of Motor Vehicles,
the New York State Department of Financial Services and New State
Tax and Finance criteria. Includes both municipal and unified owner's
licenses.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity
filing for a taxicab owner's license or taxicab medallion.
TAXICAB
Includes any motor vehicle of a type that the General Municipal
Law § 181 or relevant municipal law permits a municipality
to regulate, that is engaged in the service of transporting passengers(s)
for hire, when such service is available to the general public on
a prearranged or demand-response basis over a nonspecified or irregular
route with the point or points of pickup and discharge determined
by the passenger.
TAXIMETER
An instrument or computer application that automatically
calculates the fare charged to a traveler utilizing the service of
a taxicab.
UNIFIED HACK LICENSE
A hack license authorizing the driver to operate a taxicab
in all participating municipalities.
In the event that any provision of this chapter shall be deemed
illegal or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,
then only that specific provision shall not be enforced, and all other
sections and provisions shall remain in full force and effect.