[HISTORY: Adopted by the Harford County Council by Bill No. 93-70.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits — See Ch. 16, Art. I.
County-owned vehicles — See Ch. 50.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 244.
Junk vehicles — See Ch. 247.
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation also provided for the repeal of former Ch. 232, Taxicabs, adopted by Bill No. 80-17, as amended.
In this chapter the following words have the meanings indicated:
A. 
CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE — Has the meaning stated in Article 27, § 277 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
B. 
DEPARTMENT — The Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
C. 
LICENSE — A license issued under this chapter to own a motor vehicle which is operated as a taxicab.
D. 
PERMIT — A permit issued under this chapter to operate a taxicab in the county.
E. 
OWNER — The person or business entity in whose name a taxicab is registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration of the State of Maryland.
F. 
TAXICAB — A motor vehicle for hire that is designed to carry seven or fewer individuals, including the driver, and which is used to transport passengers between points along public streets and roads in the county at the direction of the passengers.
The provisions of this chapter are applicable to any taxicab which picks up any passenger in Harford County outside the corporate limits of any municipality or other jurisdiction except for a taxicab or operator licensed by a municipality located in the county or by another jurisdiction when solicited by telephone from a passenger located in the county for service to a destination within the licensing municipality or jurisdiction.
A. 
An individual shall not operate a taxicab in the county without a valid driver's permit issued by the Department.
B. 
An owner of a taxicab shall not allow the taxicab to be operated by a driver without a valid driver's permit.
C. 
To qualify for a permit, an applicant:
(1) 
Shall pay the required fees;
(2) 
Shall possess a valid Maryland driver's license;
(3) 
Shall be able to understand the English language well enough to complete the permit application satisfactorily;
(4) 
Shall not be addicted to the use of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance;
(5) 
Shall submit an application, on a form supplied by the department, that contains the following information:
(a) 
The applicant's name, current residence, residence(s) for the previous 5 years, date of birth, race, height, weight, hair color, eye color, place of birth, and Maryland driver's license number;
(b) 
The applicant's previous employer;
(c) 
The date, place, and nature of any felony or misdemeanor criminal conviction of the applicant;
(d) 
The business address and telephone number from which the applicant will operate; and
(e) 
Any other information required by the Department on the application form;
(6) 
Shall submit with the application:
(a) 
A copy of the applicant's current certified driving record, including traffic violations, if any, from the Motor Vehicle Administration of the State of Maryland;
(b) 
References from at least 2 individuals who have known the applicant for at least 1 year, other than a relative of the applicant, another taxicab driver, or a taxicab owner; and
(c) 
A statement from a physician licensed by the State of Maryland certifying that the applicant has no physical condition which would impair the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle. The results of a drug screening test from a laboratory certified to engage in testing for controlled dangerous substances by the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene shall also be included in the statement provided by the physician; and
(7) 
Shall obtain from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits two black-and-white photographs: one shall be attached to the permit when issued and one shall be attached to the application.
(8) 
Shall submit a Criminal Justice Information System ("CJIS") central repository application for a criminal record check and the required fee to the CJIS central repository and authorize the release of the information to the Harford County Sheriff's office.
A. 
The Department shall forward each application to the Sheriff's office.
B. 
The Sheriff's office will be requested to:
(1) 
Fingerprint the applicant;
(2) 
Inquire into the applicant's qualifications; and
(3) 
Report any findings as a result of its investigation to the department.
A. 
If an applicant satisfies the requirements of this chapter, the department shall issue a driver's permit to the applicant.
B. 
Each person who holds a driver's permit shall conspicuously display the permit in the taxicab while operating a taxicab in the county.
C. 
A driver's permit expires one (1) year from date of issue.
A. 
An owner of a taxicab shall not allow the taxicab to be operated in the county without a valid owner's license issued to the owner by the Department.
B. 
To qualify for a taxicab owner's license:
(1) 
A taxicab owner must be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Harford County Zoning Code and possess all applicable permits.
(2) 
A taxicab owner shall pay the required fee.
(3) 
A taxicab shall be validly registered as a Class B vehicle with the Motor Vehicle Administration of the State of Maryland.
(4) 
A taxicab shall be covered by a liability insurance policy that insures the owner and the operator against liability to passengers and members of the general public for:
(a) 
At least $20,000 for bodily injury or death arising from an accident for any one person and up to $40,000 for any 2 or more persons: and
(b) 
At least ten thousand dollars ($10,000.) for property of others damaged or destroyed in an accident.
(5) 
A taxicab owner shall operate the taxicab business from a permanent address in Harford County (A telephone answering service or a post office box shall not constitute a permanent address).
(6) 
A taxicab owner shall submit a taxicab owner's license application, on a form supplied by the Department, that includes the following information:
(a) 
The make, year, model, serial number, and registration number of each taxicab;
(b) 
The owner's name and address and, if a corporate owner, the name and address of the current resident agent for the corporation;
(c) 
The one trade name under which the taxicab will be operated (no vehicle operated as a taxicab may be so operated by more than one taxicab owner or business or under more than one trade name);
(d) 
The Harford County address and telephone number from which the taxicab will be operated;
(e) 
A list of the rates to be charged passengers; and
(f) 
Any other information required by the Department.
C. 
If more than one person owns a taxicab, any one of them may apply for a license.
D. 
If a corporation applies for a license, the application shall include the names and addresses of all persons holding a 25% or greater ownership interest in the corporation.
A. 
If an owner and its taxicab or taxicabs satisfy the requirements of this chapter, the Department shall issue the owner a taxicab owner's license. Each taxicab owned by the licensed taxicab owner shall receive a separate identification number.
B. 
A license expires one (1) year from date of issuance.
A. 
The Department may refuse to issue or renew an owner's license or a driver's permit if the owner or driver:
(1) 
Does not meet a qualification for the license or permit;
(2) 
Has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any crime against a person or any crime involving alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance;
(3) 
Has had any taxicab owner's license or driver's permit or a similar license or permit revoked once or suspended twice; or
(4) 
Makes a false statement on the application.
B. 
The Department may also refuse to issue or renew a driver's permit if the driver:
(1) 
Has had more than 6 points assessed against his driver's license by the Motor Vehicle Administration of the State of Maryland in the past 2 years; or
(2) 
Has a physical or mental condition that renders the driver unfit for the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
A. 
A license or a permit may be renewed if the owner or driver:
(1) 
Pays the renewal fee.
(2) 
Is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
B. 
At the time of renewal, the owner shall:
(1) 
Submit proof of the insurance required by Section 232-6B. (4) of this chapter.
(2) 
Submit proof of compliance with the inspection requirement of Section 232-16 A. of this chapter.
C. 
At the time of renewal, the driver shall submit those items required by Section 232-3 C. (5), (6), (7) and (8) with the exception that the drug screening test required by Section 232-3 B. (6)(c) at the time of initial application need not be repeated.
A. 
A taxicab owner shall notify the Department within forty-eight (48) hours after:
(1) 
The taxicab is sold or transferred;
(2) 
The taxicab is permanently removed from service for any reason;
(3) 
The taxicab is stolen; or
(4) 
The taxicab's registration is revoked.
B. 
A taxicab owner shall submit adequate proof to the Department that the taxicab has been:
(1) 
Sold or transferred; or
(2) 
Permanently removed from service.
A. 
A taxicab may not carry more than the manufacturer's specification of occupants at one time.
B. 
A taxicab owner shall furnish a trip log for the taxicab which shall contain the identification and license tag number of the vehicle. The log shall contain the points of origin and destination, the trip start and completion times, the fare collected and the number of passengers. This log shall be retained for a period of one year after the last trip recorded in the log and shall be made available to the Sheriff's office upon request.
C. 
While driving a taxicab, a driver:
(1) 
Shall proceed to a passenger's destination by the shortest practicable route;
(2) 
Shall give a receipt showing the date and fare to a passenger who requests it;
(3) 
May not permit another person to use the driver's permit;
(4) 
May not refuse when requested to provide the identification number of the taxicab or the rate charged to a passenger, the Department or the Sheriff's office.
(5) 
May not willfully mislead or misconvey a passenger; and
(6) 
Shall obey all motor vehicle laws.
A. 
A taxicab owner shall have the company's name permanently printed on the outside of the taxicab's front doors.
B. 
The owner shall provide the Sheriff's office with sufficient proof to show compliance with the provisions of this section and Section 232-16.
C. 
Upon verification by the Sheriff's office of such compliance, the Sheriff's office shall attach a Harford County medallion to the lower left corner of the rear windshield.
A taxicab owner shall:
A. 
Conspicuously post in the taxicab a list of the rates charged passengers; and
B. 
Make available a copy of the list to any person who requests it.
A. 
A taxicab owner shall:
(1) 
Have the taxicab inspected every six (6) months by an inspection station licensed by the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Maryland State Police.
(2) 
Not allow the taxicab to be operated without a certificate of inspection from the station.
B. 
After displaying identification, a member of the Sheriff's office may inspect a taxicab at any time to determine whether it is in compliance with this chapter.
C. 
An owner or a driver, when requested to do so by a person authorized to inspect a taxicab under Subsection B. of this section, shall allow the taxicab to be inspected to determine whether it is in compliance with this chapter.
A. 
There shall be a fee for each of the following items:
(1) 
Annual driver's permit;
(2) 
Annual taxicab owner's license;
(3) 
Replacement of a lost or stolen driver's permit or owner's license;
(4) 
Photograph for a driver's permit; and
(5) 
Each medallion issued.
B. 
The amount of each fee shall be as established by Chapter 157 of this code.
C. 
A single owner/operator's permit fee shall be charged to individuals who own only one taxicab and drive that taxicab themselves.
The Department shall establish a system to have driver's permit holders randomly tested for the use of controlled dangerous substances.
A. 
The Department may revoke or suspend an owner's taxicab license or a person's driver's permit if it finds:
(1) 
Facts existing prior or subsequent to the issuance of an owner's license or a driver's permit that would be cause under this chapter for refusal to issue or renew a license or permit;
(2) 
A violation of this chapter by the owner or the driver;
(3) 
That the owner or driver has pled guilty or nolo contendere or has been convicted of a crime against a person or a violation of a law governing controlled dangerous substances or alcohol;
(4) 
That the owner or driver has procured or attempted to procure a license or permit through fraud, misrepresentation, a false or misleading statement, or an omission of material facts; or
(5) 
That the owner or driver has operated, or allowed a taxicab to be operated, in a manner that endangers the public health, safety, or welfare.
B. 
In addition to the reasons specified in Paragraph A. of this section, the Department may revoke or suspend the permit of a driver if:
(1) 
The driver has been convicted of failure to stop after involvement in an accident.
(2) 
The Motor Vehicle Administration of the State of Maryland suspends or revokes his or her driver's license.
(3) 
The driver tests positive for the presence of a controlled dangerous substance as the result of a test administered under § 232-18 of this chapter.
(4) 
The driver refuses to consent to a test required by the Department under § 232-18 of this chapter.
C. 
A revocation or suspension under § A. (3) of this section remains in effect pending appeal until final disposition of the criminal action.
A. 
Upon determining to revoke or suspend an owner's license or a driver's permit, the Department shall:
(1) 
Notify the holder of the license or permit of the Department's decision in writing by certified mail; and
(2) 
State the reasons for the Department's action.
B. 
The holder of an owner's license or driver's permit revoked or suspended by the Department may appeal the Department's decision to the Director of Administration.
A. 
The fact that a taxicab was being operated by a driver without a driver's permit constitutes presumptive evidence that that owner intentionally allowed said driver to operate the taxicab without a driver's permit.
B. 
The fact that a taxicab was being operated in the county without a valid owner's license constitutes presumptive evidence that the owner intentionally allowed the taxicab to be operated in the county without a valid owner's license.
[Amended by Bill No. 95-81]
A. 
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days or both, at the discretion of the court.
B. 
Any business entity violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), at the discretion of the court.
C. 
Each day that any violation of any provision of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
D. 
The suspension or revocation of any license, permit, certificate or other privilege conferred by the county shall not be regarded as a penalty for the purposes of this code but shall be in addition thereto.