Unless otherwise expressly stated, whenever
used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings
given to them by this section:
BASE
A fixed base of operation of the owner of a taxicab or limousine
to be situated in the Town of Bethel.
DRIVER
Any person who engages in the business of driving a taxicab,
whether such person is the owner or employed by a taxicab owner.
OPERATE
The picking up of a passenger for hire within the Town of
Bethel, whether or not such passenger is discharged at a destination
within the Town. Nothing in this chapter shall apply to abridge, limit
or regulate the right of any person not licensed hereunder to convey
passengers by taxicab or limousine from points of origin outside the
Town of Bethel to points of destination within the Town of Bethel
or through the Town of Bethel.
OWNER
Includes any person owning or having control of the use of
one or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets of the Town of
Bethel or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab.
PASSENGER
A person other than the driver who is an occupant of a taxicab.
For the purpose of this chapter, such person or persons shall be presumed
to be a passenger for hire.
TAXICAB
Includes any motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying
persons for hire, whether the same shall be operated from a street
stand or subject to calls from a base of operations.
TAXICAB STAND
Includes any place along the side of the street or elsewhere
which is deemed, by owner permission, reserved for the use of taxicabs.
Unlicensed cabs shall not pick up fares inside
the Town of Bethel. Cabs unlicensed by the Town of Bethel may transport
people into the Town of Bethel, wait for them and return them to their
destination.
Such license, when issued, shall expire on December 31 of the year in which it was issued. The fee therefor shall be established pursuant to Chapter
167, Fees.
Each applicant shall, before the issuance of
a license, file with the Town Clerk a certificate of issuance that
the applicant and each motor vehicle is insured against public liability
in at least the minimum limits required by the laws of the State of
New York for personal injury and property damage, which insurance
shall be maintained in force during the period covered by the license.
Any person wanting to operate a taxi service
within the Town of Bethel shall obtain a license under this chapter
only at a regular meeting of the Town Board in the manner following:
A. The applicant shall obtain an application form supplying
the information requested and file such application, accompanied with
statutory fees.
B. The Town Clerk shall furnish the applicant with a
list of the names licensed under this chapter, and it shall be the
duty of the applicant to serve upon each person, either personally
or by registered mail, a copy of the application with a notice of
the time where and the place where the Town Board will meet to consider
such application. Such notice shall be given at least 15 days prior
to the date of the hearing. The day of personal service or of mailing
shall be included with the time prescribed.
C. The applicant, upon such hearing, shall establish
to the satisfaction of the Town Board his competency and ability to
provide the service proposed, the need for service and that the public
will be convenienced thereby.
The location of any and all taxi stands proposed
to be established by the applicant and base proposed to be used by
the applicant shall be presented before approval of license.
Any person committing an offense against any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a violation
pursuant to the Penal Law of the State of New York, punishable by
a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding
15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of
an offense against the provisions of this chapter shall constitute,
for each day the offense is continued, separate and distinct offense
hereunder.