As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Includes any vehicle engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire, having a seating capacity of fewer than eight persons, subject to use by the general public.
No taxicab shall be used to pick up passengers in the village unless said taxicab is operated by a person duly authorized pursuant to this article, and said taxicab must be owned by a person approved at a public hearing to be held at a time and place designated by the Board of Trustees. However, this restriction shall not prohibit any person from using a taxicab of his choice notwithstanding the fact that said taxicab does not operate in the village.
A franchise to operate a taxicab service in the village shall be awarded to any person after a public hearing is held, at which time the financial responsibility of the individual applying for such franchise will be inquired into and the character, reputation and fitness of the applicant to operate such service will be investigated.
A. 
The franchise to operate a taxicab service shall be for a period of time as determined by the Board of Trustees.
B. 
Prior to the franchise renewal, a public hearing will be held, at which time the public will be afforded an opportunity to be heard relating to the taxicab service within the Village of Floral Park.
A franchise to operate a taxicab service may be revoked by the Board of Trustees at any time prior to its expiration if, in the opinion of said Board, the applicant has not complied with the rules and regulations under which the franchise was granted.
An applicant for the franchise to operate a taxicab service shall present proof of liability insurance in an amount and in a form to be set forth by the Board of Trustees.
Each person granted permission to operate taxicabs within the village shall operate his taxi service on a twenty-four-hour basis.
Unless expressly authorized by the Board of Trustees in the taxi franchise agreement, all cabs shall be white in color. Each taxicab shall display on both sides the name of the person granted permission to operate taxicabs within the village on a decal that is not less than 12 inches high and 20 inches in length. This decal must be a painted on sign or a removable sign.
The Board of Trustees shall designate and establish fares and zones for the village at the time of issuing taxicab franchises.
A notice setting forth the fare zones and maximum rates as herein provided shall be posted conspicuously in each taxicab. Each taxicab shall contain a map showing the zones, which map shall be shown to any passenger on request.
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 article.
Upon tender of proper fare therefor, no driver shall refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or persons upon request anywhere in the village unless previously engaged or unable to do so.
The number of passengers in a public taxicab shall not exceed the normal seating capacity of the vehicle. Overcrowding will not be permitted.
A taxicab driver, after completing a trip conveying passengers to any destination and returning to a public taxicab stand, shall inspect the passenger compartment to ascertain whether any property or personal effects have been left in the taxicab. Any and all articles found in said taxicab shall be taken to the Village Administrator within a reasonable time.
The franchise holder shall not have more than five cabs at the taxi stand located at the Long Island Railroad Station in the village. The franchise holder shall not let cabs park in public parking spaces underneath the railroad except between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and then only when the drivers are depositing their cash receipts and logs for the day. At all other times, all cabs shall stop, stand or park only in locations designated for taxis.
No taxicab driver shall sit in the passenger compartment of a public taxicab or permit anyone who is not a passenger to do so while at a public taxicab stand.
No taxicab driver shall leave the doors of his taxicab open while said vehicle is at a public taxicab stand, except for the purpose of taking on or discharging passengers.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate or keep for hire or pay within the village any franchised taxicab without first having obtained and paid for a permit.
No person shall drive a taxicab within the village without such driver's having first obtained and paid for and having in force and effect a driver's permit under the provisions of §§ 85-19 through 85-39.
Each applicant for a driver's permit shall comply with the following:
A. 
He shall have a state chauffeur's license.
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 public vehicle.
C. 
He shall produce, on forms to be provided by the Village Administrator, affidavits of good character from two citizens of the village, unless in the opinion of the Mayor of the village sufficient reason is given for omission thereof.
D. 
He shall fill out an application on a form to be provided by the Village Administrator.
E. 
He shall file with the application three photographs of himself, of such nature and size as the Village Administrator 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 County Police Department and to be taken under its supervision.
Applications of taxicab drivers shall be referred to the County Police Department for investigation. If the results of the investigation are unsatisfactory, the applicant shall be refused a permit.
Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the foregoing requirements of §§ 85-18 through 85-21, there shall be issued to the applicant a permit containing a photograph. Permits shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued.
For good reason, the Mayor may issue a temporary permit to a driver for a period of not exceeding 20 days without fulfillment of the requirements of §§ 85-17 through 85-38.
A. 
Drivers' permits shall be issued as of the first day of January each year and shall be valid to and including the last day of December next succeeding, unless previously suspended or revoked.
B. 
Any validly issued license to drive, operate or keep for hire a taxi in the village that is in effect at the time this local law becomes effective shall continue until February 28, 1994, but will not be renewed.
The Clerk may renew a driver's permit from year to year by appropriate endorsement thereon. At the time of renewal such information may be required as will keep the data on the original application up to date.
A. 
Generally. Annual permit fees shall be paid for a driver's permit or renewal thereof and shall be set by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
B. 
Prorating. No such permit shall be prorated for a period of less than six months.
Permits shall be displayed conspicuously by the driver at all times when operating any taxicab, and each driver shall, upon demand, exhibit his permit for inspection.
A driver's permit may be suspended by the Mayor for violation of any provision of this article or other cause until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees of the village, and thereupon said permit, after a hearing, may be revoked or continued by said Board. No driver whose permit has been revoked shall again be granted such permit.
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 permit under the provisions of §§ 85-18 through 85-39.
Application for a taxicab permit shall be made by the owner upon forms furnished by the Village Administrator and shall contain:
A. 
The owner's name, residence and his previous experience, if any, in such business.
B. 
The type and make of motorcar to be used, the motor number, the state registration number and the seating capacity.
C. 
Whether previously licensed to operate a taxicab and, if so, where.
D. 
Whether a license to operate a taxicab has ever been revoked and, if so, for what cause.
No permit shall be granted for a taxicab until the owner has provided documentary proof that it has been inspected by a certified inspection facility and found to be in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers.
A. 
Generally. If upon inspection a taxicab is found to be of lawful construction and in proper condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and upon the payment of the permit fee hereinafter set forth, the taxicab permit shall be issued by delivering to the owner a sticker of such size and form as may be prescribed by the Village Administrator.
B. 
Sticker; contents. The sticker shall contain the official registration number of the taxicab and the name of the owner and shall be signed by the Village Administrator.
C. 
The sticker issued pursuant to Subsections A and B shall be conspicuously posted in the taxicab for which issued.
A taxicab permit shall be issued as of the first day of January next succeeding and shall expire on the last day of December in each year, unless sooner suspended or revoked.
A taxicab permit may be renewed from year to year by endorsement thereon upon payment of renewal fee and after inspection.
A. 
Taxicab permit fees shall be charged, as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
B. 
No permit fee shall be prorated.
Should the state registration number of a taxicab be changed during the life of a taxicab permit, such change and number shall be immediately reported by the owner to the Village Administrator.
Taxicab permits may be suspended at any time for cause by the Mayor if the vehicle shall be used for an immoral or illegal business or purpose or for a violation of any ordinance or state law governing the operation of motor vehicles. Such suspension shall continue until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees of the village, and thereupon said permit, after a hearing, may be revoked, suspended or continued by said Board.
Every person to whom a permit has been issued shall, upon discontinuing and abandoning the operation or driving of a taxicab, return such permit to the Village Administrator unless for some reason the same cannot be restored. Such permit shall not be assignable.
It shall be unlawful for the holder of a permit hereunder to permit his permit to be used by any other person or for any person to use a permit granted to any other person hereunder.