[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
No person shall drive a vehicle for hire within the City, without first having obtained a vehicle for hire driver's license issued in accord with this chapter, nor shall any owner permit a vehicle for hire to be operated by anyone other than a licensed vehicle for hire driver.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623; 7-16-2004 by Ord. No. 1775]
A. 
Each applicant for a vehicle for hire driver's license shall make application on forms to be provided by the Department of Public Safety, showing the following information: places of residence for five years prior to the date of the application, age, height, color of eyes, color of hair, place of birth, length of time the applicant has resided in City, whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States, places of previous employment for five years prior to the date of the application, whether applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, whether applicant has previously been licensed as a vehicle for hire or taxicab driver, and if so, whether applicant's vehicle for hire or taxicab driver's license has ever been suspended or revoked and for what cause, and whether any state motor vehicle operator's permit or license issued to applicant has ever been suspended or revoked, and for what cause. Such application and statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant, and any false statement made by the applicant in applying for the license shall invalidate any vehicle for hire driver's license issued to him or her.
B. 
Each application filed under this section shall have attached thereto two recent photographs of the applicant, of such size as may from time to time be designated by the Chief of Public Safety.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
A. 
Each applicant for a vehicle for hire driver's license must meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Be at least 18 years of age, with good eyesight and not subject to any infirmity of body which might render him or her unfit for the safe operation of a vehicle for hire.
(2) 
Possess a valid nonprobationary Michigan chauffeur's license (unless said probationary status is only the result of a recent change of residence to the State of Michigan).
(3) 
Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
(4) 
Be clean in appearance and person.
(5) 
Not be addicted to the use of drugs or intoxicating liquors.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 37-73, which pertained to examination of applicant; as amended, was repealed 7-16-2004 by Ord. No. 1775.
The City Commission may establish, by resolution or motion, license fees for vehicle for hire driver's licenses in such amounts as they shall deem appropriate from time-to-time to defray the costs of investigation and issuance of these licenses. No such license shall be issued unless and until the prescribed fee therefor has been paid.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
A. 
The Chief of Public Safety may refuse to authorize the issuance or renewal of a vehicle for hire driver's license in the case of an application from any person:
(1) 
Whose state automobile operator's or chauffeur's license or vehicle for hire driver's license has been revoked or suspended within two years prior to the date of application.
(2) 
Who has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor relevant to one's fitness to operate a vehicle for hire.
(3) 
Who has been convicted of driving an automobile resulting in death to any person.
(4) 
Who has been convicted of a drinking/driving offense.
(5) 
Who has failed to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(6) 
Who, for any other reason is unfit to drive a vehicle for hire.
B. 
Any applicant to whom the Chief of Public Safety has refused to authorize the issuance or renewal of a vehicle for hire driver's license shall be advised in writing of the reason or reasons for such refusal.
C. 
An applicant refused under this section may appeal within 10 days to the City Commission. In case of such appeal, the Commission may designate a hearing officer to hold a hearing in connection with such refusal, and upon submission of a written report and recommendation from the hearing officer, setting forth the substance of the testimony produced, which shall be taken under oath administered by the hearing officer, shall decide whether or not the action of the Chief of Public Safety shall be affirmed or reversed.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
Should the Chief of Public Safety find that the applicant has satisfactorily complied with all of the conditions of this chapter, he or she shall authorize the City Clerk to issue a vehicle for hire driver's license to the applicant.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
Each vehicle for hire driver's license shall expire on the 30th day of April following the issuance thereof. All applications for license renewal shall be made as provided in § 37-71 and the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable thereto.
[Amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
A vehicle for hire driver's license may be suspended or revoked by the Chief of Public Safety if such driver shall use a vehicle for hire for an illegal purpose, or if such driver is guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinance of the City or state or federal law or if such vehicle for hire driver's Michigan chauffeur's license is suspended or revoked. If such violations or illegal purpose are the subject of statutory or common law criminal proceedings, such license shall not be revoked until there has been a conviction of the driver in the appropriate court. In the event that illegal use of the vehicle for hire is resorted to, such suspension or revocation of a vehicle for hire driver's license may not be ordered until after a hearing is held and such driver is given an opportunity to appear and be heard in his or her defense. Any suspension by the Chief of Public Safety may be appealed within 10 days to the City Commission.
In the discretion of the Chief of Public Safety, he or she may, upon the filing of the proper application as provided for in § 37-71, issue a temporary vehicle for hire driver's license to the applicant, pending the return from state and/or federal authorities the records of the fingerprints of such applicant. In the event that the Chief of the Department of Public Safety decides that, in the public interest, such temporary vehicle for hire driver's license should be revoked, he or she may do so in his or her discretion.
[Added 8-12-1985 by Ord. No. 1354; amended 9-30-1996 by Ord. No. 1623]
A. 
The Chief of Public Safety may issue a probationary license to a person who has applied for a vehicle for hire driver's license (or convert a vehicle for hire driver's license to a probationary license) when the Chief has reasonable cause for concern regarding the applicant's fitness to drive a vehicle for hire or when the applicant has:
(1) 
Eight or more points on his or her driving record;
(2) 
Been placed on probation by the Michigan Secretary of State;
(3) 
Within the preceding two years, had an accident while driving a vehicle for hire for which said driver has been convicted of a traffic offense or found responsible of a civil infraction in the appropriate court; and
(4) 
Been denied a license within the preceding three years pursuant to § 37-75.
B. 
If the Chief of Public Safety issues such a probationary license, the Chief of Public Safety may:
(1) 
Establish reasonable terms and conditions of said probation related to the operation of a vehicle for hire; and
(2) 
Revoke said license in the event said driver violates any of said terms or conditions or violates any provisions of this chapter.