[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pertained to examination of applicant; as amended, was repealed 7-16-2004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
B.
If the Chief of Public Safety issues such a probationary
license, the Chief of Public Safety may:
