No person shall use any vehicle under his control as a taxicab or allow
any vehicle under his (or her) control to be used as a taxicab upon the streets
of the City unless he (or she) shall have obtained a certificate in accordance
with the provisions of this article.
Application for a certificate shall be made by the owner or proposed
owner, in duplicate, and shall set out the following information:
A. Full name and home and business addresses of the applicant.
B. Vehicle identification number (VIN), kind, seating capacity,
design and color scheme of each taxicab.
C. Copy of proof of insurance coverage.
D. Convictions or pleas of guilty, if any, for violation
of any law on the part of the applicant.
E. Experience of the applicant in transportation of passengers
for hire.
F. Reasons why the applicant believes public convenience
and necessity requires the granting of the certificate applied for.
An application for a certificate shall be filed by the owner or proposed
owner with the City Manager prior to applying for a business license for operation
of a taxicab business. The City Manager shall promptly investigate the matters
stated in the application.
The City Manager shall determine whether the public convenience and
necessity require the operation of the taxicab for which application is filed.
The City Manager may grant or refuse the certificate applied for or grant
a certificate for a lesser number of vehicles than that specified in the application.
Upon determination by the City Manager to grant a certificate, the approved
application shall be filed with the Police Department.
The City Manager shall consider and act on the applications for certificates
within 30 days after receipt of such applications.
The City Manager shall immediately notify in writing the applicant for
a certificate of the action upon the application filed by such applicant.
The City Manager shall report to the Commissioner of the Revenue all
certificates granted, together with the number of vehicles allotted.
The certificates referred to in this article shall give the name of
the owner, the VIN number, and kind and description of every vehicle covered
thereby, together with the date of issuance and the date of expiration.
The certificates referred to in this article shall expire on March 31
annually, unless revoked or suspended as provided by this article.
The certificates provided for by this article shall not be transferable
from one person to another.
No vehicle shall be substituted for any vehicle described in a certificate
until the vehicle to be substituted has been investigated and approved by
the Chief of Police and the fact of such substitution endorsed on the certificate
by him (or her).
The City Manager may, for cause, cancel, revoke or suspend any certificate
after notice to the holder of such certificate.