[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Hudson by Ord. No. 1-81 as Ch. 13, Secs. 13.10 and 13.11 of the 1981 Code; amended
by Ord. No. 26-88. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 235.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes all motor vehicles regularly engaged in the business
of carrying passengers for hire for which public patronage is solicited,
excepting such vehicles as operate on established routes and are regulated
by the State Public Service Commission and excepting such vehicles
commonly known as "rent-a-cars" and excepting vehicles operated as
car pools.
No person shall transport passengers for hire
by taxicab within the city, nor shall any person solicit passengers
to be transported for hire by taxicab, without first having obtained
a license therefor as herein provided.
Application for a taxicab license to convey
passengers for hire, commonly known as "taxi service," shall be made,
in writing, to the City Clerk, and said application shall be verified
under oath and shall furnish the following information:
A.
The name and address of the applicant. If the owner
is a partnership, the form shall state the name of the company and
the names and addresses of the partners, and the application shall
be signed by one of the partners. If the owner is a corporation, the
names and addresses of the principal officers must be given, and the
application must be signed by one of the duly elected officers of
the corporation.
B.
The experience of the applicant in the transportation
of passengers. The number of vehicles to be operated or controlled
by the applicant and the location of proposed depots and terminals.
C.
The make, model and year of the manufacture, the engine
number, factory number and capacity for passengers and the state certificate
of title number and license plate number for the current year of each
motor vehicle to be used in the business.
D.
The color scheme or insignia to be used to designate
the vehicle and vehicles of the applicant.
E.
Such further information as the City of Hudson may
require. No license shall be issued until the applicant presents a
policy or certificate of insurance herein required to the City Clerk.
A.
Upon the filing of an application, the Common Council
shall fix a date and place for a public hearing thereon. Notice of
such hearing shall be given to the applicant and shall require a Class
1 publication. Any interested person may appear in person or file
with the City Clerk's office a memorandum in support or opposition
to the pending application.
B.
If the Common Council finds that taxicab service in
the City of Hudson is required by the public convenience and necessity
and that the applicant is fit, willing and able to perform such public
transportation and to conform to the provisions of this chapter, the
Common Council may approve the application.
C.
In considering the application, the Common Council
shall take into consideration whether existing transportation is adequate
to meet the public need, the probable effect of increased service
on local traffic conditions and the character, experience and responsibility
of the applicant.
D.
No license shall be issued if the applicant is delinquent
in payment of any taxes, assessments, forfeitures for violations of
City ordinances, utility bills, or any other claims owed to the City.
[Added 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 3-08]
[Amended 8-3-2009 by Ord. No. 11-09]
The fee for a taxicab license shall be $100
per year for the first vehicle operated in such business and $25 per
year for each additional vehicle so operated. The fee shall not be
prorated or refundable.
No license issued under this chapter shall be
transferable from the owner described in the original license to another
person.
[Amended 8-3-2009 by Ord. No. 11-09]
Upon approval by the Common Council and upon
filing with the City Clerk proof of all fees, the policy or certificate
of insurance and a certificate of inspection as provided herein, the
Clerk shall issue a license for the operation of such vehicle or vehicles,
and each license granted shall be given a number and shall give the
number and an adequate description of the taxicab licensed thereunder,
and such license shall be carried in the taxicab for which it has
been issued. The license period shall be from July 1 through June
30 yearly.
No license shall be issued for any vehicle until
it has been thoroughly inspected and found to be in safe condition
for the transportation of passengers. In addition to being mechanically
safe, such vehicle shall be clean and free of body damage and shall
be well painted and maintained. The safety inspection provided herein
shall be done by an automobile repair center, which shall certify
that the inspected vehicle meets the provision of this chapter. No
vehicle shall be placed in service until such time as it has been
inspected, and each vehicle licensed shall be subject to reinspection
and recertification every six months.
A.
No taxicab license shall be issued for any vehicle
under this chapter until the applicant deposits a policy or certificate
of liability insurance covering each vehicle for which a license is
sought with the City Clerk. Such policy of insurance shall be issued
by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of
Wisconsin and shall contain the vehicle identification number and
the number of the state license plate for each vehicle covered by
the policy, and such policies shall indemnify the applicant in the
amount of $500,000 single limit liability coverage for the injury
or death of one or more persons and damage to the property of others
for any one accident due to the negligent operation of any vehicle
covered by such policy.
[Amended by Ord. No. 25-95; 5-2-2011 by Ord. No. 8-11]
B.
Form approval and expiration notice. The policy shall
contain a provision that the same may not be canceled before the expiration
of its term, except upon 30 days' written notice to the city. Further,
the licensee shall assure that the insurance carrier provides the
city with copies of all insurance expiration and cancellation notices
and copies of all notifications of reinstatement of insurance coverage.
C.
Automatic revocation of license. The cancellation
or other termination of any insurance policy issued in compliance
with this chapter shall automatically revoke and terminate all licenses
issued for any vehicle covered by such policy unless another policy
complying with this chapter is provided and in effect at the time
of such cancellation or termination.
D.
Responsibility of licensee and surety. In any event,
the licensee and the surety will be held responsible for and shall
save the city, its employees and agents harmless from all liability
for injury and damages occasioned by the taxi operation or which may
result therefrom or which may result in any way from the negligence
or carelessness of the licensee, his agents, employees or workers
or by reason of the elements, unforeseen or unusual difficulties,
obstructions or obstacles encountered in the service delivery, and
they shall indemnify the city, its employees and agents for and save
it harmless from all claims and liabilities, actions and causes of
action and liens for materials furnished or labor performed in service
delivery and from all costs, charges and expenses incurred in defending
such suits or actions and from and against all claims and liabilities
for injury or damage to persons or property emanating from defective
or careless work methods or accidents.
[Amended 3-28-2011 by Ord. No. 6-11]
No person shall operate a taxicab for hire upon
the streets of the City of Hudson, and no person who owns or controls
a taxicab shall permit it to be so driven, and no taxicab licensed
by the City of Hudson shall be so driven at any time for hire, unless
the driver of said taxicab shall have first obtained and shall have
in force a taxicab driver's license issued under the provisions of
this chapter. No license shall be issued if the applicant is delinquent
in payment of any taxes, assessments, forfeitures for violations of
City ordinances, utility bills, or any other claims owed to the City.
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license shall be at least 18
years old, and the application shall show the following:
A driver's license may be suspended or revoked at any time for violation of any provisions of this section or of Chapter 235, Vehicles and Traffic, Article I, Traffic Code, or any other ordinance of the city pertaining to traffic or public safety. Such revocation may be by the City Council or by the judge of any court before which such driver may appear for any offense relating to the driver's fitness for the activity such license has been issued for. Any driver whose license has been revoked under this section may again be licensed as a driver in the city, provided that a new license is granted him by the City Council. No driver shall again be licensed whose license has been revoked by a judge unless such judge has given approval for the issuance of a new license.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 13.10(4), Taxicab
quota, which immediately followed this section, was deleted by Ord.
No. 33-94.
