This chapter shall not apply to any person engaged
in interstate commerce or to any common carrier of passengers for
hire duly licensed by and under the supervision of the Corporation
Commission of the state.
No person shall drive a taxicab without registering
with the City Clerk. Persons desiring to register shall file a written
application with the City Clerk upon a form furnished by the Clerk.
The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $5. Registrations
shall expire one year from their date of issue.
A license or registration issued pursuant to
this chapter may be revoked by the City Manager or the governing body
upon any violation or failure to comply with any of the provisions
of this chapter, or upon violation of any of the ordinances of the
City or laws of the state, or at any time when it shall be determined
by the City Manager or governing body that the statements made in
the application for license or for registration are not being faithfully
complied with by the licensee or registrant or are not true.
No person shall, either directly or indirectly,
operate, either as owner, agent, driver or employee, any taxicab until
there shall have first been procured in the manner provided for in
this chapter a license to operate each vehicle.
Before any taxicab license shall be granted
the applicant shall file with the City Clerk a written statement setting
out the type of vehicle to be used, the make, horsepower, factory
number and state license number of the vehicle, the actual seating
capacity thereof, the name of the owner of the vehicle, and a statement
that it is of public benefit and convenience that the application
be granted. Such statement shall be made upon oath, and there shall
be filed therewith, with the City Clerk, a schedule of the fares proposed
to be charged during the license year.
When an application for a taxicab license is
filed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, it shall
be by the City Clerk referred to the City Manager, and the City Manager
shall use all reasonable and necessary means to check the statements
made in the application for truth and accuracy and shall also determine
whether or not it is in the convenience and benefit of the public
that the license be granted. After such investigation the City Manager,
by and with the consent of the governing body, shall have the power
to grant or reject an application. If such application is approved
by the City Manager as provided in this section, it shall be referred
back to the City Clerk who shall issue the license upon the payment
of the license fee and compliance with the insurance requirements
in this chapter.
The fee for a taxicab license shall be $50 for
each vehicle to be operated pursuant to the license.
A taxicab license shall expire one year from
its date of issue.
The City Clerk when issuing a taxicab license
shall deliver to the owner or operator of the vehicle, without charge,
a tag with a number printed thereon, which tag shall be displayed
in plain view by the owner or operator of the vehicle.
Before any license required by this chapter
shall be issued, the applicant for such license shall deposit with
the City Clerk a policy or certificate of liability insurance indemnifying
the applicant in the sum of $100,000 for injury to one person or $200,000
for injury to more than one person in any one occurrence and $50,000
for injury to property in any one accident through the operation of
the taxicab owned or operated by the applicant. In lieu thereof such
person may file with the City Clerk the bond of a surety company running
to the City and indemnifying persons who may be injured or whose property
may be damaged by the operation of the taxicab in the amounts mentioned
above and providing that action may be brought thereon by any person
so damaged against said surety company for the amount of such damage
not to exceed the amount named therein. The City Clerk may accept
evidence of such insurance by telegram or letter from an authorized
agency before licensing such vehicle, conditioned upon the receipt
of an insurance policy or bond within 15 days of such notice. The
policy or bond so deposited shall contain a clause obligating the
company issuing the same to give 10 days' written notice before the
canceling thereof to the City Clerk. The license for the operating
of such taxicab shall expire upon the lapse or termination of such
policy or bond.
Violation of this chapter shall constitute a Class C misdemeanor, punishable as provided in §
1-2 of this Code.