A taxicab is hereby defined as any motor vehicle designed to transport five passengers or less, exclusive for the operator of such vehicle.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 1)

Each taxicab operating within this city shall be conspicuously marked with a sign designating the motor vehicle as a taxicab and an individual number which shall be issued by the city clerk at the time the license for the taxicab is issued.  No motor vehicle shall be operated in the city as a taxicab without displaying such sign and number plainly visible and plainly legible.  If any person operates more than one taxicab in the city, such sign and number shall be uniform in size, color, and location on all vehicles.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 2)

The name of the operator shall be prominently displayed inside each taxicab operating in the city.  It shall be plainly typed or printed and in a position visible to the passengers.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 3)

(a)   No person shall drive a taxicab in the city unless he or she has first obtained a permit from the chief of police.  The chief of police may issue a temporary driver permit to the applicant pending investigation and upon completion of the investigation, shall issue a permanent driver permit if the applicant is qualified to hold such permanent driver permit.  The holder of a permanent driver permit shall report to the chief of police by June 30th of each year and renew such permit.

(b)   The fee for a taxicab driver permit shall be $5 payable at the time application is made for such permit and each year thereafter prior to the renewal of such permit.

(c)   Notwithstanding the above provisions, the chief of police may refuse to issue or renew a taxicab driver permit, or revoke such permit already issued if his or her investigation shows that the applicant or permit holder is unfit to operate a taxicab for hire within the city.  Such action by the chief of police may be appealed to the governing body for final action. 

(Ord. 870, Sec. 4)

Each taxicab shall contain the current rate schedule charged for taxicab services and this schedule shall be made available to the passengers therein upon their request.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 5)

In the event any driver of any taxicab is convicted in the municipal court or any other court in the state or any other state for illegally transporting liquor, such driver shall not be permitted to drive a taxicab for the transportation of passengers for hire in the city for a period of one year from the date of such conviction.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 6)

No person shall knowingly transport, offer to transport or knowingly aid or assist in transporting any person in, or over or through the streets, alleys, boulevard or public ways of the city by means of a taxicab for the purpose of prostitution or for any other unlawful, immoral or lewd purpose.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 7)

It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting as owner, principal, agent, employee, lessee or licensee to operate a taxicab business for the purpose of transporting passengers for hire over, upon or along the streets of the city without first obtaining a license pursuant to this article.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 8)

Application for a taxicab license shall be made upon a form provided by the city clerk.  Such application shall set forth:

(a)   The name, residence and address of the owner of the taxicab and of the applicant.

(b)   The names, residences and addresses of all members of any firm or co-partnership and all officers and directors of a corporation, making application.

(c)   Address of place of business.

(d)   The trade number under which applicant proposes to do business.

(e)   The trade name under which applicant proposes to do business; type, make, motor and serial number, seating capacity, design and color scheme and the lettering and marking to be used as to each.

(f)   The nature and character of the taxi service which applicant purposes to render and facts showing the need for such service.

(g)   The price or prices which applicant proposes to charge for such services.

(h)   The names, ages, residences, and addresses for all persons who shall operate such taxicab.

The fee for such license shall be $25 per calendar year for each taxicab licensed.  The completed application and all documents and fees required to be provided therewith shall be submitted to the city clerk’s office a minimum of five days, Saturdays and Sundays excluded, prior to a regular meeting for the governing body.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 9)

The city clerk shall examine such application and documents and when all requirements have been provided, shall submit such application to the governing body at the next regular meeting for approval or disapproval thereof.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 10)

A taxicab license shall be issued by the city clerk after approval thereof has been granted by the governing body.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 11)

Each taxicab licensed under the provisions of this article shall pass a vehicle safety inspection conducted by the police department prior to the issuance of a license therefor and prior to renewal of any such license.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 12)

Automobile liability insurance covering each and every taxicab licensed under the provisions of this article shall be maintained in full force and effect during the term for which the license is issued.  The minimum amounts of automobile liability insurance per vehicle shall not be less than $50,000 per person and $100,000 each accident for bodily injury and $25,000 each accident for property damage.  Such coverage shall be effective regardless of whether the taxicab is driven or operated by the owner, his or her agent, employee, lessee or licensee.  A certificate of insurance showing evidence of such coverage shall be issued to the city.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 13)

In the event any taxicab licensed under this article is sold or disposed of and replaced by another motor vehicle as a taxicab, no license fee shall be required for the motor vehicle replacing the one for which the license was issued for the current period of such license; provided however, such replacement vehicle shall pass the safety inspection required in section 5-412, and a new certificate of insurance as required in section 5-413 shall be filed with the city clerk showing the change in vehicles covered under such insurance before such replacement vehicle is operated as a taxicab in the city.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 14)

When written complaints are filed with the city clerk or city administrator specifying the details of any failure of a licensee to comply with the provisions of this article, the city clerk or city administrator shall cause an investigation to be made and a written report of such investigation shall be submitted to the governing body for action thereof.  If the governing body determines that the violations as stated in such report may be cause for revocation or suspension of such license, the governing body shall set a date for hearing on such revocation or suspension and given notice in writing mailed not less than 15 days prior to the date set for such hearing to the licensee at his or her address as shown by the record of the city.  Failure of licensee to receive such notice shall not be condition preventing the governing body from making a final decision on such revocation or suspension.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 15)

Each person licensed to operate a taxicab business pursuant to this article shall file with the city clerk along with the application for such license and annually thereafter and each time that taxicab zones and rates are established during any license year, a map of the city showing thereon the several zones for carrying passengers within or from one zone and a schedule showing all rates charged or to be charged for all taxicab services performed.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 16)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a code violation and upon conviction or a plea of guilty, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 for each offense.  Each day’s violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 870, Sec. 17)