It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of operating a taxicab within the City of Lowell without obtaining, pursuant to this chapter, a license for each vehicle so operated. The driver and/or owner of any vehicle operated without such a license or otherwise in violation of this chapter or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter may be fined up to $300 per violation. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of operating a livery within the City of Lowell without obtaining, pursuant to this chapter, from the City of Lowell, a license for each vehicle so operated. The driver and/or owner of any vehicle operated without such a license or otherwise in violation of this chapter or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter may be fined up to $300 per violation. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
The Superintendent shall have the authority to issue taxicab licenses pursuant to this chapter and subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted pursuant to § 254-3. Such licenses shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually.
The Superintendent shall have the authority to issue livery licenses pursuant to this chapter and subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted pursuant to § 254-3. Such licenses shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually.
Upon the issuance or renewal of any vehicle license required by this chapter, said licensee shall pay, to the City of Lowell, a fee as shall be determined by the Superintendent and as provided for by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to § 254-3.
Each application for a license or a renewal of any license required by this chapter shall be made upon forms furnished by the Police Department and contain the information set forth in Subsections A through L and such further information as the Superintendent may require. Any and all such information shall be fully investigated by the Lowell Police Department. No license shall issue in the absence of any of the information required by Subsections A through L or in the event that investigation reaches an unsatisfactory conclusion.
A. 
The name of the titleholder and, if applicable, the leaseholder of each vehicle, the residence and business address of each titleholder and, if applicable, the leaseholder, and, if the titleholder or the leaseholder is a firm, corporation, partnership, association or business organization, the names and addresses of the members and managers of such firm, association, or business organization and/or the partners and managers of such partnership and/or the principal shareholders, directors, officers and managers of any such corporation.
B. 
The name of the firm, corporation, partnership, association or business organization, the members and managers of such firm, association, or business organization, the partners and managers of such partnership, or the principal shareholders, directors, officers and managers of any such corporation under whose agency any taxicab shall be operated if different from the titleholder or leaseholder.
C. 
A complete description of each vehicle, including the number of persons it is constructed to carry, the make, the model, the year, the vehicle identification number and the state vehicle registration number.
D. 
The address where such vehicle will be garaged and maintained and the address where all manifests shall be stored.
E. 
The design, color scheme, characteristic insignia, lettering and marks to be used on each vehicle.
F. 
The schedule of fares to be charged by each vehicle.
G. 
The length of time each vehicle has been in use as a taxicab or livery.
H. 
The past experience, if any, that the applicant has had in rendering such licensed service in the City of Lowell or elsewhere and the period of time that the applicant has rendered such service.
I. 
Whether or not any person or entity listed in Subsection A or B above has any unpaid claims or unsatisfied judgments against such person or entity for damages resulting from the operation of any motor vehicle.
J. 
Whether or not a taxicab or livery vehicle certificate, license or permit issued to any person or entity listed in Subsection A or B above by this City, or by any other city, state, or political subdivision thereof, has been revoked or suspended and, if so, the circumstances of such suspension or revocation.
K. 
Whether any person listed in Subsection A or B has, within the past seven years, been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including any traffic offense, and specifically detailing the particulars of any such conviction.
L. 
Whether any person listed in Subsection A or B is a defendant in any pending criminal action and the court where such action is pending.
In addition to the requirements of § 254-10, every application for a license or for a renewal of any license required by this chapter shall include the documents listed in Subsections A through E. Such license shall not be issued or renewed unless such documents are provided.
A. 
A valid certificate of title certifying that the applicant is the owner or lessee of such vehicle.
B. 
A valid certificate of registration issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
C. 
A valid receipt from the City of Lowell Treasurer's office showing full payment of all excise taxes assessed to such vehicle.
D. 
An affidavit certifying, pursuant to MGL c. 62C, § 49A, that the applicant has complied with all laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to taxes.
E. 
A statement from the City of Lowell Parking Clerk showing full payment of any and all parking fines charged to such vehicle.
F. 
An affidavit certifying the Lowell address at which the vehicle is garaged and maintained.
G. 
In the case of a livery license, contracts for hire or other documentation sufficient to demonstrate to the Superintendent of Police that the applicant operates said vehicle solely as a livery vehicle.
Each vehicle licensed pursuant to this chapter shall carry a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and conforming to the provisions of MGL c. 175. Said policy shall be a policy of liability insurance which provides indemnity for or protection to the insured, and any person responsible for the operation of the insured's vehicle with his/her express or implied consent, against loss by reason of the liability to pay damages to others for property damage and bodily injuries, including death, at any time resulting therefrom sustained during the term of the policy by any person, other than employees of the insured or of such other person responsible as aforesaid, who are entitled to payments or benefits under the provisions of MGL c. 152, and arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, control or use upon the ways of the commonwealth of such vehicle, to the amount or limit of at least $50,000 on account of property damage, to the amount or limit of at least $50,000 on account of injury to or death of any one person, and, subject to such limits as respect injury to or death of one person, of at least $100,000 on account of any one accident resulting in injury or death of more than one person.
Every application to the Superintendent for a license or for a renewal of any license required by this chapter shall include a certificate of liability insurance. Said certificate required by this chapter shall specifically indicate the Lowell address at which such vehicle is garaged and maintained and shall contain the endorsements specified in Subsections A through C. Such license shall not be issued unless such endorsements are provided and all requirements of this section are met.
A. 
An endorsement stating that the policy shall not be cancelled or in any manner amended, changed or altered without giving the Clerk of the City of Lowell 10 days' notice thereof.
B. 
In the case of a taxicab license application, an endorsement specifying that the subject vehicle is insured for use as a taxicab.
C. 
In the case of a livery license application, an endorsement specifying that the subject vehicle is insured for use as a livery.
Any taxicab or livery license issued pursuant to this chapter shall terminate automatically and simultaneously with the cancellation, expiration or nonrenewal of any policy of insurance required by this chapter.
The holder of a vehicle license issued pursuant to this chapter shall provide to the Superintendent written notice of any change in the information required by §§ 254-10, 254-11, 254-12 and 254-13. Such notice shall be either mailed, via first-class mail, within 24 hours of such change or shall be delivered in hand within 48 hours of such change.
No vehicle shall be licensed as a taxicab or livery unless the Police Department has inspected such vehicle and issued a certificate of inspection with respect to such vehicle. Such certificate of inspection shall certify that:
A. 
The vehicle bears a valid Massachusetts inspection sticker.
B. 
The vehicle is structurally sound and safe for travel.
C. 
The vehicle operates without unreasonable noise or vibration which would annoy an ordinary person.
D. 
The vehicle is equipped with seat belts which function properly and are visible for use by passengers.
E. 
The doors function properly and can be opened easily from inside the cab by a passenger.
F. 
The vehicle complies with any and all rules and regulations as shall be adopted by the Superintendent pursuant to this chapter.