[CC 1977 §32-1]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
Every person physically in charge of or driving a taxicab.
The privilege granted by the City to a person to engage in
the operation of a taxicab business within the City.
Any person having control of the operation or maintenance
and collection of the revenue of taxicabs.
A permit granted by the City to the driver of a taxicab.
Any street, alley, avenue, lane, public place or highway
in the City.
Any vehicle for hire for the purpose of transporting passengers
upon the streets, except vehicles operating over a fixed route and
between fixed termini.
[CC 1977 §32-2; Ord. No. 837 §1, 10-1-1969]
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all passenger
motor vehicles operated as public carriers within the corporate limits
of the City for the purpose of transporting passengers or property
for hire from one point to another within the City.
[CC 1977 §32-3]
Every person owning and operating a taxicab under the provisions
of this Chapter may adopt any trade name, design, color scheme or
method of painting or lettering such taxicabs that is approved by
the City Administrator. Such trade names, designs, color schemes or
method of lettering shall include the name of the owner or the trade
name under which it or he/she does business painted on each side of
the taxicab. Whenever the name of the owner or the trade name under
which it or he/she does business does not include any one (1) of the
words "taxicab", "taxi" or "cab", then the word "taxicab" shall be
printed on each side of the taxicab beneath the name or trade name.
All lettering or wording shall be at least two (2) inches in height
and shall be clearly visible from each side of the taxicab.
[CC 1977 §32-4]
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate upon any public
street in the City any taxicab unless such vehicle shall at all times
be maintained in a good mechanical condition.
[CC 1977 §32-5; Ord. No. 837 §4, 10-1-1969]
Each and every taxicab operator on the streets of the City shall
have affixed thereto at a location in plain view of any passenger
therein a placard setting out the maximum legal rates for taxicab
services and such rates shall be so shown thereon as to be readily
visible to and readable by any occupant of such taxicab.
[CC 1977 §32-17; Ord. No. 837 §2, 10-1-1969]
No person shall engage in, operate or conduct a taxicab business
within the City without first paying the license tax therefor and
obtaining a license therefor.
[CC 1977 §32-18]
The provisions of Chapter 605 of this Code, insofar as the same may be applicable and not in conflict, shall apply to and govern the issuance of any license under the provisions of this Article.
[CC 1977 §32-19]
Any taxicab not licensed under the provisions of this Article
shall be allowed to transport passengers from outside the City limits
to a destination within the City; provided however, it shall be unlawful
for any such taxicab to pick up any passenger or accept any other
business within the City for any destination within or without the
City.
[CC 1977 §32-20]
A.
Any person
desiring to secure a license to engage in, operate or conduct a taxicab
business within the City shall file with the City a written application
therefor, in duplicate, giving the following information:
1.
The
full name and address of the applicant, if a partnership, the name
and address of all the partners, if a corporation, the name and address
of all the officers and directors, the trade name under which the
applicant does or proposes to do business and the address of the principal
place of business of the applicant;
2.
The
number of taxicabs actually owned by the applicant and the number
held by him/her under lease, if any;
3.
The
make, model, motor number and serial number of each taxicab and the
registered owner; provided however, that the make, model, motor number
and serial number of each new motor vehicle included in the application
may be supplied by the applicant and endorsed on the application at
any time prior to the actual issuance of the license by the City;
4.
The
experience, if any, the applicant has had in such business.
B.
Such
application shall be sworn to before a notary public or other officer
duly authorized to administer oaths.
[CC 1977 §32-21; Ord. No. 837 §3, 10-1-1969; Ord. No. 2658 §1, 8-7-2000]
A.
No license
to engage in a taxicab business shall be issued to the applicant therefor
by the City until and after such applicant has filed with the City
and the same has been approved by the City Attorney a liability insurance
policy or bond in some insurance company or association or other insurer
authorized to transact business in the State, which liability insurance
shall bind the obligers thereunder to make compensation with respect
to each taxicab operated by the applicant as follows:
1.
One
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) because of bodily injury to
or death of one (1) person in any one (1) accident and subject to
such limit for one (1) person;
2.
Three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) because of bodily injury to
or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident; and
3.
Fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000.00) because of injury to or destruction
of property of others in any one (1) accident.
[CC 1977 §32-22]
The liability insurance policy or bond required by this Article
shall at all times be in full force and effect during the period of
time for which such license has been issued. If for any reason such
insurance policy or bond is canceled or not in force or effect during
the period of time for which the license has been issued, then the
Board of Aldermen shall revoke the license forthwith in a summary
manner.
[CC 1977 §32-23]
A.
In the
event that any insurer desires to be released from any insurance filed
under this Article, it may give written notice of such desire to the
City at least thirty (30) days before it desires its liability released
and the City shall thereupon give written notice, by personal delivery
or by mail, to the insured and demand that he/she furnish new assurance
by the expiration of such thirty (30) day period and shall discharge
such first (1st) insurer from any liability which shall accrue after
the time of approval of such new policy or shall discharge such first
(1st) insurer after the expiration of such thirty (30) day period.
B.
In the
event any policy is so canceled upon the request of the insurer and
no new insurance policy is filed before the cancellation of the original
insurance, the license to operate taxicabs granted to the insured
shall be automatically revoked.
[CC 1977 §32-24]
In the event an owner of a licensed taxicab shall cease to own
the same or in the event that such vehicle shall become unsuitable
for operation or the owner shall desire to substitute another vehicle,
an affidavit for such an effect shall be filed with the City who shall
transfer the license to any other vehicle belonging to such owner.
