[Code 1962 §29-1; CC 1979 §29-16]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
A certificate of public convenience and necessity issued
by the City Council.
The driving of a taxicab on the streets, alleys or public
places in the City in search of or solicitation of prospective passengers
for hire.
The permission granted by the City to a person to drive a
taxicab upon the streets of the City.
A person to whom a certificate of public convenience and
necessity has been issued.
A public place alongside the curb of a street or elsewhere
in the City which has been designated by the City Council as reserved
exclusively for the use of a holder.
A motor vehicle engaged regularly or part-time in the business
of carrying passengers for hire, having a seating capacity of not
more than five (5), exclusive of the driver and not operated on a
regular route or between fixed termini.
[Code 1962 §29-2; CC 1979 §29-17]
All persons engaged in the taxicab business in the City and
operating under the provisions of this Chapter shall render an overall
service to the public desiring to use taxicabs. Holders of certificates
of public convenience and necessity shall maintain a central place
of business (cab stand) and keep the same open at all reasonable hours
for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching cabs. They shall
answer all calls received by them for services inside the corporate
limits of the City as soon as they can do so and if such services
cannot be rendered within a reasonable time they shall notify the
prospective passengers how long it will be before the call can be
answered and give the reason therefor. Any holder who shall refuse
to accept a call anywhere in the corporate limits of the City at any
time when such holder has available cabs, or who shall unreasonably
refuse to give overall service, shall be deemed a violator of this
Chapter and the certificate granted to such holder shall be revoked
at the discretion of the City Manager.
[Code 1962 §29-3; CC 1979 §29-18]
A.
Each
vehicle operated under this Chapter shall, in addition to any other
equipment required by law, have the following equipment:
[Code 1962 §29-4; CC 1979 §29-19]
Every vehicle operating under this Chapter may be inspected
by the Police Department at any time and shall be periodically so
inspected to see that the same is kept in a clean and sanitary condition
and is in a safe operating condition.
[Code 1962 §29-5; CC 1979 §29-20]
Failure of a holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Article II of this Chapter to keep any vehicle neat, clean, sanitary and in safe operating condition shall be grounds for revocation of his/her certificate.
[Code 1962 §29-6; CC 1979 §29-21]
Each taxicab operating under this Chapter shall bear on the
outside of one (1) door, on each side, in painted letters in a contrasting
color to the background, not less than one (1) inch in width nor less
than four (4) inches in height, the name of the company, owner or
firm name of the operator of the same, and, in addition, shall bear
such identifying letters on the rear of such taxicab together with
the identifying number of such cab at the same places, and in addition,
may bear an identifying design approved by the City Manager. No vehicle
covered by the terms of this Chapter shall be licensed to use any
color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia to be used
thereon which shall be found by the City Manager to conflict with
or imitate any color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia
used on a vehicle already operating under this Chapter, in such a
manner as to be misleading or to tend to deceive or defraud the public;
provided, that if, after a license has been issued for a taxicab hereunder,
the color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia thereof
is changed so as to be, as found by the City Manager, in conflict
with or imitate any color scheme, identifying design, monogram or
insignia of any other person, owner or operator, in such a manner
as to be misleading or tend to deceive the public, the license of
or certificate of public convenience and necessity covering such taxicab
shall be suspended or revoked.
[Code 1962 §29-7; CC 1979 §29-22]
A.
Any
holder or applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity
desiring to establish a cab stand location in the City shall make
application therefor to the City Manager, giving the location of such
proposed cab stand. Upon filing of the application the Chief of Police
shall make an investigation and report as to the traffic conditions
at such proposed cab stand location. The City Manager shall take into
consideration the convenience of the cab stand in providing service
to the public and shall also take into consideration the report from
the Chief of Police and then either grant or refuse such application.
No cab stand may be located adjoining or adjacent to a church, and
no cab stand shall be located facing upon the public square of the
City. No holder or applicant therefor shall obtain permits for more
than two (2) such cab stands within the downtown area off the public
square.
B.
The
action of the City Manager in granting or refusing such application
for a cab stand permit shall be reviewed by the City Council upon
request therefor by any interested person.
[Code 1962 §§29-11, 29-12; CC 1979 §29-23]
A.
Loud or Annoying Manner — Following for Purposes of Solicitation. No driver licensed pursuant to this Article shall solicit patronage
in a loud or annoying tone of voice or by sign or in any manner annoy
any person or obstruct the movement of any persons, or follow any
person for the purpose of soliciting patronage.
B.
Solicitation at Terminal or Along Route of Common Carriers. No driver, owner or operator of a taxicab operating under this Chapter
shall solicit passengers at the terminal of any other common carrier
or at any intermediate points along any established route of any other
common carrier.
[Code 1962 §29-13; CC 1979 §29-24]
Drivers of taxicabs will not receive or discharge passengers
in the roadway or at intersections but shall pull up to the right-hand
sidewalk as nearly as possible or, in the absence of a sidewalk, to
the extreme right-hand side of the road and there receive or discharge
passengers, except upon one-way streets, where passengers may be discharged
at either the right-hand or left-hand sidewalk, or side of the roadway
in the absence of a sidewalk.
[Code 1962 §29-14; CC 1979 §29-25]
A taxicab driver licensed pursuant to this Chapter shall not
permit more than three (3) passengers to be carried in the rear seat
and two (2) passengers to be carried in the front seat of any taxicab
at any time. A child in arms shall not be counted as a passenger.
[Code 1962 §29-15; CC 1979 §29-26]
No driver licensed pursuant to this Chapter shall refuse and
neglect to convey any orderly person, upon request, unless previously
engaged or unable or forbidden by the provisions of this Article to
do so.
[Code 1962 §29-16; CC 1979 §29-27]
It shall be a violation of this Chapter for any driver of a
taxicab to solicit business for any hotel, or to attempt to divert
patronage from one hotel to another, nor shall any such driver engage
in selling intoxicating liquors or soliciting business for any house
of ill repute or use his/her vehicle for any purpose other than transporting
of passengers and property.
[Code 1962 §29-17; CC 1979 §29-28]
The Chief of Police is hereby given the authority and he/she
is instructed to watch and observe the conduct of holders of certificates
of public convenience and necessity and drivers operating under this
Chapter. Upon discovering a violation of the provisions of this Article,
the Chief of Police shall report the same to the City Manager who
will order or take appropriate action.
[Code 1962 §29-18; CC 1979 §29-29]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
