[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Watertown as §§ 9.17 and 9.20 of the former City Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic regulations — See Ch. 500.
"Taxicab" means a motor vehicle regularly engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire, having a seating capacity of fewer than eight persons, and not operated on a fixed route. The term shall not include:
A. 
Taxicabs licensed in other municipalities who use the City streets temporarily;
B. 
Rent-a-cars; and
C. 
Motor vehicles operated as ambulances or funeral cars.
No owner shall operate or cause to be operated a taxicab within the City without obtaining a license therefor.
A. 
Application for a taxicab license to operate one or more taxicabs or an application to operate additional taxicabs under an existing license shall be made in writing to the City Clerk upon forms furnished by him, giving the address from which the business is conducted, and signed by the owner of the business or his authorized agent. The application shall also state, for each vehicle to be operated, the make, model and year of manufacture; the engine number; serial number; capacity for passengers; and the Wisconsin certificate of title number and license number.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
B. 
The application shall be submitted by the City Clerk to the Chairperson of the Licensing Board, who shall set a date for a public hearing before the Licensing Board to examine the public convenience and necessity of granting the license. The City Clerk shall notify the applicant of the time and place set for the hearing.
[Amended by Ord. No. 77-38; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
C. 
Not later than 30 days after the hearing, the Board shall submit to the Common Council its recommendations as to whether public convenience and necessity will be served by the granting of the application. No license shall be granted until the Council shall, by resolution, have determined that the public convenience and necessity will be served by the service proposed in the application for license. The Council may hold such further hearings and procure such additional information as it may deem necessary or advisable in making such determination.
The taxicab license fee shall be as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule per year or any fractional part thereof for each vehicle operated by the same licensee. The license year shall commence July 1 and end June 30.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
No taxicab license shall be issued until the applicant deposits with the City Clerk a policy of liability insurance covering all vehicles to be included under the license. Such policy shall describe each vehicle by make, model and serial number; number of passengers capable of being accommodated therein at one time; and the number of state motor vehicle license. Such insurance policy shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Wisconsin and shall insure against loss from liability to the amount of $15,000 for the injury or death of one person in any one accident and in the amount of $30,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in any one accident and in the amount of $10,000 for damage to property of others for any one accident due to negligent operation of such vehicle.
[Amended by Ord. No. 79-47; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
B. 
The policy of insurance shall be approved by the City Attorney as to legal form before it is filed and shall contain a provision that the same may not be cancelled before the expiration of its term except upon 10 days' written notice to the City.
C. 
The cancellation or other termination of any insurance policy issued in compliance with this section shall automatically revoke and terminate all licenses issued for the vehicle covered by such insurance policy, unless another policy shall have been filed and approved pursuant to this section and shall be in effect at the time of such cancellation or termination.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
Upon application for license, or any renewal thereof, the applicant shall file with the City Clerk a schedule of fares to be charged. Such fares shall not be changed during the license year without approval of the Common Council. No licensee or operator shall charge any rate other than the established rate.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 9.17(7), which immediately followed this section, was repealed by Ord. No. 96-4.
A. 
Identification. All taxicabs shall be suitably marked or identified as such.
B. 
Subject to traffic regulations. The State Traffic Code[1] and the City traffic ordinances shall apply to the use and operation of taxicabs.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Chs. 340 to 349, Wis. Stats.,
C. 
Number of passengers limited. No owner or operator shall carry or permit to be carried in any taxicab more than the number of passengers specified on the license applicable to the taxicab.
D. 
Operator not to drink. No person operating a taxicab shall drink any intoxicating beverage or be under the influence thereof while so engaged.
[Amended by Ord. No. 75-8]
A taxicab license may be revoked by the Common Council for a violation of this chapter, any provision of Chs. 340 to 348, Wis. Stats., the City traffic ordinances or for any offense affecting the safety and welfare of passengers. The Licensing Board shall investigate any charges made against a licensee and conduct a hearing on such charges with notice to the licensee, and if the Licensing Board recommends revocation of the license, such revocation shall be recommended to the Council. At the time the revocation is being considered by the Council, the licensee will have the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence to the Council.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code. Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. This action shall not preclude the City from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this chapter.