It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of transportation for hire within the Town of Babylon without first having secured a license from the Town Clerk.
A. 
Application. Applications for a license or license renewal required herein shall be filed with the Town Clerk on a form supplied by the Town Clerk. Said application shall be in the form of a sworn affidavit by the applicant stating that all information is true and accurate to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, including the information set forth herein:
(1) 
Personal information.
(a) 
Name, address (local address and legal address, if different), telephone number and social security number, including maiden name where applicable.
(b) 
Place of residence (local address and legal address, if different) for the past five years, if different from above.
(c) 
Age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, place and date of birth and marital status.
(d) 
Any convictions for felonies or misdemeanors or violations of any municipal ordinances (except with relation to municipal traffic and/or parking violations) and, if so, in what court, when, where, upon what charges and the sentence of the court, including the docket, index, indictment or file number in such court. All violations of any traffic law, local law, ordinance or regulation of which the applicant has been convicted within 18 months prior to the date of the application and all crimes of which the applicant has ever been convicted, stating the name and location of the court in which and the date on which each such conviction was rendered and the sentence imposed therefore.
(e) 
An affidavit from a doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York stating that said doctor has thoroughly examined the applicant within 30 days of the application, that said applicant demonstrates no affliction of any physical or mental disease or infirmity which might make him or her an unsafe or unsatisfactory license holder and no drug or alcohol dependency or use other than by prescription, together with the results of blood testing. If prescription medication, that the medication will not impair the ability to drive or operate a limousine or taxi.
(f) 
For identification purposes, whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States; if citizenship was obtained by naturalization, the date and place where obtained; if an alien, proof of legal entry into the United States must be submitted.
(g) 
Proof that the applicant can read and write the English language.
(h) 
Minimum age for a taxi driver is 19 years and for a driver of any other vehicle for hire is 21 years.
(i) 
The number and date of issuance of the applicant's New York State driver's license of a proper class.
(j) 
Whether or not any driver's license of any class held by the applicant has ever been revoked or suspended by the State of New York or any other state and, if so, by what court or other authority, on what date and for what cause and, if suspended, the period of such suspension.
(k) 
The names and addresses of the applicant's employers during the last 10 years prior to his application.
(l) 
Any other relevant information which the Town Clerk may require.
(m) 
Proof that the applicant is the holder of a certificate of completion for the required hours of instruction in a defensive driving course from a school, facility or agency certified by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The course must have been completed within six months prior to the date of application.
(2) 
Business information.
(a) 
The name, address and telephone number of the business located within the Town of Babylon.
(b) 
The place of business and/or employment for the past five years, including the names and addresses thereof, if different from above.
(c) 
Any previous licenses held in any occupation and, if so, when, where and for what period and whether said licenses were ever revoked or suspended, the date of the revocation or suspension and the reason therefor.
(d) 
Copies of any certificates on file with a County Clerk, the New York State Secretary of State or other appropriate office if applicant employs a trade name or an assumed name, such as a doing/business/as (DBA), corporate or partnership name, under which the business is operated, as well as the New York State sales tax identification number for all persons, corporations, partnerships, associations or other business entities.
(e) 
The names and addresses of all vehicle operators.
(f) 
The name, address, telephone number and title of the person designated to accept process or other legal notices.
(3) 
Miscellaneous information. Any additional information the Town Clerk shall deem necessary for the purpose of administering the provisions of this chapter or to assist in determining the applicant's fitness to engage in the business of transportation for hire.
(4) 
License conditions. In addition to any other federal, state or local laws:
(a) 
A business owner shall not hold himself out for business to the public as for-hire service, which term shall include, but not be limited to, "livery," "car service," or "limousine," without applying for and obtaining a license issued by the Town of Babylon for that activity.
(b) 
A business owner shall be responsible for handling passenger complaints. Complaints about a base or an affiliated driver or vehicle that are licensed by the Town shall be filed with the Town Clerk.
(c) 
A business owner shall be responsible for overseeing the management of the base to ensure that base personnel or the operators of affiliated vehicles do not, within the area set forth in Subsection A(4)(c)[3], engage in any of the following activities:
[1] 
Double-park, park on the sidewalk, park across a driveway, park by or at a fire hydrant or bus stop, or otherwise park, stop or stand in a manner that violates the Vehicle and Traffic Laws of the State of New York.
[2] 
Engage in mechanical maintenance or repair of any vehicle, except to make such emergency repairs as may be necessary to move a disabled vehicle. A dead battery or a flat tire is an example of a disabling condition.
[3] 
The base owner's responsibilities pursuant to Subsection A(4)(c)[1] and [2] shall extend to the public streets and sidewalks on either side of the street.
(d) 
A base owner shall maintain and enforce rules governing the conduct of affiliated drivers while performing their duty as for-hire vehicle drivers. Said rules shall be submitted in writing to the Town Clerk, and within seven days, exclusive of holidays and weekends, thereafter whenever said rules are updated or amended.
B. 
Identification. Applicants shall also file the items set forth herein with said application unless specifically waived by the Town Clerk upon a showing of facts which, in the discretion of the Town Clerk, warrant the waiving of said requirements:
(1) 
Fingerprints.
(a) 
Upon receipt of a sworn application for a license, a copy thereof and a fingerprint card shall be referred to the Town Public Safety Office for appropriate fingerprinting of said applicant, and such completed fingerprint card shall thereafter be forwarded by the Town Clerk to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for a full search.
(b) 
The application shall be accompanied by an appropriate fee, the amount and payment instrument to be determined by the Town Clerk, pursuant to the requirements of and payable to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, which amount shall be in addition to the processing fees stated herein, for such investigation of the applicant as is deemed necessary or advisable for the protection of the public good and welfare.
(c) 
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services shall return such criminal history record information as may exist in its files or a statement that no such relevant information exists, such record to be filed with the Town Clerk.
(d) 
Upon its return by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to the Town Clerk, if the application is approved by the Town Clerk and upon payment of the prescribed license fee, the Town Clerk shall prepare and deliver to the applicant therefor the license required by this chapter.
(e) 
New fingerprints for each renewal period may be waived by the Town Clerk, unless the license issued under the provisions of this chapter has lapsed for a period of time in excess of one year.
(2) 
Photographs.
(a) 
Two identical photographs of the applicant shall be submitted, taken no longer than 60 days prior to submission of the application.
(b) 
Said photographs shall be two inches by two inches in size, showing both the head and shoulders of the applicant.
C. 
Examination. At the discretion of the Town Clerk, before the issuance of a license, the Town Clerk may require the applicant and any others having knowledge of any facts to submit to an examination, under oath, and to produce evidence relating thereto.
D. 
Modification. Any change in circumstance with regard to the information required hereinabove shall be reported to the Town Clerk within 30 days of occurrence.
Business owners are responsible for ensuring that they and their agents (employees and operators) take such training courses as may be prescribed from time to time by the State of New York, County of Suffolk and/or Town of Babylon specifically designed to educate and familiarize them with customary safety standards. Evidence of the satisfactory completion of such courses shall be filed with the Town Clerk with the license application. Current license holders shall file with the Town Clerk proof that they are regularly attending and/or have satisfactorily completed such courses.
The regulations set forth herein are mandatory and are the responsibility of the owner as to themselves and their vehicles, operators and/or employees during all times and operations of the business.
A. 
Compliance, generally. Owners must be in compliance with all requirements of this chapter, all ordinances, local laws, codes, laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those concerning vehicles, traffic and parking and zoning of the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York. The Town will make every effort to secure a certificate of compliance with the zoning laws of the municipality of the principal place of business of the applicant.
B. 
Compliance, vehicles. Owners must specifically be in compliance with all vehicle regulations set forth in this chapter as they may apply to owners.
C. 
Compliance, operators. Owners must specifically be in compliance with all vehicle operator regulations set forth in this chapter as they may apply to owners.
D. 
Business changes. Owners must report to the Town Clerk, within seven days, any change of their business location or the name, address or telephone number of the person designated for process of legal service.
E. 
Business offices. Owners must maintain a business office or reside within the Town of Babylon, but no business office may be located in and no vehicles governed by this chapter may be stored on any property zoned residential.
F. 
Fares. Owners must file with the Town Clerk their schedule of fares to be charged.
G. 
Identification devices. Owners must post any and all identification devices as required in this chapter and must report to the Town Clerk, within 24 hours, the loss, theft, mutilation, marring or alteration of any such documents.
H. 
Written logs. Owners must keep, maintain and constantly update all written logs prescribed in this chapter, including the number of hours worked per day of the driver.
The activities set forth herein are unlawful, are therefore prohibited and are the responsibility of the owner as to themselves and their vehicles, operators and/or employees during all times and operations of the business.
A. 
Noncompliance, generally. Owners may not be in violation of any requirements of this chapter as they may apply to owners.
B. 
Noncompliance, vehicles. Owners may not specifically be in violation of any prohibited vehicle activities set forth in this chapter as they may apply to owners.
C. 
Noncompliance, operators. Owners may not specifically be in violation of any prohibited vehicle operator activities set forth in this chapter as they may apply to owners.
D. 
Attention-seeking devices. Owners, or any person on their behalf, may not use loudspeakers, noisemaking devices and/or any other attention-seeking devices upon any street, road, highway, alley, park or other public place within the Town for the purpose of attracting attention to solicitation of passengers or for any other purpose.
E. 
Invalid documents. Owners may not allow the operation of their vehicles while their Town license or any appropriate New York State issued license is not in effect, has expired or has been suspended or revoked and may not allow the operation of their vehicles by any operator whose Town permit or any appropriate New York State issued license is not in effect, has expired or has been suspended or revoked.
F. 
Unauthorized licensees. Owners may not allow the use of their license by any unauthorized person.
G. 
Unauthorized operators. Owners may not allow the operation of their vehicles by any unauthorized person.
H. 
A business owner shall not allow:
(1) 
A driver to solicit or pick up passengers by means other than prearrangement through a licensed business owner.
(2) 
A driver to pick up a passenger at an unauthorized taxi stand.
(3) 
A driver, while operating a for-hire vehicle, shall not have in his or her possession or in the vehicle a weapon as defined in § 180-2 of these rules or any other instrument which is intended to be used as a weapon.
(4) 
A driver to smoke in a for-hire vehicle.
(5) 
Mechanical maintenance or repair of any vehicle on public streets and sidewalks except to make such emergency repairs as may be necessary to move a disabled vehicle. A dead battery or flat tire is an example of a disabling condition.
(6) 
A driver to refuse to transport any person with a disability or any guide dog accompanying such person.
(7) 
A base owner to instruct, authorize or permit an affiliated driver to discriminate unlawfully against people with disabilities. Such discrimination includes, but is not limited to, refusing to serve people with disabilities, refusing to load and unload the mobility aids of people with disabilities and imposing any charge in addition to the authorized fare for the transportation of people with disabilities, service animals, wheelchairs or other mobility aids.