Subd. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context early indicates or requires a different meaning.
A. OPERATE. The soliciting or accepting for transportation of passengers for hire within the city, from the city to a location outside the city, or from a location outside the city into the city.
B. OPERATOR. Any person who owns or controls the use of one or more small vehicle passenger services.
C. SMALL VEHICLE. Any vehicle used in a small vehicle passenger service designed to transport seven or fewer persons, including the driver.
D. SMALL VEHICLE DRIVER. Any person who drives a small vehicle.
E. SMALL VEHICLE PASSENGER SERVICE. A service provided by a person engaged in the for-hire transportation of passengers in a vehicle designed to transport seven or fewer persons, including the driver.
Subd. 2. Testing and Inspections.
A. The city may require the operator or the small vehicle driver to present a certificate signed by a competent and experienced mechanic showing that the small vehicle is in good mechanical condition, that it is thoroughly safe for transportation of passengers and that it is in neat and clean condition.
B. In lieu of the certificate, the Council may accept the report of the Chief of Police relative thereto.
Subd. 3. Rates.
A. The Council may by resolution regulate the minimum and maximum small vehicle rates for all small vehicles licensed under this section and such regulated rates shall take effect ten days after the City Clerk has mailed copies of the resolution to all small vehicle licensees.
B. Each applicant for a small vehicle license shall file with the city, before a license is issued or renewed, a schedule of proposed maximum rates to be charged by him or her during the license period for which the application is made.
C. The Council shall approve the schedule of proposed maximum rates, or a compromise schedule thereof, before granting the license. The schedule shall be posted by the small vehicle operator in a conspicuous place in the small vehicle in full view of passengers riding therein.
D. Small vehicle licensees are permitted to petition the Council for review of the rates during the licensed period and the Council may likewise consider the petition and make new rates effective at any time.
E. No small vehicle licensee, operator or driver shall charge rates in excess of maximum rates approved by the Council.
Subd. 4. Restriction on Number of Passengers. No more than seven persons including the driver shall be transported in any small vehicle.
Subd. 5. License Required. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate a small vehicle without a license therefor from the city, or as otherwise described herein.
Subd. 6. License Issuance and Display and Vehicle Marking. All licenses shall be issued for specific small vehicles, except as otherwise herein provided.
Subd. 7. Insurance Required. Before a small vehicle license is issued by the Council, and at all times effective during the licensed period, the licensee shall have and maintain public liability and bodily injury insurance in the amount of $50,000 for any one person and $100,000 for two or more persons injured in any one accident, as well as $10,000 property damage insurance. The insurance shall cover all passengers carried by the insured licensee and shall be for public small vehicle service purposes.
Subd. 8. Revocation or Suspension. Small vehicle licenses may be revoked by the Council after hearing or may be suspended by the Chief of Police provided that the Chief of Police presents reasons for suspension against the licensed holder at a meeting of the Council immediately following the suspension, otherwise, the suspension shall terminate.
Subd. 9. Duty to Carry Passengers. No small vehicle driver shall refuse or neglect to convey an orderly person or persons upon request unless previously engaged or unable or forbidden by the provisions of this section to do so.
Subd. 10. Exemption for Drivers Licensed in Other Municipalities.
A. A small vehicle driver or operator who is licensed to operate in another municipality in this state may carry passengers from such municipality to anyplace within the city and may freely use the streets and thoroughfares for that purpose and may receive passengers for carriage to such municipality, and such a driver is not required to obtain a license under this section. Such driver shall not solicit business on the streets of the city or otherwise operate within the city without such permit.
B. While within the city the driver of a small vehicle licensed in another municipality in the state shall have with him or her the license certificate for the vehicle and display the same to any authorized person upon demand.
C. Any taxicab licensee under § 6.36 of these ordinances shall not be required to obtain a license under this section.
(Ord. 630, passed 4-20-15)