7-4-105: ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS:

It is a goal of the city to maximize the use of taxicab vehicles that exceed the state of California's standards for low emissions of pollutants including greenhouse gases. The transportation official shall promulgate rules, and shall include provisions in any competition to award taxicab franchises and in the franchise agreement, with the purpose of achieving this goal. (Ord. 15-O-2671, eff. 2-6-2015)

7-4-106: AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS:

The transportation official shall have the power and authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of provisions of this article, and when duly promulgated, such rules and regulations shall be in full force and effect. The holder of a franchise and all taxi drivers shall comply with such rules and regulations and any violation of such rules and regulations shall constitute a violation of this code. (Ord. 15-O-2671, eff. 2-6-2015)

ARTICLE 2. TAXIS AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES

7-4-201: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE PERMIT REQUIRED:

   A.   No person shall operate any taxi, limousine, bus, sightseeing vehicle, or other public transportation vehicle without a public transportation vehicle permit for each such vehicle issued under the provisions of this title; with the exception of those vehicles designated in subsection B of this section.

   B.   The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not be applicable to the following:

      1.   Any vehicle for which a permit or certificate has been issued by the state public utilities commission or by the federal interstate commerce commission.

      2.   Any school bus used by or under contract with, a public or private school.

      3.   Any vehicle transporting passengers from a point outside the city to a destination within the city, or proceeding through the city while en route to a destination outside the city. This exemption allows a taxi without a public transportation vehicle permit to unload and reload particular passengers with the intent to transport them to another location as long as: a) its taximeter continues to run; b) it does not leave the city; and c) it does not provide transportation to any other persons while waiting for such passengers. This exemption shall not apply to any taxi that unloads passengers within the city, departs the city, resets its taximeter and then returns to the city and reloads the same passengers. (Ord. 15-O-2671, eff. 2-6-2015)

7-4-202: APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE PERMIT:

Applications for public transportation vehicle permits shall be filed with the city and shall comply with the following requirements:

   A.   Completion of an application on the form designated by the city, and signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury.

   B.   New applications shall be filed a minimum of forty five (45) days prior to the date requested for issuance of the permit. Any new application that is rejected must be refiled a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the date requested for permit issuance. An application filed less than thirty (30) days prior to the date requested for permit issuance shall not be accepted.

   C.   Payment of the fee as prescribed by council resolution.

   D.   An inspection and a certificate of the mechanical condition of the vehicle issued within thirty (30) days of the filing of the application.

   E.   The application shall be accompanied by a copy of the current registration issued by the state department of motor vehicles for the vehicle for which the permit is requested.

   F.   Renewal permit applications shall be filed a minimum of forty five (45) days prior to expiration of any existing permit. Any renewal application that is rejected must be refiled a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to expiration of any existing permit. A renewal application that is refiled less than thirty (30) days prior to the date requested for permit renewal shall not be accepted.

   G.   Where the applicant is a corporation, association, partnership, or other legal entity, applicant shall mean each partner, officer, director, and each shareholder owning or controlling more than ten percent (10%) of such entity.

   H.   Applications for taxis shall be made by, and the permit issued to, the holder of the taxicab franchise; provided further, if the holder of the franchise is an association, the public transportation vehicle permit application shall be filed by the owner of the vehicle, and permit issued under this article shall be issued to the owner of such vehicle working for a specific franchisee. All correspondence shall be conducted through the holder of the franchise. If the holder of the franchise is an association, then such association shall be responsible for communicating city correspondence to the owner of the vehicle. An "association", for purposes of this article, is defined as an organization which provides taxi service, and the taxi vehicles are owned and operated or leased out by individual members of such organization.

   I.   Applications for taxis shall be accompanied by a taximeter inspection permit which has been issued by the county of Los Angeles department of weights and measures within thirty (30) days of filing of the application. (Ord. 15-O-2671, eff. 2-6-2015)