(a) Operating permit. No person shall operate, or permit to be operated or driven, any taxicab without first having obtained, and having in effect, an operating permit authorizing the operation of each vehicle engaged as such. Upon issuance of an operating permit, the chief shall also issue a memorandum operating permit. All taxicabs shall at all times display the memorandum operating permit covering such taxicab.
(1) Limitation on number of operating permits. The town council may, by resolution, limit the total number of operating permits issued. At the time of adoption of this chapter, the total number is 30. The chief may make recommendations for changes in the number of available operating permits.
(2) Transferability. Operating permits are not transferable from one vehicle to another, nor are they transferable between persons.
(3) Review of drivers. The operating permit holder shall review the qualifications of all drivers seeking to drive the taxicab under the operating permit. No operating permit holder shall permit or allow any driver to drive a taxicab under his or her operating permit unless, after reasonable inquiry, it appears that the driver has a valid state and Town of Cary taxicab driver's permit, and has met all the requirements of this chapter for taxicab drivers.
(4) Required phone service. Every operating permit holder shall advertise in the local telephone book making the public aware of the services provided by the operator and shall operate and maintain a business location capable of dispatching and receiving local telephone calls for service from town citizens.
(b) Driver's permit. No person shall drive a taxicab unless that person shall have been issued, and shall have in effect, a driver's permit under this chapter. An identification card containing the name and photograph of the permit holder and the permit number shall be issued by the chief as evidence of the driver's permit. Such identification card shall also bear the name of the chief and the following words in bold type or print:
PASSENGERS--FOR YOUR PROTECTION, KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR DRIVER'S NAME AND NUMBER.
(c) Display of identification. Such identification shall be on display in such a manner as to be in full view of all passengers at all times while the driver is on duty. The driver shall retain custody of the identification card, and present it, on demand, for inspection by any passenger or law enforcement officer.
(Code 1982, § 18-4; Ord. No. 98-022, 12-10-1998)