(a) Investigation. The chief shall cause an investigation to be made of the applicant. No permit shall be issued or renewed unless the applicant meets the requirements of this chapter including the following:
(1) Is at least 18 years of age or is otherwise legally emancipated and is a U.S. citizen or possesses documentation of eligibility to work in the United States;
(2) Has neither entered a plea of guilty or no contest to nor has been convicted of or had an order entered continuing prayer for judgment to any of the following:
a. Any felony against the state or any offense against another state which would have been a felony if committed in North Carolina;
b. Any federal or state law relating to the use, possession, or sale of alcoholic beverages or narcotic or barbiturate drugs;
c. Any federal or state law relating to prostitution;
(3) Is not a habitual user of, or addicted to, narcotic or barbiturate drugs or intoxicating liquors;
(4) Has no unpaid and unbonded judgments of record against the applicant; or, if such exist, demonstrates the establishment and maintenance of regular periodic payments in discharge of the liability;
(5) Provides proof of financial responsibility;
(6) Has not had any permit issued under this chapter revoked within the 24 months preceding the application;
(7) Has paid in full any civil penalties finally assessed under this chapter;
(8) Must also, if an applicant for an operating permit:
a. Not be in default in the payment of any indebtedness secured by lien, mortgage or any other encumbrance on the vehicle intended to be operated pursuant to the operating permit;
b. Have properly registered the vehicle to be operated with the state, and secured required state inspections and inspections in accordance with the requirements of this chapter;
(9) Must also, if an applicant for a driver's permit:
a. Be physically and mentally capable of safely driving a taxicab;
b. Possess a valid state driver's license issued to him or her;
c. Have an operating permit or permission from an operating permit holder to operate a taxicab under the operating permit;
d. Have not habitually violated traffic laws or ordinances. Habitual violation shall be deemed to mean more than two violations in any 12-month period of time;
e. Have not, within the previous 12 months, had a revocation or suspension of 60 days or more of his or her driver's license for convictions of moving violations; or, within the previous 24 months, been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or no contest to, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a substantially equivalent offense; or has not accumulated, within the three-year period preceding the application, 12 or more points under G.S. 20-16, or six or more points within the three-year period following the reinstatement of a state driver's license which had been suspended or revoked.
(b) Appeal. In the event the chief, or designee, denies issuance of a permit, such person shall specify, in writing, the grounds for such denial. The applicant shall have a period of ten days from receipt of notification of the denial and grounds therefor within which to appeal the denial to the chief or the town manager, pursuant to the procedures specified in section 20-110.
(Code 1982, § 18-7; Ord. No. 98-022, 12-10-1998)