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No person shall place a vehicle into service as a taxicab until the vehicle has been inspected under the direction of the Commissioner and found to be in safe operating condition. A taxicab vehicle inspection includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that all required equipment is installed and operating as intended, and that the interior and exterior of the vehicle are clean and in good condition for the safety of the vehicle drivers and passengers. Licensees must submit all their taxicab vehicles for inspection as scheduled by the Department. Taxicab vehicles with a vehicle age of five years or newer must be inspected at least annually, and all older taxicab vehicles must be inspected at least semiannually.
If any licensee fails to appear and make his vehicle available for inspection after receiving a notification from the Commissioner to do so, the Commissioner may immediately suspend the licensee's license and impose a fine as set forth in Section 9-112-630, in addition to all other applicable penalties, including extending the license suspension, and/or license revocation. If the licensee again fails to so appear, the Commissioner may suspend his license until the vehicle has passed an inspection pursuant to this section. If a licensee demonstrates a pattern of missing scheduled inspection dates, the Commissioner may revoke the license.
The Commissioner is authorized to adopt rules to specify the time frame and schedule for vehicle inspections and may require additional inspections based upon complaints.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-28-14, p. 82771, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 9)
If a vehicle fails an inspection required by 9-112-050 of this Code, the licensee shall pay a re-inspection fee of $75.00.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1)
The Commissioner may issue licenses for motor vehicles to operate as taxicabs according to the following:
(a) Vehicles having a manufacturer's rated seating capacity of ten or more persons, including the driver, may not be licensed as taxicabs.
(b) A vehicle must meet applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards for vehicles of its size, type and proposed use, in order to be licensed as a taxicab.
(c) Vehicle age. A licensee may not operate a vehicle as a licensed taxicab beyond the following vehicle age:
(1) Ten years for vehicles that are not designated pursuant to the Department's list of authorized vehicles as wheelchair accessible or fuel efficient.
(2) Fifteen years for vehicles that are designated pursuant to the Department's list of authorized vehicles as fuel efficient.
(3) Fifteen years for vehicles that are designated pursuant to the Department's list of authorized vehicles as wheelchair accessible.
(d) A licensee cannot place a vehicle with an odometer reading of 150,000 miles or greater in operation for the first time as a licensed taxicab.
(e) Any vehicle which has ever been issued the title class of either "salvage," "rebuilt," "junk," "total loss," or any equivalent classification in any jurisdiction is not eligible for operation as a taxicab.
(i) It is the affirmative duty of the licensee to ascertain that the taxicab vehicle is in compliance with this subsection.
(ii) Any vehicle placed in operation by a licensee as a taxicab in violation of this subsection is unsafe for purposes of Section 9-112-050 of this Code.
(iii) Any licensee that places a vehicle in operation as a taxicab in violation of this subsection is subject to immediate license suspension or revocation.
(iv) The Commissioner may by rule require licensees to submit a car history report at the licensee's expense.
(f) The Commissioner may by rule assert additional vehicle specifications that motor vehicles must meet before they can be approved as a taxicab and may by rule in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities extend the amount of time that a wheelchair-accessible vehicle may be in service.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-28-14, p. 82771, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 101074, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 23004, Part 1, Art. I, § 1)
The Commissioner will promulgate by rules establishing the process that licensees must follow when a licensee replaces the taxicab vehicle (for purposes of this section, a "change of equipment"). For a change of equipment performed during a scheduled periodic inspection, the Commissioner shall assess a $25.00 change of equipment processing fee. For a change of equipment not performed during a scheduled periodic inspection, the Commissioner shall assess a $25.00 change of equipment processing fee.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 11)
(a) An application for the issuance or renewal of a taxi license shall be made in writing to the Department on a form provided by the Department and signed and sworn to by the applicant or, if the applicant is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, by its authorized agent. Each application shall contain at a minimum:
(1) If the license applicant is an individual:
(i) The individual's full name, social security number, residence address, business address, business e-mail address, if any, and business telephone number;
(ii) Proof that the applicant is at least 18 years of age;
(2) If the license applicant is a corporation:
(i) The corporate name, Chicago business address and telephone number of the applicant;
(ii) The date and state of incorporation;
(iii) The full names, titles, dates of birth, social security numbers, residence addresses, e-mail addresses and residence telephone numbers of its corporate officers, stockholders and authorized agent;
(iv) Proof that all corporate officers are at least 18 years of age; and
(v) Proof that the corporation is in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois.
(3) If the license applicant is a partnership or limited liability company:
(i) The name, Chicago business address and telephone number of the applicant;
(ii) The full names, social security numbers, residence addresses, e-mail addresses and residence telephone numbers of all partners and managers;
(iii) Proof that all partners, managers, managing members and members, as applicable, are at least 18 years of age.
(b) In addition to the license application requirements listed in subsection (a), and in addition to any other information that the Commissioner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance or renewal of a license, any applicant for license issuance or renewal shall provide to the Commissioner, in a manner the Commissioner prescribes: (i) the license plate number of each vehicle which the applicant will use if a license is issued with a document attesting that each such vehicle and equipment meet the inspection and vehicle standard requirements provided in this chapter; (ii) the Chicago business address and telephone number of the applicant's taxicab affiliation, if any; and (iii) the applicant's insurance policies as provided in Section 9-112-330.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38042, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)
(a) In order to qualify for a license, whether upon initial application or upon application for renewal of a license:
(1) an applicant shall be in compliance with all City, State of Illinois and Federal laws, and the provisions of this chapter; and
(2) an applicant shall have a place of business in the City of Chicago:
(i) with respect to any business entity applicant, the applicant shall be organized or qualified to do business under the laws of the State of Illinois; or
(ii) with respect to an individual applicant, the applicant shall reside and be domiciled in the City of Chicago; and
(3) an applicant for the issuance of a taxicab license shall submit a copy of the licensee's agreement with a taxicab affiliation licensed by the City. However, a licensee who owns only four or less medallions need not be affiliated.
(4) an applicant does not owe debt to the City as the term "debt" is defined in Section 4-4-150 of this Code.
(b) In determining whether an applicant is qualified for a license, or the renewal thereof, the Commissioner shall take into consideration:
(1) The character and reputation of the individual applicant and of the members, partners, owners, managers, officers or directors of a business entity applicant, including, if applicable, the disciplinary record of the applicant in the operation of the taxicab vehicle and the disciplinary record of the individual applicant, or of any member, partner, owner, manager, officer or director of a business entity applicant, as a public chauffeur;
(2) The applicant's financial ability to render lawful, safe, suitable and comfortable service and to maintain or replace the equipment for such service;
(3) The applicant's ability to maintain mandated insurance, including, but not limited to, liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance for the payment of personal injury, death, property damage, or other insurable claims; and
(4) The applicant's financial ability to pay all judgments and awards which may be rendered for any cause arising out of the operation of a taxicab vehicle.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, no applicant is eligible for the issuance or renewal of a license if: (1) any Chicago taxicab or public passenger vehicle license or any Chicago public chauffeur license or restricted public chauffeur license held by the applicant (i) was revoked within the previous three years or (ii) was denied or rescinded within the 12-month period preceding the date of application; or (2) if the applicant, within the three years immediately preceding the date of application, has been either convicted, held in custody, under parole, or under any other noncustodial supervision resulting from a conviction in a court of any jurisdiction for the commission of any felony as defined by Article 2 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 2012, or its equivalent under federal or other jurisdictional law. Provided, however, that this subsection (c) shall not apply to any conviction for a minor cannabis offense, as defined in Section 4-4-005. For purposes of this section, the term "applicant" includes: (i) any individual; (ii) any officer, director, shareholder, member or manager of a company applicant; (iii) any partner in a partnership applicant; or (iv) any owner or manager of an applicant that is another type of business entity.
(d) When an applicant's Chicago taxicab or public passenger vehicle license or any Chicago public chauffeur license or restricted public chauffeur license is revoked as the result of a municipal code violation, the applicant may submit a written request to the Commissioner for eligibility to renew other existing taxicab licenses held by the applicant. In order to be eligible to renew other existing taxicab licenses held by the applicant at the time of revocation, any debt owed to the City for the revoked taxicab license must be satisfied or resolved by a settlement agreement. Upon receiving such written request, the Commissioner has the authority to grant or deny the request based upon objective factors including, but not limited to, the following considerations: (i) the grounds for revocation identified in Sections 9-112-380, 9-112-390, and other sections of this Code, (ii) an evaluation of the severity of the violation that resulted in the revoked license, (iii) additional and prior violations by the applicant, and (iv) other revocations of the applicant's licenses. Any applicant may seek review of the decision of the Commissioner denying such request in the manner provided by law.
(e) Eligibility for issuance of any license under this chapter shall be a continuing requirement for maintaining such license.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-6-12, p. 28356, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 101074, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38042, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14101, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-27-21, p. 26741, Art. II, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)
(a) Upon receipt of an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, the Commissioner may investigate the applicant for compliance with all provisions of this code, including but not limited to: (1) the character and reputation of the applicant; and (2) the ability of the applicant to render safe transportation service, to maintain or replace the equipment for such service, and to pay all fees, fines, taxes, judgments and awards which may be rendered for any cause arising out of the operation of a taxicab during the license period.
(b) Every individual applicant and every agent of a business entity applicant shall be required to submit to a criminal background check as defined in Section 9-104-010, and shall provide photos of such person as required by the Commissioner. Applicants shall be responsible for the costs of such criminal background check and photos.
(c) As part of the application process, fees sufficient to cover the costs of processing the criminal background check and photos will be assessed in addition to the license fees set forth in Section 9-112-150 of this Code. Such fees shall be assessed regardless of whether the license applied for is issued or denied. The amount of the fees shall be set forth in rules promulgated by the Commissioner.
(d) The licensee shall provide a vehicle that is in safe and proper condition at the time the license is issued; and shall register the vehicle in applicant's name or, in the case of a leased vehicle, shall provide a copy of the lease, in a form acceptable to the Commissioner, that must cover at least the duration of the license for that vehicle and must include an acknowledgment by the lessor of the vehicle that he has given his consent for the vehicle to be used as a taxicab as licensed.
(e) All licenses shall expire on the date noted on the license unless renewed prior to the date of expiration or as specified by rule.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38042, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 13)
The commissioner shall have the power to rescind any license erroneously or illegally issued, transferred or renewed pursuant to this chapter. In order for such a rescission to be effective, the commissioner must notify the licensee of the date the rescission will take effect. The notice shall take place by certified mail or in-person notification. The commissioner must indicate in such notice the basis for the rescission and must also indicate a date and time, prior to the proposed rescission date, upon which the licensee may appear before the commissioner, or his or her designee, to contest the proposed rescission. The licensee shall also be informed that he or she shall be entitled to present to the commissioner or his or her designee any document, including affidavits, relating to the proposed rescission. Following the appearance of the licensee before the commissioner, the commissioner may affirm or reverse his or her rescission decision. The commissioner's decision shall be in writing and shall be mailed to the licensee at least five days before a license rescission is effective. A licensee may appeal the commissioner's decision to any court of competent jurisdiction.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1)
Every licensee shall pay each judgment or award for loss or damage in the operation or use of a taxicab vehicle rendered against the licensee by any court or commission of competent jurisdiction within 90 days after its judgment or award shall have become final and not stayed by supersedeas. If any such judgment shall not be so paid, the commissioner may revoke the license of the licensee concerned.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1)
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