9-112-330 Insurance.

   (a)   Every licensee shall comply with all insurance requirements mandated by Federal, State and City laws. Except for licensees that have surrendered their licensees to the City or that have submitted an affidavit ascertaining that they have suspended operations, each applicant for the issuance or renewal of a taxi license shall carry commercial automobile liability insurance and, where applicable, worker's compensation insurance, from an insurance company authorized to insure in the State of Illinois, and qualified under the laws of Illinois to assume the risk in the amounts hereinafter set forth, to secure payment by the licensee, his agents, employees or lessees of any final judgment or settlement of any claim against them resulting from any occurrence caused by or arising out of the operation or use of any of the licensee's vehicles.

   Every insurance policy issued shall list the City of Chicago as an additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis for any liability arising directly or indirectly from the licensee's operations.

      (1)   Liability insurance: Each commercial automobile liability insurance policy shall provide at least the following minimum coverage for each taxicab: $350,000.00 combined single limit coverage per occurrence.

      (2)   Worker's compensation:

         (i)   Any licensee who does not carry adequate worker's compensation insurance shall have his license(s) immediately suspended until proof of such insurance is provided to the Commissioner. The licensee shall provide the Commissioner with a copy of the licensees' insurance verification for worker's compensation upon request of the Commissioner.

         (ii)   Any public chauffeur, upon filing a claim for temporary total disability with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, shall immediately surrender his public chauffeur license to the Department. Such public chauffeur license shall remain surrendered for any period for which the chauffeur claims or receives benefits. If the Commissioner determines that a public chauffeur's claim for benefits with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission is fraudulent, not credible, or otherwise not filed in good faith, the Commissioner may suspend, revoke or deny renewal of the public chauffeur's license.

   (b)   If any medallion license holder fails to maintain required insurance, the Commissioner may immediately suspend the medallion license holder's taxicab vehicle license and impose a fine as set forth in Section 9-112-630 of this Code, in addition to all other applicable penalties, including license suspension, and/or license revocation. If a medallion license holder demonstrates a pattern of failing to maintain required insurance, the Commissioner may revoke the license.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-6-12, p. 28356, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 25; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. II, § 24; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 14; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)

9-112-340 Taxicab affiliations.

   (a)   An applicant must apply for a taxicab affiliation license using a print or electronic form prescribed by, and as directed by, the Commissioner, and accompanied by such documents as the Commissioner may require. As part of the application process, all officers, directors, shareholders and members of the applicant shall submit to a fingerprint background check by a fingerprint agency approved by the Department and submit passport-sized photos of such officers, directors, shareholders and members.

   (b)   No organization shall operate as a City of Chicago taxicab affiliation without first being licensed by the Commissioner. Application for a taxicab affiliation license shall be made on such forms and accompanied by such documents as the Commissioner may require and shall include, but not be limited to, proof that the taxicab affiliation has a place of business in Chicago and the name, Chicago business address and telephone number, residence address and license numbers of each licensee so affiliated. Subsequent to licensing, if there are changes in any material information contained in the submitted license application, such changes must be reported in writing to the Commissioner within 48 hours.

   (c)   In consideration of a new taxicab affiliation application, applicants will be subject to qualification requirements as provided in Section 9-112-100 of this Code and inspection requirements as provided in Section 9-112-110 of this Code. In addition, the Commissioner may consider factors including, but not limited to, effects on public interests and taxicab industry economics, in evaluating the new taxicab affiliation application.

   (d)   No taxicab affiliation may have more than 25 percent of the total number of City licensed taxicabs as affiliates.

   (e)   No taxicab affiliation licensed under this chapter may dispatch a taxicab for the purpose of providing transportation to a customer unless the vehicle is properly licensed to provide the transportation requested. The Commissioner will notify a taxicab affiliation in the event of the suspension or revocation of any of its affiliate's licenses.

   (f)   Whenever notice is required to be served by the Commissioner on any licensee, the Commissioner may provide service by certified mail, electronic mail, or facsimile upon the registered address of the licensee's taxicab affiliation listed in the Department's records.

   (g)   All affiliated taxicabs licensed by the City of Chicago, when in service and for hire, must be equipped at all times to allow for the dispatch of the vehicle to any person requesting transportation. Taxicab affiliations and affiliates are responsible for ensuring that such equipment is activated and operating at all times when the affiliated taxicab is in service.

   (h)   In the event that a taxicab affiliation contracts with a two-way dispatch service to provide a two-way dispatch system to its affiliates, the taxicab affiliation shall be liable for any acts or omissions of the two-way dispatch service which may violate City ordinances or the rules promulgated thereunder.

   (i)   No taxicab affiliation shall discriminate in the dispatch of service against any member of the general public requesting transportation.

   (j)   An affiliate may not have its membership in a taxicab affiliation terminated by the taxicab affiliation, except on 30 days prior written notice to the affiliate and the Commissioner.

   (k)   If following a hearing held by the Department of Administrative Hearings, a taxicab affiliation is found to have violated any City ordinance or any rule promulgated thereunder, the taxicab affiliation shall be subject to all applicable penalties, including but not limited to a fine, license suspension, and/or license revocation.

   (l)   The annual fee for each taxicab affiliation license is $500.00 plus $5.00 for each licensee affiliated with the taxicab affiliation at the time of licensing or renewal. All taxicab affiliation licenses expire on November 30. Renewal of taxicab affiliation licensing must be made during the month of November. The fee shall be paid in advance before the license is issued. In order to avoid lapse of the taxicab affiliation license, the licensee must renew the license before the expiration date of the licensing term. Renewal fees must be paid before the first day of the licensing term. Any licensing fee paid on or after the first day of the licensing term is considered a late payment, and is subject to late payment fees, interest accrued as specified in this Code and in rules promulgated by the Commissioner. If an affiliation license is not renewed in a timely manner, such affiliation license shall be considered lapsed.

   (m)   When a licensee changes its taxicab affiliation during the affiliation licensing year, the Commissioner shall assess the licensee a $25.00 change of affiliation licensing fee. The Commissioner shall promulgate in rules the process governing a change of affiliation.

   (n)   The Commissioner may promulgate rules governing taxicab affiliations and licensees as affiliates.

   (o)   Any taxicab affiliation licensee licensed under this section shall not be required to obtain a taxicab two- way dispatch license under 9-112-550.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 15; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)

9-112-350 Reserved.

Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12122, § 5, repealed § 9-112-350, which pertained to public chauffeur continuing education requirement.

9-112-360 Taxicab vehicle color schemes.

   (a)   All taxicab vehicles belonging to a single taxicab affiliation must display that affiliation's uniform color scheme and logo.

   (b)   Non-affiliated (independent) taxicab vehicles must display a color scheme and logo that are not duplicative of, or substantially similar to, an existing affiliation's color scheme and logo, unless the affiliation licensee consents to use of its color scheme or logo.

   (c)   All color schemes and logos must be approved by the Commissioner before being painted and displayed on the vehicles.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 16)

9-112-370 Suspension or revocation of license – Fines – Equitable relief.

   (a)   If any taxicab vehicle shall become unsafe for operation or if its body or seating facilities shall be so damaged, deteriorated, or unclean as to render the vehicle unfit for public use, the license therefor shall be suspended by the Commissioner until the vehicle shall be made safe for operation and its body and seating facilities reconditioned, repaired, or replaced as directed by the Commissioner. In determining whether any taxicab vehicle is unfit for public use, the Commissioner shall give consideration to its effect on the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of the drivers and passengers, and its public appearance on the streets of the city.

   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the Commissioner may seek all applicable penalties, including but not limited to fines, license suspension, and/or license revocation in addition to restitution or other equitable relief against any licensee who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.

   (c)   The Commissioner shall promulgate rules regarding the lengths of suspension and the amounts of fines to be imposed, and the types of equitable relief to be ordered, for specific violations or license types. Before any suspension or revocation or fine is imposed, or equitable relief is ordered, the licensee shall be notified of the specific charges against him and of his right to a hearing in accordance with Chapter 2-14 of the Code.

   (d)   Upon suspension or revocation of a license or imposition of any fine for cause under the provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner shall remove the license decal and the license card from the vehicle. The Commissioner shall notify the Department of Police of every suspension or revocation and of the termination of any suspension. The Department shall charge the licensee a fee for the costs to replace the license decal and to re-issue the license card, upon payment of fines and termination of suspension. The Commissioner shall set the fee for the costs by rule.

   (e)   If the Commissioner has information provided by a law enforcement agency or any court of law that a licensee has been charged with the commission of a felony, as defined in Article 2 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 2012, as amended, arising in connection with the provision of taxicab vehicle services, the Commissioner shall immediately suspend all public passenger or taxicab licenses of the licensee until final adjudication is made with respect to such charges.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. VII, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22233, § 4)

9-112-380 Revocation of license – Grounds.

   Grounds for revocation of a license shall include, but not be limited to, the following grounds:

      (1)   Abandonment of the licensee's place of business in the City of Chicago;

      (2)   If any official notice or legal process cannot be served upon a licensee at the Chicago address that the licensee registered with the Department;

      (3)   Failure to respond to a legal notice or appear in answer to legal process at the time fixed therein;

      (4)   Failure to pay any judgment or award as provided in Section 9-112-130;

      (5)   Conviction of any felony or any disqualifying offense listed in Section 9-112-100 of this chapter. Provided, however, that this paragraph (5) shall not apply to any conviction for a minor cannabis offense, as defined in Section 4-4-005;

      (6)   If, while operating a taxicab, a licensee shall have in the licensee's possession or under the licensee's control any illegal controlled substances, alcohol, or drugs;

      (7)   If licensee solicits any person for transportation to any prostitute;

      (8)   If licensee operates or permits to be operated more than one vehicle bearing the same taxicab vehicle license number;

      (9)   In the case of a company licensee, if any officer, shareholder, member or director of the licensee is convicted of a felony, unless the licensee shall sever its relationship with any such officer, shareholder, member or director immediately upon such conviction.

   Upon revocation of any license, the licensee shall take all actions to remove all indicia of City licensure from any person or vehicle affected by the license revocation.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 11-14-18, p. 90308, Art. V, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)

9-112-390 Revocation of license – Grounds of fraud, misrepresentation, misstatement or omission.

   In the event that the commissioner, after investigation and hearing, shall determine that any licensee (1) has obtained any taxicab license by fraud, misrepresentation, willful misstatement or omission of any material fact, or in case, any licensee shall fail to carry out any representation made to the commissioner before the issuance of such license, or (2) has willfully made any material misstatement of fact on any statement filed with the commissioner, the city comptroller, or the department, or (3) has operated, or caused to be operated, any taxicab vehicle in violation of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, or (4) has obtained his license pursuant to a foreclosure of a security interest without having provided the commissioner with the information required under Section 9-112-430, the commissioner may institute proceedings with the department of administrative hearings to revoke any or all taxicab licenses, and any other City licenses held by licensee.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1)

9-112-400 Interference with Commissioner's duties.

   It is unlawful for any person to interfere with or hinder or prevent the Commissioner from discharging any duty in the enforcement of any provision of this Code under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner.

   Failure to deliver or submit taxicab vehicles for inspection or for the performance of any other duty by the Commissioner upon demand is considered an interference with Commissioner's duties. Failure to comply with or respond to the Commissioner's request or notices for a formal meeting or production of records and documents is an interference with Commissioner's duties.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)

9-112-410 Advertising signs permitted when.

   (a)   It is unlawful for any licensee to install and/or display any advertising sign or device on or in a licensed taxicab vehicle before the advertising sign or device is approved by the Commissioner and permitted pursuant to the elements specified in this section and rules promulgated thereunder.

   (b)   Taxicab licensees or licensed advertising vendors may apply for permits to install and/or display an advertising sign or device on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. A separate permit is required for each exterior and interior advertising display or installation. The Commissioner shall promulgate rules: (1) specifying the locations on the taxicab where advertising signs or devices may be installed or displayed; (2) describing the permissible design, construction and method of affixing the installation or display to the vehicle; and (3) specifying insurance requirements for approving a permit to display an advertising sign or device on or in the taxicab. The rules may also include additional guidelines for such installations or displays and the permit process. In establishing such criteria, considerations shall include:

      (1)   visual clutter and aesthetics on the public way;

      (2)   the safety and comfort of passengers, drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists;

      (3)   the visibility of all information required by this chapter, Department rules, or other laws to be displayed in the interior or on the exterior of taxicabs, including, but not limited to, vehicle numbers, ownership indicia, dome light, and availability signal; and

      (4)   the visibility of all information required by this chapter, Department rules, or other laws to be displayed on the interior of taxicabs, including, but not limited to, the taximeter, license card display, chauffeur’s license display, rate sheets, and other required information.

   (c)   The Department shall inform applicants for an advertising display permit under this section whether the application is approved or disapproved within thirty business days after its receipt of the completed application, unless it gives the applicant written notice that it needs an additional thirty business days and the reasons therefor. If the application is approved and the requirements of subsections (d) and (e) complied with, the Department shall issue the advertising display permit. If the Department denies the permit application, it shall provide written notice of its decision within such time period, stating the specific grounds and rules that form the basis for such denial. If the Department fails to so act within thirty business days after receipt of the application, or sixty business days if it has given notice of the need for an additional review period, the application shall be deemed granted and the permit shall be issued, provided that the permit fee has been paid.

   (d)   The fee for the issuance of any interior or exterior advertising display permit shall be $100.00 for each display, due at the time of application. This fee shall be in addition to the personal property lease transaction tax that applies to lease or rental payments pursuant to Chapter 3-32. An advertising display permit applicant shall have satisfied all debt, as defined in Section 4-4-150, to the City before the Department may issue the permit.

   (e)   Where the Commissioner has by rule approved any type of advertising display device that involves the installation of a physical apparatus on or in the taxicab vehicle, an inspection is required as part of the advertising permitting process. The fee for such inspection shall be an additional $100.00, due prior to the time of inspection.

   (f)   An advertising permit issued under this section shall expire one year after the date of issue, unless sooner surrendered, revoked, or terminated.

   (g)   No permit for advertising issued pursuant to this section shall be transferred or assigned.

   (h)   The denial, rescission, suspension, or revocation of a license issued pursuant to this chapter shall act as the suspension or revocation of any advertising permit issued hereunder to the affected taxicab vehicles.

   (i)   In the event that the licensee receives any income from any advertising maintained on or in the vehicle, a portion of such income shall be distributed to any public chauffeur leasing that same vehicle. The Commissioner shall promulgate rules governing the amount of distribution and the method of distribution.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 101074, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-14-18, p. 90376, Art. IV, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)