(a) No person shall operate or provide a taxicab two-way dispatch system without first obtaining a license from the Commissioner, unless such person has an active taxicab affiliation license issued under 9-112-340.
(b) Application for a two-way dispatch service license shall be made on a print or electronic form prescribed by the Commissioner and accompanied by such documents as the Commissioner may require and shall include, but not be limited to, (1) proof that the two-way dispatch system has a place of business in Chicago; and (2) the name and license information of the entities with which the two-way dispatch system has a contract to provide service. 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. The annual fee for a taxicab two-way dispatch service system license is $500.00. All taxicab two-way dispatch system service licenses expire on November 30. Renewal 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 two-way dispatch service system 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 and interest accrued as specified in the Code and promulgated in the rules by the Commissioner. A taxicab two-way dispatch service system license not renewed in a timely manner is considered lapsed.
(c) For the purpose of ensuring adequate service to customers who request transportation, the Commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations governing the dispatch of taxicab vehicles. These rules shall include, but not be limited to: standards for determining adequate and timely service; the responsibilities of taxicab affiliations, two-way dispatch services, taxicab medallion holder licensees, and public chauffeurs in responding to requests for service within a specified time frame. Penalties per violation of this chapter and applicable rules include, but are not limited to, fines and/or license suspension or license revocation.
(d) The Commissioner may also provide by rule reasonable minimum standards, based on the number of affiliates served by the taxicab two-way dispatch service, regarding the number of taxicab two-way dispatch requests received and answered in a timely manner annually by a taxicab affiliation(s), its members, and contractors. Any taxicab two-way dispatch service and/or taxicab affiliation, applying for renewal of their license, which failed to meet these standards in the previous year shall be issued a probationary license. Any taxicab two-way dispatch service and/or taxicab affiliation, applying for renewal of a probationary license, which failed to meet these standards during the year they operated under a probationary license, may have their application denied.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)