9-114-030 Application for license.

   An applicant must apply for the issuance or renewal of a license using a print or electronic from prescribed by, and as directed by, the commissioner and accompanied by such documents as the commissioner may require. If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, then its duly authorized agent can apply on behalf of the applicant. An applicant for a license who intends to operate one or more charter/sightseeing vehicles shall include as part of the application, and update as necessary, the address(es) where all vehicles in the licensee's fleet are kept when not in use.

   Any changes made to the information submitted on the application or any material changes made to the licensee's personal or businesses operations or to any information provided under this chapter must be reported, in writing, to the commissioner within four business days of the change.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 47373, § 1)

9-114-040 Qualifications for license.

   (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 corporate applicant, the corporation shall be organized or qualified to do business under the laws of Illinois and have a place of business in the City of Chicago; or

         (ii)   with respect to a partnership applicant, the partnership shall have a place of business in the City of Chicago; or

         (iii)   with respect to any applicant other than a corporation or partnership, he shall reside and be domiciled in the City of Chicago; and

      (3)   an applicant must successfully complete a course of study which the Commissioner may prescribe by rule; and

      (4)   an applicant must register with the Department of Finance to pay the City's ground transportation tax, as required under Chapter 3-46 of this Code.

      (5)   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 applicant or its members, officers or directors, including, if applicable, the disciplinary record of the applicant in the operation of his taxicab vehicle and the disciplinary record of the applicant, or of any officer or director of a corporate 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 and worker's compensation) for the payment of personal injury, death, property damage, or other insurable claims;

      (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 public passenger vehicle.

   (c)   No applicant is eligible for a license if: (1) any Chicago taxicab or public passenger vehicle license or any Chicago public chauffeur license or restricted public chauffeur license of the applicant, or any officer or director of a corporate applicant or partner in a partnership applicant, has held (i) was revoked within the previous three years; or (ii) was denied, rescinded, within the 12-month period preceding the date of application; or (2) if the applicant, or any officer or director of a corporate applicant or partner in a partnership applicant, within the three years immediately preceding the date of his application, has been either convicted, or 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 1961, as amended, 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.

   In the case of a company licensee, if any officer, member, shareholder or director of the licensee is convicted of a felony, the licensee shall sever its relationship with any such officer, shareholder or director immediately upon such conviction or any license issued to such company licensee shall be subject to revocation pursuant to Section 9-114-190.

   (d)   The total number of licenses that each licensee holds will be based on the total licenses in each corporation, or legal entity, in which the licensee holds a 25 percent or greater share of ownership interest including, but not limited to, stocks and shares. No person shall own in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, or have a security interest in more than 25 percent of, the authorized licenses issued under Chapters 9-112 and 9-114.

   (e)   Eligibility for issuance of any license under this chapter shall be a continuing requirement for maintaining such license.

   (f)   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.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 101074, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 25; Amend Coun. J. 1-27-21, p. 26741, Art. II, § 13; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 10-27-21, p. 39525, § 11)

9-114-050 Investigation and issuance of license.

   (a)   Upon receipt of an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, the Commissioner may investigate the applicant for compliance with 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 applicant shall be required to submit to a criminal background check and shall provide photos of the applicant as required by the Commissioner. Applicants shall be responsible for the costs of the 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 9-114-070 of this Code. The criminal background check and photo fees will 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 such lessor has given his consent for the vehicle to be used as a public passenger vehicle as licensed.

   (e)   All licenses issued pursuant to this chapter are the property of the City of Chicago, and all of the licensee's privileges due to holding that license are subject to rescission, revocation and termination.

   (f)   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, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 26)

9-114-060 Unlawful to operate a public passenger vehicle with meter.

   It is unlawful for any person to operate or drive a public passenger vehicle equipped with a meter which registers a charge of any kind.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2)

9-114-070 License fees.

   The annual license fee for each public passenger vehicle of the class herein set forth is as follows:

 

Livery vehicle	$500.00 for a licensing term from January 1 to December 31
Charter/sightseeing vehicle	$500.00 for a licensing term from July 1 to June 30
Medical carrier	$500.00 for a licensing term from July 1 to June 30
Jitney car service	$250.00 for a licensing term from July 1 to June 30
Low-speed electric public passenger vehicles	$500.00 for a licensing term from July 1 to June 30

 

   The fee shall be paid before the license is issued. The Commissioner is authorized to set the renewal process for each category of public passenger vehicles by rules and regulations.

   Nothing in this section shall affect the right of the City to impose or collect a vehicle tax and any occupational tax, as permitted by law, in addition to the license fee herein provided.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 7)

9-114-080 Liability for actions of a restricted public chauffeur.

   The licensee shall be liable for all violations of this chapter or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by a restricted public chauffeur operating the licensee's public passenger vehicle if an administrative law officer or a court of competent jurisdiction has found the restricted public chauffeur liable for three or more such violations within any two-year period.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2)

9-114-090 Dispatch.

   All licensees have an affirmative duty to respond to requests for service and are responsible for the actions of any employee, restricted chauffeur, two-way dispatch service, or other person that reports to, or acts as an agent of, the licensee, for any failure to respond to a request for service.

(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 2)

9-114-100 Reserved.

Editor’s note – Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. VII, § 11, repealed § 9-114-100, which pertained to license emblem to be affixed.