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.

9-114-105 License ineligibility – Indebtedness and child support.

   (a)   Indebtedness: All licensees must be in good standing with the City in reference to debt pursuant to and as defined in section 4-4-150 of this Code.

   (b)   Child support: All licensees must be in compliance with court-ordered child support pursuant to and as defined in section 4-4-152 of this Code.

(Added Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 7)

9-114-110 Unlawful to operate vehicle without current emblem.

   It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or to permit any person to operate a public passenger vehicle for hire without the emblem for the current year affixed or without written authorization from the commissioner to operate without an emblem. In addition to any applicable fines and penalties, the license of any person who violates this section shall be revoked.

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