(A) No person may obtain an operator’s permit without having a valid driver’s license.
(B) No person may operate a motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire without an operator’s permit issued by the Taxicab Administrator in accordance with this section, and no owner of such a motor vehicle may allow it to be operated in violation of this section. Regardless of when an operator’s permit is issued, it shall expire on December 31. No operator’s permit shall be valid for more than one year.
(C) An applicant for an operator’s permit shall furnish to the Taxicab Administrator, on forms provided by the town, information deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrator to determine whether the permit should be issued according to the criteria set forth in division (D) below. All such information shall be furnished accurately, to the best of the applicant’s knowledge. In addition, an applicant for an operator’s permit shall submit to a blood or urine test, at a facility approved by the town, for the purpose of detecting the presence of controlled substances and shall provide the Taxicab Administrator with a copy of a report containing the results of such an analysis. The test shall take place within 14 days prior to the submission of the application for an operator’s permit. All costs related to such analysis shall be the responsibility of the applicant. No such test shall be required to renew an existing permit.
(D) The operator’s permit shall be issued to an applicant who is otherwise in compliance with this section; however, the permit may be denied if the Taxicab Administrator determines that the applicant falls within any one of the following:
(1) Within the past five years immediately preceding the date of the application permit:
(a) Committed, been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any felony; or
(b) Misdemeanor death by vehicle.
(2) Within the past three years immediately preceding the date of the permit application:
(a) Committed, been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to reckless driving; operation of an automobile under the influence of an intoxicant; a violation relating to prostitution or assignation; a violation of any law relating to possession, sale, use or transportation of intoxicating liquors or controlled substances;
(b) Had three violations of traffic laws or regulations within any 12-month period;
(c) Been addicted to or a habitual user of intoxicating liquors or controlled substances;
(d) Been a habitual or repeated violator of traffic laws or ordinances;
(e) Committed, been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any other violation of local, state or federal law; or
(f) Engaged in any other activity that warrants denial of the application in the interest of the public safety, welfare or morals.
(3) Within one year immediately preceding the date of the permit application, committed, been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to a violation of any of the provisions of this section.
(E) If, after being issued a permit following a violation of any of the provisions of this section, a permit holder violates any provisions of this section again within 12 months of such issuance, the permit holder will be denied a permit for two years.
(F) For purposes of this section, any out-of-state violations that differ from state law will be interpreted as closely to state law as possible.
(G) If a permit is denied, the Taxicab Administrator shall inform the applicant in writing of the denial and the reasons therefor.
(H) An operator’s permit may be suspended or revoked by the Taxicab Administrator for any reason that would have justified denial of the permit under division (C) above. Any person holding an operator’s permit shall inform the Administrator within 30 days of any violation or conviction which would constitute grounds for revocation or suspension. If a person holding a valid operator’s permit would be subject to revocation as provided by division (D)(3) above and notifies the Administrator within 30 days of the violation, and the operator has had no other violations which would subject him or her to suspension or revocation, the violator may be issued a probationary operator’s permit. A probationary permit shall be issued on the condition that during the 12 months following its issuance, the operator shall have no violations which would constitute grounds for revocation or suspension. Any such violations during the 12-month period shall result in the immediate revocation of such probationary permit for the applicable period set forth above for the original violation and the later violation.
(I) Prior to suspension or revocation, the Taxicab Administrator shall notify the permit holder of his or her intent to suspend or revoke the permit and the reasons therefor and shall afford the permit holder a reasonable opportunity to appear and be heard on the question of such suspension or revocation. After the hearing, the Taxicab Administrator shall notify the permit holder in writing of his or her decision and the reasons therefor.