A. Taxi business permit. It shall be unlawful for any person, entity, corporation or taxi association to operate or cause to be operated a taxi business without a taxi business operating permit as provided in this Chapter.
B. Taxi driver permit.
1. Violation. It shall be unlawful for any person driving a taxi vehicle either as owner, agent, employee or otherwise to pick up a passenger without possessing a valid taxi driver's permit as provided in this Chapter. A taxi driver permit is nontransferrable and is valid only as long as the driver works for a taxi business currently approved and permitted by the City as provided in this Chapter.
2. Invalidity of permit. A taxi driver's permit valid at the time it was issued shall become invalid if the taxi company or association for which the taxi driver works, whether as an owner, agent, employee or otherwise:
a. Fails to renew its permit;
b. Is denied renewal by the City;
c. Has its permit revoked; and/or
d. Changes ownership by sale, transfer, bankruptcy or any other method.
C. Taxi vehicle inspected and approved. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated a taxi vehicle, whether as an owner, agent, employee or otherwise, which has not been inspected and approved by the Culver City Police Department.
D. City decal required.
1. Violation. It shall be unlawful for any person or taxi association to operate or cause to be operated any taxi vehicle without a valid, official City decal displayed on the vehicle as provided in this Chapter.
2. Invalidity of decal. A City decal, even if valid when issued, becomes invalid if the taxi company or association to which the deal was issued:
a. Fails to renew its permit;
b. Is denied renewal by the City;
c. Has its permit revoked; and/or
d. Changes ownership by sale, transfer, bankruptcy or any other method.
E. Penalty. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor, subject to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first violation, five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the second violation within a twelve (12) month period, and seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for the third or subsequent violation within a twelve (12) month period.
('65 Code, § 34-2) (Ord. No. 83-020 § 1; Ord. No. 92-017 § 2; Ord. No. 99-004, § 1)