A. Definitions:
ELIGIBLE DISABLED CITIZEN: Any person who receives supplemental security income (SSI), social security disability (SSD), or has their physician certify their disability whose residence is located within the corporate limits of the city.
PARTICIPATING TAXI SERVICE COMPANY: Any taxi service company providing taxi service within the city that executed an agreement with the city by which, under certain conditions, the city shall subsidize cab fares for senior citizens and eligible disabled citizens.
SENIOR CITIZEN: Any person of sixty five (65) or more years whose residence is located within the corporate limits of the city.
SENIOR CITIZEN/DISABLED CITIZEN LIST: A list compiled by participating taxi services of senior citizens and eligible disabled citizens gathered by securing the signature of each senior citizen or disabled citizen each time such citizen employs a taxicab to secure the reduced rate provided for senior citizens and disabled citizens by the taxi service program for senior citizens and disabled citizens.
TRIP: Only those excursions the routes of which begin or end within the corporate boundaries of the city.
B. Application For Senior Citizen/Disabled Citizen Voucher Program: An application for voucher issued by the city or its agents containing the following information:
1. The applicant's residence.
2. The applicant's signature.
3. A statement that the voucher is nontransferable.
4. A statement that the above named disabled citizen has shown proof of receiving SSI, SSD, or has their physician certify their disability; has shown proof of being a resident of the city and is hereby entitled to all privileges specified of the taxi service program for senior citizens and disabled citizens.
5. A statement that the above named senior citizen has shown proof of attaining age sixty five (65), has shown proof of being a resident of the city and is hereby entitled to all privileges specified by the taxi service program for senior citizens and disabled citizens.
C. Creation Of Program: The city does hereby establish a taxi service program for senior citizens and eligible disabled citizens. Pursuant to this program, the city shall be authorized to enter into subsidy agreements with participating taxi services. Among other provisions, these agreements shall provide that upon presentation by a senior citizen or a disabled citizen of a valid senior citizen or disabled citizen voucher, and his signature on the taxi customer list, the senior citizen or disabled citizen shall be enabled to secure a reduced rate for trips from taxicab companies and drivers licensed by the city of Des Plaines.
D. Rates Established: The agreements entered into between participating taxi services and the city shall provide for rates as follows:
1. Rates to be charged to eligible disabled citizens or senior citizens sixty five (65) years of age or older shall be as follows:
a. A rate shall be charged by taxicabs licensed to operate in the city to such persons for transportation based on the fare shown on the taxicab meter; three dollars ($3.00) shall be billed to the city and the remaining balance due shall be paid directly by the rider.
b. When more than one senior citizen and/or eligible disabled citizen is transported to the same destination, then each additional person shall be required to pay ten cents ($0.10) in addition to the established rate.
c. Persons eligible for the rates set forth in this subsection D1 must apply for and obtain a voucher issued by the city. The health and human services division of the city shall establish the standards and procedures for the issuance of such cards.
d. A driver of a taxicab who fails to abide by the provisions of this program shall be fined as provided in the general penalty in section 1-4-1 of this code for each offense and possibly the revocation or suspension of his chauffeur's license.
2. No taxicab company shall require that a prospective passenger identify, prior to pick up of said passenger, if he is a "senior citizen" or disabled citizen as defined in this section.
3. No taxicab company, owner or operator of a taxicab shall refuse to convey any orderly senior citizen or eligible disabled citizen holding a voucher issued by the city.
4. Those taxicab company owners or drivers of taxicabs licensed by the city shall bill the city on a regular basis for the city's share of such senior citizen or disabled citizen subsidized taxicab rate program, provided the following procedures have been met:
a. The senior citizen or disabled citizen has presented their voucher issued by the city at the inception of the taxicab ride.
b. Said passenger vouchers shall be forwarded to the city for payment on a monthly basis. (Ord. M-19-13, 10-7-2013)