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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a taxicab for hire within the City unless such taxicab is equipped with a partition extending from a point flush with the left-hand side of such taxicab across the back of the front seat(s) to a point flush with the right- hand side of such taxi, and from a point flush with the top of the front seat(s) to a point not more than three (3) inches from the top of such taxicab. Such partition shall be of such material and shall be installed so as to prevent any passenger from reaching the driver of the taxicab from any point in the rear seat separated from the driver by the partition.
(b) Taxicab companies currently operating vehicles without a partition or a partition not in compliance with this section will be allowed to continue to operate vehicles. All vehicles acquired after the adoption of this ordinance shall be equipped with a partition which is in compliance with the requirements of this section.
(Ord. 3108, passed 8-14-1989; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
A taxicab shall have affixed a taximeter for the computation of the charges to be made upon a mileage basis; provided, that no taximeter shall be used for the computation of charges unless it shall first have been inspected, tested and approved by the Chief of Police or his designee, for which service a fee shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council, kept on file by the City Clerk, and contained in Appendix A of the City Code, will be charged for each inspection. No person shall operate, or permit to be operated, a taxicab equipped with a taximeter not having the case sealed and the motor gears intact. Every taximeter shall be affixed so that the amount of fare to be determined shall be plainly visible to the passengers, and after sundown, shall be illuminated by a suitable light. Taximeter shall be examined at least once in six (6) months by the Chief of Police or his designee, who shall keep a record of all such inspections and approvals and disapprovals.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 1666, passed 3-19-1962; Ord. 3404, passed 2-8-1999; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
No person having a motor vehicle under his or her control shall offer same for hire on a fixed fee or contribution basis, unless licensed in accordance with this division. Nothing in this division shall be construed as prohibiting a “car pool.”
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 1714, passed 5-6-1963; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
No person, either his or her principal, agent nor employee shall run or operate for hire any taxicab or motor vehicle upon the streets of the City, without first obtaining a license for that purpose.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 410, passed 3-31-1941; Ord. 2287, passed 10-25-1971; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
No taxicab license shall be issued unless the City Council, after a hearing, shall by resolution declare that the public convenience and necessity require the proposed taxicab service for which application for license is made; provided, that such declaration of public convenience and necessity shall not be necessary:
(a) For the licensing of the same number of taxicabs licensed for operation and operated under the same name and color on January 3, 1939, or the renewal of the same number of licenses annually.
(b) (1) For the renewal of licenses to the applicant for which the City Council shall have, at any time prior to the date of application for such renewal, made a declaration of public convenience and necessity.
(2) In determining where public convenience and necessity require the licensing of such taxicabs for which applications may be made, the City Council may take into consideration whether the demands of the public convenience and necessity require such proposed or additional taxicab service within the City, the financial responsibility of the applicant, the number, kind, type of equipment, the schedule of rates proposed to be charged, the color scheme to be used by the applicant, the increased traffic congestion and demand for increased parking spaces on the streets of the City that may result whether the safe use of the streets by the public, both vehicular and pedestrian, will be preserved by the granting of the additional license, and any other relevant facts as the City Council may deem advisable or necessary.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 410, passed 3-31-1941; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
Within fifteen (15) days after the filing of an application for a license, the City Council shall determine, by motion or resolution, whether a public hearing shall be conducted relative to the granting or denial of the application. In the event that it shall be determined that there shall be a public hearing concerning the matter, the City Council shall cause notice to be published in one of the leading daily newspapers of the City. The notice shall be paid for in full by the applicant and shall set forth the fact that application has been filed for a taxicab license, and shall contain the name of the applicant, kind of equipment to be used and all other information from the application that the City Council may deem necessary. The notice shall notify all holders of existing taxicab licenses that a public meeting will be held at a public place in the City, to be designated by the City Council, at a time not less than five (5) days or not more than fifteen (15) days after the date of determination to have a public hearing. The notice shall be published for three (3) successive days. All holders of existing taxicab licenses shall be entitled to file any complaint and protest that such holders may see fit. At the time of the holding of the investigation and hearing with reference to whether the public convenience and necessity require the operation of such additional vehicle covered in the application, the City Council shall conduct its hearing and shall have the right to call such witnesses it may deem necessary. In all such hearings, the burden of proof shall be upon the applicant to establish by clear, cogent and convincing evidence that shall satisfy the City Council beyond a reasonable doubt that public convenience and necessity require such operation of the vehicles for which the application has been made.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 410, passed 3-31-1941; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
(a) Application for licenses and applications for renewal of licenses for taxicabs and motor vehicles for hire shall be made by the owner or authorized agent upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk and shall contain:
(1) The full name, age and residence of the owner.
(2) The type of motor car to be used, horsepower, factory number, State license number, the length of time that the vehicle has been in use and the seating capacity.
(b) The application shall be immediately referred by the City Clerk to the City Administrator who shall cause an investigation to be made of the fitness of the applicant as to character and ability and an inspection of the vehicle to be licensed, and shall transmit the application with his or her recommendation to the City Council. If, in the opinion of the City Council, the person making the application is a proper person both by experience and character, and the vehicle is in a thoroughly fit condition for the transportation of passengers and is clean and fit for such use, they may authorize the granting of a license upon the payment of the license fee and the filing of an insurance policy as provided in § 12-218 of this division. The licenses shall be issued by the City Clerk and shall not be transferable.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 2010, passed 11-6-1967; Ord. 2251, passed 3-15-1971; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
(a) The fee for a license under this division shall be as specified in Chapter 26 of this Code.
When such license has been granted, the licensee shall affix in a stationary position, near the State license plate to the taxicab or motor vehicle for hire, small plates not exceeding six (6) inches in diameter, which shall bear the license number of the vehicle. The design of such license plates shall be changed annually and shall be issued by the City Clerk. Prior to the annual expiration date of such license plate, same shall be transferable.
(Ord. 347, passed 6-26-1930; Ord. 1071, passed 3-24-1953; Ord. 3085, passed 1-9-1989; Ord. 3783, passed 12-13-2010)
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