(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a taxicab upon the streets or alleys of the city unless the person shall first procure and hold a license to operate the taxicab as provided in this chapter.
(B) Any person intending to operate a taxicab upon the streets or alleys of this city shall first file with the City Controller his or her application for license upon the forms to be supplied by the City Controller. The application shall contain the following information.
(1) The name and address of the applicant;
(2) If the applicant is a copartnership, a copy of the copartnership agreement shall be filed, together with the full names and addresses of all the copartners;
(3) If the applicant is a corporation, a copy of the articles of incorporation shall be filed, and the application shall show the names and addresses of all the officers and directors of the corporation;
(4) The number of taxicabs for which the applicant seeks licenses;
(5) A complete description of each taxicab, including the make, year of manufacture, vehicle identification, (FIN) and color; (The applicant shall designate the color to be used.)
(6) Any other information the City Controller may deem necessary to show compliance with this chapter;
(7) Attached to or accompanying the application shall be an insurance policy or bond, as required in this chapter, and cash or check for a fees due as provided in this chapter;
(8) The application shall be signed by the owner of the taxicab company and the application shall be sworn to by the applicant; and
(9) Applications for the annual license(s) for the ensuing year shall be filed on or before January 5 of each year. The City Controller, if the provisions of this chapter are complied with, shall issue the annual license on the second Tuesday of February of each year. All licenses are valid for 1 year.
(C) No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be permitted to operate or drive a taxicab in the city.
(D) Within 30 days after being employed as a driver of a taxicab, he or she shall be fingerprinted and photographed by the Police Department, and copies shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for record clearance. An affidavit from the police department of another city or town which states that a driver (requesting clearance under this code) has been processed by that city or town for the fingerprinting and FBI record clearance shall be accepted to eliminate the time and cost of duplication. Upon receipt of information that the person has not been convicted of a felony, the Chief of Police shall issue an identification card, 3 inches by 6 inches in size, bearing the photograph and name of the driver which shall, at all times when he or she is driving the taxicab, be mounted above the meter in a manner so that it will be plainly visible and in view of the passenger at all times. Each cab company shall make available the proper facilities to hold this identification card plus the number of the cab, and shall pay a reasonable sum to the Police Department for the cost of processing each driver. The Police Department shall retain the fingerprints, photographs, FBI reports or affidavits in lieu of same on record for a minimum period of 7 years from the time they were received.
(Prior Code, § 125.20) (Ord. 3316, passed 2-27-1961; Am. Ord. 7882, passed 6-10-1996) Penalty, see § 10.99