(a) No taxicab company shall pick up fares in the City of Kent, Ohio unless the company has been issued a license for each of its taxicabs.
(b) Application.
(1) A taxicab company desiring to obtain a license shall make application to the Director of Public Safety providing the following information:
(A) The business name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(B) The make, license number, identification number and seating capacity of the vehicle(s).
(C) The names of the owner and drivers who will operate the taxicab(s) and their places of residence.
(D) A list of fares and rates to be charged passengers for transportation. Such list shall be re-filed with the Safety Director at any time fares or rates are adjusted or changed.
(2) The application shall be accompanied with proof of liability insurance with respect to all taxicabs and taxicab drivers providing the following:
(A) The policy shall be written by an insurance company authorized to carry on business and write such policies in the State.
(B) For each taxicab driver, the liability insurance policy shall be a combined single limit policy of $500,000.
(C) The policy shall contain a clause obligating the insured to give ten (10) days written notice to the Director before cancellation and a clause for the company's continuing liability thereunder for the full amount, notwithstanding any recovery thereon.
(D) If, at any time in the judgment of the Director the policy is not sufficient, the Director may require the taxicab company to replace it with another.
(3) The application shall be accompanied with a financial statement, a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and a capital improvement report showing purchases of all new taxicabs.
(4) The company shall have 24-hour taxicab service and telephone service.
(c) At the time of the issuance of the license, and annually thereafter, on or before September 30, the taxicab company shall pay a fee of seventy five dollars ($75.00) to the Director of Public Safety for each taxicab to be operated during the year. This fee shall be in addition to any other fees required by this chapter.
(d) A taxicab company shall not permit any person to operate or drive for hire any taxicab owned or operated by the company until the Director of Public Safety has been notified of the driver's name and address and the driver has obtained a taxicab driver's license pursuant to Section 749.05 of the Kent Codified Ordinances.
(e) Prior to any fare increase the taxicab company shall advertise such fact three (3) times in a publication of general circulation and notification shall be sent to the Mayor, Safety Director and Council by certified mail (Ord. 2010-86. Passed 8-18-10.)