(a) Application Procedure.
(1) Each person driving a taxicab or motor vehicle for hire must be duly licensed as such by the State of Michigan with a valid chauffeur or CDL license.
(2) Each applicant for a driver's license must:
A. Be twenty-one years of age or over;
B. Be of sound physique and good eyesight, and not subject to any medical or any other infirmity of body or mind which might render him or her unfit for the safe operation of a public vehicle;
C. Be able to read and write the English language;
D. Be clean in dress and person and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor or controlled substances;
E. Provide a current copy of his or her Michigan driver's license record free of any convictions for drug or alcohol offenses for the previous five years prior to this license application, and no convictions for driving while license suspended due to a bad driving record for the previous two years prior to said license application;
F. Have a driving record free of more than three moving violations for the previous two years prior to said application;
G. Be free of any misdemeanor convictions for assaultive behavior, criminal sexual conduct or theft within the past ten years prior to said application and be free of any felony conviction for the past 15 years, unless otherwise exempted by the Chief of Police;
H. Fill out, upon a blank form to be provided by the Police Department, a statement giving his or her full name; residence; place of residence for five years previous to moving to his or her present address; age; height; color of eyes and hair; place of birth; length of time he or she has resided at his or her present address; whether or not a citizen of the United States. Such statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and filed with the Police Department as a permanent record.
(Res. 033-198A. Passed 5-5-03; Res. 03-384. Passed 8-4-03)
(3) The investigation of all applications for licenses under this chapter shall be conducted by the Police Department as a permanent record. When such an investigation is completed, the application shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police, who shall endorse his or her recommendation thereon and forward the same to the City Clerk. However, a temporary license may be issued pending such investigation, but such temporary license shall not be effective for longer than twenty days.
(4) No license shall be issued to any person under this chapter who has been convicted of a felony, except that the Mayor and Council may issue a license, upon the written recommendation of the Chief of Police, when it appears to the Mayor and Council that such applicant is a law abiding citizen.
(5) The Police Department is authorized to establish such additional rules and regulations governing the issuance of drivers' licenses, not inconsistent with this chapter, as may be necessary and reasonable.
(1979 Code Sec. 12.08.080)
(b) Examinations. Each applicant for a driver's license shall be examined by a person designated by the Police Department as to his or her knowledge of the provisions of this chapter, the traffic regulations and the geography of the City. If the result of the examination is unsatisfactory, he or she shall be refused a license. Each such applicant must, if required by the Police Department, demonstrate his or her skill and ability to safely handle a vehicle by driving it through a crowded section of the City accompanied by an inspector designated by the Police Department.
(1979 Code Sec. 12.08.090)
(c) Photographs Required. Each applicant for a driver's license must file with his or her application three recent photographs of himself or herself, of a size which may be easily attached to the license. One such photograph shall be attached to the license when issued, one shall appear on the card and the other shall be filed, together with the application, with the Police Department. The photograph shall be so attached to the license that it cannot be removed and another photograph substituted without detection.
(1979 Code Sec. 12.08.100)
(d) Issuance; Term; Fee; Display.
(1) Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements of this chapter, there shall be issued to the applicant a public driver's license, which license shall be in such form as to contain the photograph and signature of the licensee. Any licensee who defaces, removes or obliterates any official entry made upon his or her license or book shall, in addition to any other punishment imposed therefor, have his or her license revoked at the discretion of the Mayor and Council. Public drivers' licenses shall be issued as of the first Tuesday in May of each year and shall be valid until the first Tuesday of May next succeeding.
(2) The Mayor and Council are authorized to grant a public driver's license to any qualified applicant therefor, upon payment into the City treasury by such applicant of a fee of five dollars ($5.00).
(3) Every licensed public driver shall have his or her license, together with his or her photograph, conspicuously displayed on the inside of the taxicab or motor vehicle for hire, with a light shining on it at night so that it may be easily seen both in the day and night time by occupants of the vehicle.
(1979 Code Sec. 12.08.110)
(e) Driver's Sticker. There shall be delivered to each licensed driver of a taxicab or motor vehicle for hire a sticker of such form and style as the Police Department may prescribe, with the driver's license number thereon, which sticker must, under penalty or revocation of the license, be constantly and conspicuously displayed on the outside of the driver's coat when he or she is engaged in his or her employment.