(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DRIVER. Every person in charge of, or operating, any taxicab as herein defined either as agent, employee or otherwise.
OWNER. Any person, firm, corporation or association, who has bona fide legal title or control, direction, operation, maintenance, leasing or the collection of revenues derived from such taxicabs so operated for hire on the streets of the city.
TAXICAB. All motor vehicles propelled and operated for passenger hire subject to call from a stand, station or garage, or otherwise operating for hire, except motor buses running and operating on established routes and funeral vehicles.
(B) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate, or be in charge of any taxicab without first having obtained a license so to do.
(2) Applicants for such licenses shall file with the Mayor an application in writing upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk. Said application shall state the experience of the applicant in driving motor vehicles, the physical condition, including the eyesight and hearing of the applicant, and whether such person has ever been convicted for violation of the motor vehicle, or traffic ordinances or laws, either city, county, state or federal; and the number of times, if any, and the various offenses charged.
(3) In case such application is for an original license and not the renewal of a license previously issued, such application shall be accompanied by the signed statement of a practicing physician that applicant is physically fit to operate a taxicab and has no uncorrected defects in eyesight and no impairment of hearing.
(4) The Mayor shall investigate the facts stated in said application before issuing such license, and shall not grant such license to any person who is less than 18 years of age, or who is not physically or morally a person who should be permitted to operate such taxicab, or where the safety of the public might be endangered by the granting of such license. Every license so granted shall entitle the holder thereof to drive a licensed taxicab for one current license year upon the payment of the license fee.
(C) No person, firm, corporation or association shall use or occupy any street, alley, or other public place within the limits of the city for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire without first obtaining a license therefor.
(D) Any person, firm, corporation or association desiring a license for any taxicab shall:
(1) File an application with the Mayor upon a form provided for that purpose setting forth the name, business and residence address of the applicant, a full description of the motor vehicle for which a license is desired (make, model, motor and engine number, number of passengers that may be accommodated in any such motor vehicle), place where such motor vehicle is to be kept when not in use, the number and kinds of other motor vehicles owned by said applicant, the state license number of such motor vehicles and any such other information as the Mayor may from time to time desire.
(2) Exhibit satisfactory proof to the Mayor that the provisions of the statutes of the state relating to carriage of passengers for hire have been complied with.
(3) Pay to the City Collector the license fee hereinafter provided for the full annual period for which such license is issued, which fee, in event such license is not issued, shall be refunded by the City Collector to such applicant. In the event said applicant fully complies with the foregoing conditions and other provisions of this section and pays the license fee hereinafter specified for such taxicab, the Mayor shall issue or cause to be issued, the license applied for, which shall be attested by the City Clerk and the City Collector and shall authorize the use of such motor vehicle for the transportation of persons for hire upon the streets and public thoroughfares of the city for the remainder of the calendar year during which such license is issued.
(E) The following license fees shall be paid:
(1) For each original Driver's License, or renewal thereof, $2.
(2) For each taxicab license, or renewal thereof, $100 provided that any licensee hereunder may obtain a license to operate additional taxicabs not to exceed three in number without the payment of any further license fee; for each additional taxicab over three an annual license fee of $25 shall be paid. All licenses issued hereunder shall terminate on April 30 of each year. No license shall be issued for less than a year unless less than six months of the fiscal year remains, in which case one half of said license fee shall be paid.
(F) There shall be kept in the office of the City Collector a complete record of each taxicab license and of each license issued to a driver, and of all renewals, suspensions and revocations thereof, which record shall be kept on file with the original applications for licenses.
(G) Any articles left by any passenger in any taxicab licensed hereunder, shall be immediately delivered by the driver thereof to the Police Department of this city.
(H) No taxicab shall be managed, operated or controlled so as to violate any parking or traffic ordinances of this city, nor stand or be managed, operated or controlled so as to obstruct traffic, or so as to interfere with the free movement of traffic upon any street, alley or public way in this city.
(I) When any passenger hires the service of any taxicab as herein defined, such passenger shall be immediately loaded in such taxicab and shall immediately be taken to his or her or her destination by the nearest traveled route as the condition of the streets or public ways permit, unless otherwise requested by such passenger or passengers.
(J) No unemployed taxicab, as herein defined, shall stand or be permitted to stand upon any portion of the public streets or alleys or public places of this city, except for such time as is necessary to load or unload passengers, excepting in such portions of the public streets, alleys or other public ways of this city as shall be from time to time designated by the City Council as taxicab stands and allotted to the particular licensee in question.
(K) Other than no more passengers shall defined, operating on the of the city than there is for.
(L) No person shall operate a taxicab or cause the same to be done unless the taxicab is in a condition thoroughly safe for the transportation of passengers, clean, of good appearance, well painted, and in good mechanical condition. Every owner of a taxicab shall furnish semi-annually to the Chief of Police, and at which other times as the Chief of Police may require a proof of the good mechanical condition of each taxicab, which shall consist of a certificate from the operator of a public garage designated by the Chief of Police, indicating that mechanical inspection of the taxicab has been made by such person or his or her agent, and that the steering apparatus. brakes and lighting equipment are in good operating condition. The owner shall be required to furnish such certificate at his or her own expense.
(M) No person shall drive any taxicab, as herein defined, in this city who is under 18 years of age, nor while under the influence of any intoxicating or spirituous liquor.
(N) No person, firm, corporation or association shall operate a taxicab in the city unless such taxicab shall have painted in letters at least two inches in height on at least one door on each side of the taxicab the name of the owner thereof. If the taxicab is owned by a corporation such fact shall be indicated and if operating under a firm name, the name of the actual owner or owners shall be registered in the office of the City Collector. If any person, owns more than one taxicab a distinguishing number shall be placed on each taxicab in the manner hereinbefore provided in regard to the name of the owner.
(O) It shall be the duty of the police officers to summarily arrest any person violating provisions of this section, and to cause the removal from the streets of the city of any taxicab operated or parked in violation of the provisions of this section, and to immediately appear before the Police Magistrate or a Justice of the Peace and make proper complaint thereto.
(P) The Mayor shall have the right to revoke any license issued hereunder for the violation of any of the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 1612, passed 5-6-2003) Penalty, see § 128.99