751.12 NOTIFICATION OF CRIMINAL RECORD.

   Every applicant for a new license to drive a taxicab or annual renewal for a taxi driver's license shall submit to the Safety-Service Director a background check attained from the Richland County Sheriff's Department. The applicant shall make no such alterations to said background check.
(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)

751.13 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.

   (a) If the Safety-Service Director is satisfied that the applicant is a suitable and proper person to drive a vehicle for hire and the applicant's examination discloses no matter which in the opinion of the Safety-Service Director should be called to the attention of the Mayor, then the Safety-Service Director shall have the authority to issue the license upon payment of the proper fee as provided.

   (b)   It shall be within the discretion of the Safety-Service Director to refer his/her findings to the Mayor which shall then investigate and hold a hearing as to such application for a license. No such license shall be issued until the payment of the proper taxicab driver's license fee and upon compliance with all other requirements of Chapter 751 and the rules and regulations adopted by the Safety-Service Director for the issuance of a license. The applicant shall be notified of the Mayor's findings.

   (c)   A license to drive a taxicab may not be issued to any applicant that has been convicted of the following offenses:

      (1)   Manslaughter or homicide of any degree;

      (2)   Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs within the past three years;

      (3)   Any felony in which physical violence was used in the past five years;

      (4)   Any state offense described below or its equivalent in a city code.

         A.    Rape

         B.    Sexual Battery

         C.    Corruption of a minor

         D.    Gross sexual imposition

         E.    Sexual imposition

          F.   Any drug or drug related offense within the past three years

   (d)   Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Safety- Service Director, regardless of time limit stated, to refuse to issue a license for these or other background related issues. Additionally, the Safety-Service Director shall have the discretion to waive any background or time related issues and allow for the issuance of a license.

   (e)   Any applicant who has accumulated eight (8) or more points on his or her Ohio Driver's License within the two year period preceding the date of application may be required to appear before the Safety-Service Director who shall determine if such license should be issued.

   (f)   A Taxicab drivers license issued pursuant to this Chapter shall expire annually on January 1st of each year. A taxicab drivers license may be renewed each year upon payment of $20.00 fee and complying with the provisions of Section 751.08 to 751.12 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)

751.14 DRIVER'S IDENTIFICATION CARD.

   At the time of the issuance of a taxicab driver's license under the provisions of this Chapter, the Safety-Service Director shall also issue a photo identification card, the specifications of which shall be designed by the Safety-Service Director. No person shall drive a taxicab for hire before a taxicab drivers license is issued, and the Taxicab drivers license and photo identification card must be posted in the taxicab in a position where they may be clearly read by passengers in the vehicle, at all times when the driver is operating the taxicab.
(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)

751.15 SUSPENSION, REVOCATION AND APPEAL.

   Any license or privilege issued hereunder to operate or to drive any vehicle for public hire may be suspended for a period not to exceed sixty days by the Safety-Service Director for the following causes:

   (a)   When subsequent investigation proves that the record of a taxicab owner or driver of a taxicab, is unsatisfactory or that statements made in an application for license or registration are false, or that Section 751.07 is being violated.

   (b)   When the Owner, his agents or employees fail to drive vehicles for public hire in accordance with this Chapter or other ordinances of the City or the laws of the State of Ohio.

   (c)   When the Owner, his agents or employees (taxicab driver) shall drive a vehicle for public hire while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or he or they shall act in an improper or insulting manner toward passengers or others.

   (d)   When an Owner, his agents or employees shall permit a vehicle for public hire to be used for any immoral or illegal purpose.

   (e)   When the Owner shall cease to operate such vehicle for public hire in the City for a period of thirty consecutive days without first obtaining the consent, in writing, of the Safety-Service Director.

   (f)   When the Owner shall fail to keep on deposit with the City a liability insurance policy as hereinbefore required.

   (g)   Knowingly permitting the operation of a taxicab which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property.

Prior to suspension, except in the case of cancellation or termination of insurance coverage, the holder of a license shall be given three days notice, in writing, and shall have an opportunity to be heard by the Safety-Service Director. The Safety-Service Director shall report the suspension to the Mayor as soon as possible after the suspension. The Mayor shall then set a date for a hearing and the Safety-Service Director shall notify all parties concerned of such date. The person whose license has been suspended or revoked shall have the opportunity to appear before the Mayor and present evidence in support of their case. The Mayor shall have the authority to set aside or affirm such suspension or may extend or reduce such suspension for a greater or lesser period of time, or may revoke entirely the license to operate or privilege to drive vehicles for public hire within and from the City after all evidence has been presented to him or her by the parties affected at the hearing or at any continuation thereof.
(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)

751.16 SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR MAY MAKE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS.

   (a)   The Safety-Service Director is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate and adopt, subject to approval of the Mayor, such additional rules and regulations governing the operation of Taxicabs, including, but not limited to, granting and revocation of owners licenses to operate a taxicab and licenses to drive a taxicab, as may be reasonable and necessary and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Chapter.

   (b)   The Safety-Service Director shall have continuing jurisdiction as to licenses granted hereunder. In the event of misconduct on the part of a licensed taxicab owner or a licensed taxicab driver which would show him or her to be an unsuitable person to operate or to drive a taxicab, or which would be sufficient to justify the refusal of a license in the case of an original applicant, the Safety-Service Director shall suspend or revoke a license already granted.

   (c)   For the purposes of implementing this legislation, the Safety-Service Director may extend all deadlines referenced in this Chapter during the calendar year of 2017.

(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)

751.99 PENALTY.

   Whoever violates any provision of this Chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. If, within one year of the offense, the person charged with a violation of any provision of this Chapter previously has been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a violation of any provision of this Chapter, then whoever violates any provision of this Chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(Ord. 16-269. Passed 2-7-17.)