(A) Every certificate holder shall purchase and keep in full force and effect public liability insurance in the amounts required by state law, or shall obtain a certificate of self insurance as provided by state law, to secure payment of all lawful and proper claims arising out of the operation of taxicabs pursuant to the certificate. A written statement from an authorized agent of the certificate holder's insurance carrier verifying the issuance of the insurance shall be filed with the City Manager, or the person designated by the City Manager, before any certificate may be issued. All verifications of insurance shall provide for a 30-day cancellation notice to the City Manager, or the person designated by the City Manager.
(B) Neither the city, nor any officer, agent or employee thereof shall be held for the pecuniary responsibility or solvency of any certificate holder or insurer or in any manner liable on account of any act or omission relating to the operation of a taxicab.
(C) The certificate holder shall furnish the City Manager, or the person designated by the City Manager, with the original application or as new vehicles are purchased or rented, the number of vehicles in operation by model, size, year, make, design, color scheme, motor vehicle identification number and state license registration number. The certificate holder shall further furnish a statement that each vehicle is currently licensed and inspected by the state, that it is satisfactory and in safe mechanical condition, that it has the color scheme and is identified and marked as represented in the application.
(D) The City Manager's representative shall have the right to inspect during regular business hours any of the operations, equipment or premises of the certificate holder used in conducting the taxicab services.
(E) Each taxicab shall conform to all the state minimum safety standards. No part of the body of any taxicab shall be missing or visibly rusted. Each taxicab shall be equipped with two-way radio communication equipment in proper operating condition capable of transmitting and receiving vocal communication between the taxicab and the dispatching office of the certificate holder. Each taxicab shall conform to the description of the insignia and color scheme proposed in the certificate holder's application. Rips, tears, stains, thread-bare portions of floors, seats, backs and armrests shall be repaired. No vehicle shall be used as a taxicab if it is more than 60 months old.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any taxicab driver to consume or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverages or use any form of controlled substances or dangerous drugs while on duty as a taxicab driver.
(G) A driver of a taxicab employed to carry passengers to a definite point shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passengers safely and expeditiously to their destination.
(H) Should the City Manager receive a complaint about the operations of a certificate holder, he/she shall reduce the complaint to writing and forward it to the certificate holder. The certificate holder shall reply in writing within ten days. If the complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the City Manager, he/she is authorized to initiate steps to revoke the certificate by giving notice to the certificate holder and the City Council that a complaint involving a violation of this subchapter has occurred and his/her proposal that the certificate be suspended or revoked. The City Council shall set the complaint for public hearing and shall give notice to the certificate holder of the hearing. The City Council shall hear the matter within 30 days after the complaint is presented to them and shall make a determination as to whether the certificate holder should be suspended or revoked or no action taken.
(I) It shall be unlawful for any taxicab driver to solicit passengers upon any public street of the city. The prices to be charged by all taxicab operations in the city shall be fair and reasonable for the services. Each taxicab shall have its rates posted in a conspicuous place in view of the passengers being conveyed. Each taxicab operated under the authority of a certificate shall be equipped with a meter fastened in front of the passengers, visible to them at all times, day and night. After sundown, the face of the taxi meter shall be illuminated. The meters shall be operated mechanically or electronically by a mechanism of standard design and construction, driven either from the transmission or from one of the front wheels by a flexible and permanently attached driving mechanism. They shall be sealed at all points and connections which, if manipulated, would affect their correct reading and recording. Each taxi meter shall have thereon a flag to denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not employed, and it shall be the duty of the driver to throw the flag of the taxi meter into a nonrecording position at the termination of each trip. All meters shall be subject to inspection from time to time by the City Manager, or his/her designated representative.
('78 Code, § 18-59) (Ord. 754, passed 9-14-87) Penalty, see § 113.99