(A) No taxicab shall operate upon the streets of the city without first obtaining a license as herein provided for. All such licenses shall be issued as of July 1 and shall expire on June 30, next succeeding, unless sooner suspended or revoked as provided for by this chapter. Application for licenses for taxicabs shall be made by the owner thereof upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk, and such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the length of time the vehicle has been in use, the number of persons it is capable of carrying, and the motor and serial number of the vehicle. No such vehicle shall be licensed as a taxicab until it has been thoroughly and carefully inspected, examined, and found to be in thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers. It shall be clean, fit, of good appearance, and well painted or varnished. The examination and inspection shall be made before issuing a license, and the license shall be refused if any vehicle is found to be unfit or not suited for public patronage.
(B) The Chief of Police of the city shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for the inspection of taxicabs and their appurtenances, construction, and condition of fitness. If upon inspection any motor vehicle to be used as a taxicab is found to be in proper condition upon payment of the license fee hereinafter set forth, upon approval of the Chief of Police the same shall be licensed by the City Clerk upon payment of the license fee, and when so licensed there shall be delivered to the owner a proper license or card reciting such facts. The card shall contain the official license number of the vehicle, together with the date of the inspection and the statement to the effect that in case of any complaint, the Chief of Police shall be notified and his or her license number of the vehicle shall be reported. The card shall be of a distinctly different color each year and shall contain the name of the person owning the vehicle, the license number assigned thereto, and the make of vehicle to which it is assigned. Every taxicab shall have the name of the owner thereof plainly painted in letters at least two inches in length on the outside of the vehicle where it is plainly visible.
(1977 Code, § 6-5-2) Penalty, see § 10.99