(a) No taxicab driver shall operate or be in charge of a taxicab upon the streets of the City without displaying conspicuously on the inside of the taxicab, and in plain view, the license issued pursuant to division (a) hereof. No person in charge of or driving a taxicab shall display a license issued to any other person or for any other licensed driver, or permit any other person to use the license issued to him or her.
(b) Every applicant for a license as an operator of a taxicab shall make application to the Taxicab Licensing Official on forms to be supplied by the Taxicab Licensing Official. To qualify to drive a Taxicab within the City of Middletown, all individuals must provide the following information to the Taxicab Licensing Official and pass the following requirements.
(c) Required application information:
(1) Name, address, telephone number;
(2) Date of birth, height, weight, hair color, eye color;
(3) Current valid Ohio driver's license;
(4) A current 2" x 3" color head shot photograph;
(5) The applicant must sign a release allowing the Taxicab Licensing Official to complete a background check.
(d) The applicant must be at least 19 years of age.
(e) The Taxicab Licensing Official shall approve or disapprove all applications for licensing based upon the applicants background check as well as any other information obtained by exercising due diligence. Grounds for refusal of licenses are as follows:
(1) The applicant has been convicted of a theft offense within one year;
(2) The applicant has been convicted of a felony theft offense within three years;
(3) The applicant has been convicted of a drug sale offense at any time;
(4) The applicant has been convicted of a drug abuse offense within one year;
(5) The applicant has been convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol under R.C. § 4511.19 or any comparable municipal ordinance and/or drugs or being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol under R.C. § 4511.194 or any comparable municipal ordinance within the past two years;
(6) The applicant has been convicted of a sexually oriented offense at any time;
(7) The applicant has a felony criminal record or a lengthy or diverse criminal or driving record within the last five years which is rationally related to the qualifications for operating a taxicab service to the public;
(8) The applicant provides false information on the taxicab operators license application;
(9) For any person whose convictions fall within the above guidelines, the date of conviction shall be deemed to be the later of the actual date of conviction or their release from incarceration resulting from the conviction.
(f) The Taxicab Licensing Official is hereby authorized and empowered to establish such rules and regulations covering the issuance of taxicab operator's licenses, not inconsistent herewith, as may be necessary and reasonable.
(g) When the Taxicab Licensing Official is satisfied all the required conditions for a taxicab operators license have been completed, and the proper fees have been collected, a City taxicab operators license will be issued to the applicant.
(Ord. O2017-37, passed 9-5-2017)