A. No person shall drive a taxicab in the city without a valid taxi driver permit. The prospective driver shall submit a written application to the chief of police, or his or her designee. No permit shall be issued:
1. To any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years;
2. The applicant has within ten (10) years preceding the date of the application been convicted of any of the following:
a. A violation of Penal Code Section 266(h), 266(i), 314, 315, 316 or 318, Penal Code Section 647(a) or (b), or that the applicant is required to register under the provisions of Penal Code Section 290, or when the prosecution accepted a plea of guilty or nob contendere to a charge of a violation of California Penal Code Section 415 or any lesser included or lesser related offense in satisfaction of, or as a substitute for, any of the previously listed crimes;
b. A violation of Health and Safety Code Section 11550 or any offense involving the illegal sale, distribution or possession of a controlled substance specified in Health and Safety Code Sections 11054, 11055, 11056, 11057 or 11058;
c. Any offense in any other state which is the equivalent of any of the above-mentioned offenses;
d. To any person who has, within a period of ten (10) years immediately preceding such application, been convicted of a felony or any crime of violence, theft or fraud;
e. Any person who, within a period of five (5) years immediately preceding such application, has been convicted of reckless driving or driving a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquors or drugs, or convicted of the violation of any of the provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of the state;
f. To any person who is for any reason whatsoever unable or incompetent to safely demonstrate the skill and ability to safely handle a vehicle in driving it through the crowded sections of the city while accompanied by an inspector designated by the chief of police, or his or her designee, This condition may be required or waived at the sole discretion of the chief of police, or his or her designee, depending on the need and traffic conditions within the city as determined by the chief of police, or his or her designee;
g. To any person who cannot demonstrate proof of legal residency and/or the ability to legally work or operate a business in the United States;
h. To any person who does not hold a Class C or better license issued by the motor vehicle department of the state, or who is not sufficiently acquainted with the laws or ordinances regulating the operation of motor vehicles.
Any falsification on the application for the permit will be grounds for the refusal of the permit. The application shall also be signed by the taxicab business permit holder and shall indicate where the driver will operate and whether the driver is an employee or not.
B. Photograph and Fingerprints. Before a driver's permit is granted to any applicant, the applicant shall present himself or herself to the police department, furnish an acceptable photograph (or be photographed by police staff) and be fingerprinted, and such photographs and fingerprints shall be filed with the permanent records of the police department.
C. Posting—Taxi Driver's Permit. Upon obtaining the permit the driver shall at all times keep posted in full view of the passenger in the vehicle operated by him or her the driver's permit, which shall have plainly printed thereon the name of the driver, his or her business address and telephone number, his or her permit number and his or her photograph, and the name and address of the taxicab business permit holder.
D. Duration—Renewal. All taxi driver permits to drive a taxicab shall expire two years from the date of issue. Applications for renewal shall be made within thirty (30) days before the date of expiration of the permit. When renewal is made within the period prescribed, such renewal shall be accompanied by a fee as established by resolution of the city council. Permits are property of the city and are not transferable.
(Ord. 344 § 21, 2005)