(A) (1) The Taxicab Board shall investigate and hold a hearing upon each new application for license. If it finds from such investigation and hearing that the public convenience and necessity do not justify the operation of the vehicles for which license is desired, the Board shall forthwith notify the applicant of its finding.
(2) If the Board finds from such investigation and hearing that the public convenience and necessity do justify the operation of the vehicle or vehicles for which license is desired, it shall forthwith so notify the applicant.
(3) Within 60 days thereafter, the applicant shall furnish and file with the Director of Code Enforcement the following:
(a) A full description of each vehicle for which license is desired, the name of the current and previous owner and the state license number of each such vehicle;
(b) An unexpired official certificate from an authorized motor vehicle inspection station of the city or a neighboring city or a state vehicle inspection that states that each such vehicle has been inspected and tested and found to meet the standards of safety fixed by state law and that each such vehicle is roadworthy and safe for operation as a taxicab;
(c) The name of each person who will operate such taxicabs with the taxicab operator/driver’s license number of each such person, along with a sworn affidavit that all drivers, present and future, do not and will not have any convictions for an offense of violence, as defined in R.C. § 2901.01, a felony drug conviction, a felony theft conviction, a felony sexual offense or a driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol conviction per guidelines issued by the Board; and
(d) A policy or policies of liability insurance issued for the life of the license applied for, or longer, by a responsible insurance company, approved as to sufficiency by the Board Treasurer and as to legality by the solicitor, covering the taxicab and its owner and taxicab operator/driver for liability for loss resulting from the operation of each such taxicab to the extent of $50,000 on account of injury or death of one person in any one accident; $100,000 on account of injury or death of more than one person in any one accident; $50,000 for property damage caused in any one accident.
(B) In lieu of the policies of insurance above described, applicant may furnish a bond binding the principal and sureties to liability for damages to the extent of $50,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively, as above set forth, with at least two approved personal sureties or one approved corporate surety approved as to legality by the solicitor.
(C) Thereupon, the Board shall examine such supporting information and documents, and being satisfied that the applicant is the owner of any such vehicle, that the same is a safe and fit conveyance, and that satisfactory liability insurance or bond has been issued and is in force thereon, it shall, upon payment of the prescribed taxicab business license fee, issue a license to the applicant, to be signed by the Board Treasurer, Board Secretary and the City Manager.
(D) Taxicab business licenses are non-transferable. A certified copy of such license shall be exhibited at all times in a prominent place in each taxicab.
(E) It is the responsibility of the taxicab business owner to inform the Board of any major changes in business operation, including, but not limited to, change of address or change in medical or psychological condition of the owner or any driver which would impact on the ability to operate a taxicab.
(Prior Code, § 11.05.04) Penalty, see § 114.99
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see R.C. § 2901.23