(A) No person shall drive any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus for hire upon or over the streets of the city unless the person has a current license issued by the City Secretary and paid for under the provisions of this chapter. No owner shall permit any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus to be driven by any person not licensed under this chapter. All persons operating a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus shall be independent contractors.
(B) Any person desiring to obtain a license to operate a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus in the city shall file, on an annual basis, with the Inspector of Taxicabs an application for the license on forms to be furnished by the City Secretary.
(C) The applicant for operator’s license shall furnish the following:
(1) The applicant’s full name, age and present address;
(2) A statement of whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any violation of a motor vehicle law or criminal ordinance of the city, or of the laws of the state, or of any other state, or of the United States or any foreign country and, if so, a statement giving the particulars of each offense, the time and place of conviction thereof, and the court in which convicted;
(3) Satisfactory evidence showing the applicant to be the holder of a valid Texas license allowing the applicant to operate a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus within the state of Texas;
(4) Affidavits of two reputable citizens of the city, showing the applicant to be trustworthy, sober, competent to operate a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus and of good moral character;
(5) Two photographs, front and side view and two sets of fingerprints of the applicant, the fingerprints to be made under the supervision and direction of the Inspector of Taxicabs;
(6) The name of the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owner;
(7) The address and telephone numbers of the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owner’s taxicab stand;
(8) For shuttle bus and limousine drivers, a valid commercial driver’s license issued by the State of Texas of the class necessary to operate the largest vehicle in the owner’s fleet; and
(9) For taxicab, limousine and shuttle bus drivers, a letter from a physician licensed in Texas stating that the physician has examined the applicant within the last 30 days, and that the driver has been found to be capable of safely operating a vehicle carrying passengers for hire. Additionally, the driver shall submit a report from a drug testing lab licensed in Texas, obtained within the last 30 days, stating that the applicant is free from illegal drugs.
(D) No license shall be issued to the following persons:
(1) Any person who is unable to or does not provide all of the information required in divisions (B) and (C) above of this section;
(2) Any person who has been convicted of a felony or serious crime enumerated under Article 42A.054 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a sexually violent offense under the definition provided in Article 62.001 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or an equivalent crime under the laws of the United States, another state or a foreign country, or any person convicted within the last five years of a crime of moral turpitude. The Inspector of Taxicabs and City Manager have broad discretion to consider any other criminal charge or criminal history in determining fitness of any applicant for a taxicab owner license or operator license;
(3) Any person under 18 years of age; and
(4) Any person who has been convicted of or who has plead guilty to four or more motor vehicle moving violations in the 12 months prior to application.
(E) The Inspector of Taxicabs is authorized and directed, to make an investigation, as he or she may deem necessary to determine the fitness of the applicant for the license. The investigation may include testing the applicant’s knowledge of the city streets and thoroughfares on terms as the City Manager may prescribe.
(F) If the Inspector of Taxicabs finds that the applicant meets the requirements of this chapter, an operator license will be issued to the applicant. A fee of $25 will be paid annually by the licensee, to be paid on or before January 1 of each year and the license will remain in effect until December 31 of the calendar year unless the license is revoked as provided in this chapter.
(G) If the Inspector of Taxicabs finds that the applicant is disqualified to drive a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus for hire on the streets of the city, it shall be the duty of the Inspector to render an unfavorable recommendation prior to any re-consideration being given.
(H) A license issued to taxicab, limousine and shuttle bus drivers under this chapter shall not be transferable.
(I) Each taxicab, limousine and shuttle bus driver shall display his or her license in the taxicab he or she is driving. The license shall show the license number together with a photograph of the driver, of a size and view as required by the Inspector of Taxicabs. The license shall be posted in the right hand front dashboard above the glove compartment of the vehicle.
(J) Upon complaint filed by any person against a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus driver with the Inspector of Taxicabs, or upon the Inspector’s own motion, charging violation of any of the terms of this chapter or any ordinances of the city, laws of the state regulating motor vehicles, or for other good cause, the Inspector, after giving five days notice of the complaint to the driver, may hear evidence with respect to the complaint. After hearing, the Inspector may revoke or suspend the driver’s operator license, for good cause shown. After the Inspector has heard the complaint he or she shall make his or her findings and declare the same, and either the driver or the complainant shall have the right of appeal under the provisions of § 116.18(D) and (E) of this chapter.
(Ord. 548B, passed 1-27-2009; Ord. 548-C, passed 6-22-2010; Ord. 548-D, passed 2-12-2013; Ord. 548-E, passed --) Penalty, see § 116.99