(A) The Inspector of Taxicabs will be appointed by the City Manager. It is the duty of the Inspector to supervise the operation of taxicabs, limousines and shuttle buses within the city. The Inspector will perform the duties prescribed by this chapter and further duties as may be directed from time to time by the City Manager.
(B) It shall be the duty of every owner to have all taxicabs, limousines and shuttle buses licensed under this chapter inspected every six months by the Inspector of Taxicabs or the qualified person as may be designated by the City Manager to perform inspections, including, but not limited to, an inspector licensed by the state. The inspection shall include, but not be limited to, inspection of lights, brakes, steering, tires, a road test, physical appearance and the general mechanical condition of the vehicle. Upon finding the vehicle is in acceptable mechanical condition, the Inspector shall issue a certificate stating that the vehicle has been inspected, the date of inspection, identification of the vehicle and that the vehicle has passed inspection. The Inspector shall affix a seal on the windshield stating the date of inspection and approval. The owner shall pay an inspection fee not to exceed $50 per inspection. The operation of a taxicab without a current inspection seal, even though otherwise properly licensed, shall constitute grounds for an automatic ten-day suspension of the vehicle license and an automatic ten-day suspension of the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus operator license of the person operating the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus, in addition to the criminal penalties provided by this chapter.
(C) If the Inspector of Taxicabs finds that any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus is in a defective condition and is unsafe to be used as a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus, he or she shall order the vehicle removed from service and it shall not be used as a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus until the defect is remedied. After the owner has taken action to remedy the defect, the owner shall offer the vehicle for re-inspection, and if the Inspector finds the vehicle to be safe for public use, he or she shall approve the same as provided in § 116.02(D) herein. If the vehicle is still in a defective condition he or she shall order that it not be used unless it passes subsequent inspection.
(D) When an appeal is permitted in this chapter to the City Manager to review any decision of the Inspector of Taxicabs, the appeal shall be perfected within ten days from the date of the decision by written notice from the appellant addressed to the City Manager stating that an appeal from the decision is requested, describing the decision appealed from and the date thereof. The City Manager, as soon as practicable after receiving notice of appeal, shall grant the appellant a hearing, and after the hearing shall modify, sustain or reverse the findings or decision of the Inspector and shall certify his or her decision in writing to the Inspector and to the appellant. If no appeal is taken from any findings or decision made by the Inspector within the time required, the decision of the Inspector shall be final.
(E) The decision of the City Manager may be appealed to the City Commission, provided that notice of appeal be perfected within ten days of the City Manager’s written decision. Notice of appeal shall be given by sending a certified letter, return receipt requested, addressed to the Mayor and City Commissioners in care of the City Secretary at City Hall, stating that this appeal from the decision of the City Manager is desired to the City Commission. To perfect an appeal, a copy of any notice of appeal must also be sent in the same manner to the City Manager and the City Attorney. The City Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, thereafter place the appeal on the next agenda for the next regular meeting of the City Commission.
(F) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the Inspector of Taxicabs from inspecting any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus at any time in the Inspector’s sole discretion.
(G) Tinted windows on any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus must pass state requirements.
(H) A record of all inspections made, shall be kept by the Inspector of Taxicabs.
(I) If the Inspector of Taxicabs finds any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus in a defective condition and orders its use as a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus discontinued, the owner of the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus shall have the right to appeal under the provisions of divisions (D) and (E) above.
(J) It shall be the duty of every owner to maintain and submit to the Inspector of Taxicabs every 180 days detailed records indicating whether or not each taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus licensed under the provisions of this chapter has been used and operated as a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus on each day of the immediately preceding 180 days.
(K) The Inspector of Taxicabs shall revoke the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus license for every taxicab which has not been used or operated as a taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus for at least 45 days in any 180-day period as determined by his or her inspection of the records provided in division (J) above of this chapter.
(L) No taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus will be permitted to operate without a functioning dome light. The dome light must not be illuminated when the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus is being operated for hire and must be illuminated when the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus is vacant and available for hire.
(M) Bulletin boards may be placed on taxicabs, limousines and shuttle buses and there will be no limitation on the language in which any message is displayed.
(Ord. 548B, passed 1-27-2009; Ord. 548-C, passed 6-22-2010; Ord. 548-E, passed --) Penalty, see § 116.99