(A) Before an operator license shall be issued under this chapter, or before any renewal of an owner license shall be granted, the owner shall file with the City Secretary, and thereafter keep in full force and effect, a policy of public liability insurance approved by the City Manager and issued by an insurance company duly authorized to do business in the state, and insuring the public against any loss or damage that may result to any person or property from the operation of the taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus covered.
(B) The amount of coverage in a policy of insurance required by this chapter shall be not less than the following sums:
For the bodily injury or death of any one person in any one accident | $25,000 |
Because of bodily injury or death of 2 or more persons in any one accident | $50,000 |
For injury or destruction of property of others in any one accident | $25,000 |
(C) The minimum amount of liability coverage shall never be less than the amount required by the laws of the State of Texas under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, being Texas Transportation Code §§ 601.001 et seq. as amended, and the minimum required amounts of insurance in division (B) may be increased in the City Manager’s discretion, at any time, upon delivery of written notice to all holders of taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus owners or drivers licenses.
(D) The public liability insurance coverage required by this chapter shall be for the protection of the passengers of the insured taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus and for the public.
(E) All policies of public liability insurance required by this chapter shall contain a provision for a continuing liability thereon up to the full amount thereof, notwithstanding any recovery thereon.
(F) In the event of the return unsatisfied of any execution issued on any final judgment rendered against any taxicab, limousine or shuttle bus company owner in any suit for damages on account of injury to person or property occasioned by the operation of any taxicab, the owner, within ten days after the return of the execution unsatisfied, provided the judgment is still unpaid, shall increase the amount of his or her insurance coverage to pay the judgment, or otherwise furnish evidence satisfactory to the City Manager that the owner can pay the judgment, and failing to do so shall forthwith cease the operation of taxicabs, limousines and shuttle buses in the city until the additional insurance is deposited or the judgment is paid.
(G) If any insurer desires to be released from any insurance filed under this chapter, it may give written notice of the desire to the Inspector of Taxicabs at least 30 days before it desires its liability released, and the Inspector of Taxicabs shall thereupon give written notice, by personal delivery or by mail, to the insured and demand that he or she furnish new insurance by the expiration of the 30-day period above provided for.
(H) If any policy is canceled upon request of the insurer, and no new insurance policy is filed before cancellation of the original insurance, the operator license granted to the insured shall be automatically revoked without notice.
(I) Neither the city nor any officer thereof shall be held liable for the pecuniary responsibility or solvency of any insurer under the provisions of this chapter, or in any manner become liable for any sum on account of the claim or act or omission relating to the insured vehicle, nor shall the liability of the owner of any vehicle be in any manner limited or changed by reason of the provisions of this chapter, but the judgment creditors having causes of action secured thereby shall be authorized to sue directly on the policy of insurance without implicating the city, and all persons known to any insurer to have been injured or damaged in the same accident and claiming damages thereunder may be made parties without priority of claim on payment in any suit had or instituted on account of the matter, except as otherwise provided by law.
(Ord. 548B, passed 1-27-2009; Ord. 548-C, passed 6-22-2010; Ord. 548-E, passed --)