(a) Application for Certification Card.
(1) Every person driving a taxicab having a taxicab license from the Village must obtain a taxicab driver's certification card from the Village. Every applicant for a certification card as a driver of a taxicab shall make an application to the Mayor, or his or her designee, on forms provided by the Village and shall set forth in the application that the applicant is:
A. A citizen of the United States or a legal alien;
B. Able to speak, read and write the English language;
C. Twenty-one years of age or over;
D. Free of defective or uncorrected vision, defective or uncorrected hearing, epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble and any other infirmity, physical or mental, which, in the opinion of the Mayor or his or her designee, may render him or her unfit for the safe operation of the taxicab;
E. Not addicted to the use of alcohol or drugs;
F. In possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by the State of Ohio, or a valid CDL operator's license duly issued according to law by any other state;
G. Written proof the applicant is covered with motor vehicle liability insurance by the insurance carrier for the person or the company holding a taxicab license;
H. A BCI & I and FBI criminal history check must be submitted and mailed directly to the Village from BCI; subsequent BCI & I and FBI criminal history check must be submitted annually by each taxicab driver to the Mayor, or his or her designee, by mail directly from BCI; and
I. The application will be investigated for accuracy by the Police Department and will include a local records check.
(2) The applicant shall also furnish any other information required by the Mayor or his or her designee.
(3) Every driver of a taxicab, with the submission of the application, shall pay to the Village a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(4) Each applicant for a certification card under the provisions of this section shall file with his application two acceptable, close up color photographs, each one and one-half inches by one and one half inches, which shall have been taken within 60 days next preceding the date of application.
Applications shall be sworn to by the applicant. Each application shall be on file with the Fiscal Officer.
(b) Examination of Applicant.
(1) After complying with all the requirements of this chapter, every applicant may be examined by the Mayor, or his or her designee, as to the applicant's knowledge of the provisions governing the operation of a vehicle for hire, and as to the applicant's knowledge of the Village and the traffic regulations. The applicant shall produce evidence that he or she has had at least six months experience in operating a motor vehicle, and shall, if required, demonstrate his or her skill and ability.
(2) Every applicant may be examined by the Mayor, or his or her designee, particularly as to the applicant's criminal record, if any, and especially as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of a felony at any time.
(c) Issuance of License.
(1) If the Mayor, or his or her designee, is satisfied that the applicant, under the provisions of this chapter, is a suitable and proper person to drive a vehicle for hire and the applicant's examination discloses no matter which, in the opinion of the Mayor, should be called to the attention of the Council, then the Mayor shall have the authority to issue the license.
(2) It shall be within the discretion of the Mayor or his or her designee to refer his or her findings to the Council, which shall then investigate and hold a hearing as to such application for a license. The applicant shall be notified of the Council's findings.
(3) No license shall be issued to any applicant that has been convicted of the following offenses within the last five years:
A. Manslaughter or homicide of any degree resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle;
B. Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
C. Any felony in which physical violence is used; or
D. Any State offense described below or its equivalent in a Village code;
1. Rape;
2. Sexual battery;
3. Corruption of a minor;
4. Gross sexual imposition; or
5. Sexual imposition.
(4) A. The Council shall review the application of any of the following persons prior to issuance:
1. Any person on probation or parole for a felony or aggravated felony at the time of application;
2. Any person convicted for the use or concealment of a weapon;
3. Any person released from a correctional facility within 12 months of the date of the application; and
4. Any person convicted of two or more offenses relating to the illegal use or possession of drugs.
B. The Council may require additional information or a personal appearance by the applicant or both.
(5) Any applicant who has accumulated eight or more points on his or her Ohio driver's license within the two-year period preceding the date of application shall not be issued a license.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Mayor, or his or her designee, regardless of time limit stated, to refuse to issue a license for these or other background related issues.
(d) At the time of the issuance of a taxicab driver’s certification card it shall include a photo identification card, the specifications of which shall be designed by the Village Administrator.
(e) Taxicab driver's certification cards issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire on May 13 of each year.
(f) No person shall drive a taxicab for hire before a driver's certification card is issued to the driver, and the card is displayed in the taxicab.
(Ord. 973-09. Passed 4-12-10; Ord. 1019-11. Passed 4-11-11.)