(A) A taxicab permit shall be granted in writing by the City Council upon application in writing and upon a satisfactory showing by the applicant that he or she and his or her taxicab or taxicabs are possessed of the following qualifications, and that public convenience and necessity, as hereinafter in this section specified, make expedient the operation of his or her taxicab or taxicabs.
(B) The taxicab must meet all requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state in regard to equipment and mechanical condition.
(C) The taxicab must have the proper license as required by the laws of the state.
(D) The taxicab must be painted a distinctive color or colors so that it will not be confused with taxicabs owned or leased by other persons; the name of the owner or lessee and the permit number of the taxicab must appear on the front door of each side in letters at least four inches high. Each permittee who holds more than one taxicab permit may have one taxicab for emergency use only which need not comply with this section concerning painting.
(E) The owner or lessee must be a financially responsible person.
(F) The owner or lessee of the taxicab must secure his or her ability to answer to any claim for damage to person or property which may arise against him or her by reason of the operation of the vehicle to the following extent:
(1) For personal injury to one person: $100,000.
(2) For personal injury to more than one person in an accident: $300,000.
(3) For property damage: $25,000.
(4) The security may be by an insurance policy or by surety bond issued by a licensed bonding corporation. In either case, the form of the security and the reliability of the company issuing it must meet with the approval of the City Council.
(G) (1) It must appear that the public convenience and necessity require the operation of the taxicab. To comply with this provision, the applicant must show that vehicles of the same kind already holding taxicab permits under this article are inadequate in number, unsatisfactory in service or otherwise unable to provide transportation for hire commensurate with the demand for the transportation in the city.
(2) If any taxicab is required to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Utilities Commission of the state, this provision shall not apply to the vehicle while operating according to the certificate.
(`61 Code, § 22.14) (Ord. 303, passed 4-17-1956; Am. Ord. 452, passed 7-6-1965; Am. Ord. 461, passed 6-21-1966; Am. Ord. 494, passed 7-22-1969)