(a) Liability Insurance.
(1) A policy of general liability insurance shall be submitted with each application for a taxicab and/or transit vehicle operator license. This policy shall cover all taxicabs operated and licensed in the City and all taxicab drivers licensed in the City and all taxicab drivers shall be listed by name on said policy submitted to the City. This policy shall be written by an insurance company authorized to carry on business and write such policies in the State of Ohio. The minimum amount of coverage shall be not less than $300,000 for each taxi or transient vehicle operating in the City of Salem per occurrence for combined single limit or bodily injury and property damage liability. The insured must provide proof that the insurance policy has been prepaid through the following January 1st. The policy shall indemnify such taxicab operator in the amounts provided in from the operation of the taxicab by the operator. The policy shall further contain a clause obligating the insured to give ten days written notice to the Planning and Zoning Officer before the cancellation or modification of the policy and shall require the insurance company to notify the Planning and Zoning Officer not less than ten (10) days before any policy is to be canceled or modified. In addition, the insurance policy shall specifically authorize the Planning and Zoning Officer to contact the insurance company at any time in order to verify that a valid insurance policy is in effect. The license to operate said taxicab(s) shall immediately expire upon the lapse, insufficiency or termination of the policy of insurance, and the operator shall immediately surrender the sticker or placard issued by the City for the operation of any and all taxicabs and/or transit vehicles and such sticker or placard shall be subject to immediate confiscation by the Planning and Zoning Officer and/or the Salem Police Department. In the event that any sticker or placard issued by the City of Salem to any operator is not confiscated or surrendered, the Planning and Zoning Officer shall issue a written notice by ordinary mail with certificate of mailing to the operator at the address provided on the operator's application ordering that they are to cease and desist operation due to a lapse, insufficiency or termination in insurance coverage. The delay in receipt of said notice does not authorize operator to continue to operate until notice is received as said operator is deemed to have immediate knowledge of any lapse, insufficiency or termination in the policy that they have purchased.
The policy of insurance shall also contain a provision for the continuing liability thereunder for the full amount, not withstanding any recovery thereon. If at any time the judgement of the Planning and Zoning Officer, the policy of insurance is not sufficient for any cause, the Planning and Zoning officer may require the operator of the taxicab to replace the policy of insurance with another approved by the Planning and Zoning Officer. Failure of any taxicab and/or transit vehicle operator to disclose a lapse, modification or termination of insurance to the Planning and Zoning Officer in accordance with these requirements shall result in triple the fees as set out in Section 733.03
on operator's next application.
(2) The City of Salem shall be a certificate holder for a policy of automobile liability insurance that is in force for the length of the taxicab and/or transit vehicle license. Said certificate shall cover all taxicab and/or transit vehicle drivers and a copy of the certificate shall be submitted at the time of application.
(Ord. 201104-48. Passed 11-4-20.)