(a) No person shall operate, upon the streets of the City, any taxicab for hire without first obtaining a license therefor. No such license shall be issued except on the approval of Council. The City Clerk, with the approval of Council, is hereby authorized to grant a license for the operation of taxicabs within the City to any citizen of the United States who is twenty-one years of age or older, who is of good moral character, and to any firm or corporation duly organized for the purpose of operating a taxicab business, which firm or corporation has fully complied with all laws of the State pertaining thereto. The person applying for such license shall produce proof, to the satisfaction of Council, that there is a public necessity for the issuance of a license to the applicant.
(1974 Code § 7.103)
(b) An application for a license for a taxicab for hire shall be made by the owner upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk. Such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the class of vehicle for which a license is desired, the length of time the vehicle has been in use, the number of persons it is capable of carrying and the motor number thereof. An auto mechanic certified by the State of Michigan shall examine and inspect each taxicab to see that it is thoroughly safe for transportation of passengers. A copy of such certification shall be provided to the City. If, after inspection, the taxicab is deemed satisfactory, and the applicant has met the other requirements in this chapter, then a license shall be issued upon payment of a license fee as specified in the Business License Fee Schedule. Upon such issuance there shall be delivered to the owner, in addition to the license, a card of such size and form as may be prescribed by the City Clerk. Such card shall contain the date of inspection of the same, a statement to the effect that in case of complaint, the Police Department shall be notified, and the license number of the taxicab. Such card shall be signed by the City Clerk and shall contain blank spaces upon which entry may be made of the date of every inspection of the vehicle. The City Clerk shall issue with each license a license plate or tag for each motor vehicle license, which license plate or tag shall be displayed in a conspicuous place upon the taxicab or motor vehicle for hire.
(Ord. 709. Passed 12-20-00; Ord. 797. Passed 10-6-04.)