(A) No person shall engage in or otherwise participate in the operation of any taxi service within the town unless such person shall have first obtained a permit granted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(B) Any person seeking issuance of a taxi service permit shall file a written application with the chief on a form supplied by the town. Submission of any false or misleading information to obtain or renew a Permit shall be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of such permit. At a minimum, the application shall include:
(1) A list of all motor vehicles that applicant proposes to use in the taxi service; and
(2) A list of all drivers whom applicant proposes to use in the taxi service.
(C) The chief will conduct an investigation to determine applicant's qualifications. Submission of an application for a taxi service permit shall constitute a waiver of any privileges and rights of privacy with respect to any document in existence reasonably related to the determination of the applicant's qualifications and shall serve as an authorization to the chief to make inquiry of any person or entity, and to receive any oral or written reports from any person or entity, regarding any facts, evidence or information reasonably related to the determination of the applicant's qualifications. If needed, the applicant shall sign a separate written authorization for the release of documents or information concerning the applicant.
(D) No taxi service permit will be issued unless the applicant meets the following requirements:
(1) The applicant is at least 18 years of age or is otherwise legally emancipated and is a U.S. citizen or possesses documentation of eligibility to work in the United States;
(2) The applicant has not has been convicted within the last ten years of any of the following:
(a) Any felony against the state or any offense against another state which would have been a felony if committed in North Carolina;
(b) Any federal or state law relating to the use, possession, or sale of alcoholic beverages or narcotic or barbiturate drugs; and
(c) Any federal or state law relating to prostitution;
(E) The chief upon completion of a permit investigation, shall make a report with recommendations to the Council regarding approval or denial of a permit or a renewal based on an investigation.
(F) A permit shall be nonexclusive and shall be granted for a term of three years from effective date of the permit. The permit may be renewed for terms of three years. Renewal requests must be forwarded to the chief at least 30 days prior to permit expiration.
(G) A permit shall not be sold, transferred, leased, assigned, or disposed of, in whole or in part, either by voluntary, involuntary, or forced sale, or by merger or consolidation or otherwise.
(H) If the permit holder, for any reason, is no longer able to provide the taxi service as applied for, the taxi service permit shall immediately terminate.
(I) All taxicabs operating within the corporate limits shall be prominently marked as such.
(Ord. passed 2-5-2013)