(A) Required: It is unlawful for any person to drive, operate or be in charge of, any taxicab governed or affected by this chapter, without having first obtained a driver's permit, issued pursuant to this chapter to do so.
(B) Application; Fee: The applicant for such permit shall appear personally and file with the chief of police an application in writing, upon a form furnished by the chief of police, containing such information as the chief of police may require. Such application shall be accompanied by a service fee pursuant to subsection 4-2-28(A)23(a) of this title. Such fee shall not be refunded for any reason. In addition to his application, the applicant shall furnish to the police department at the time he submits his application three (3) passport sized recent photographs of acceptable quality and shall be further required to furnish new photographs upon request of the police department when the original photographs are no longer suitable.
(C) Issuance: Upon receipt of such application accompanied by the required fee as provided in subsection (B) of this section, the chief of police shall, subject to the conditions contained in subsection (D) of this section, issue to such applicant a driver's permit. Such permit shall state the name of the carrier by whom the holder thereof is to be employed and shall authorize the applicant to drive, operate or be in charge of any vehicle operated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter only by the carrier named in the permit; provided, however, that the permit holder may change his employer and drive, operate or be in charge of vehicles operated pursuant to this chapter by another carrier after securing from the chief of police an endorsement on his driver's permit of a change of carrier as provided in this chapter.
(D) Restrictions: No driver's license shall be issued to any such applicant who is under the age of eighteen (18) years, or who is not the holder of a valid, unrevoked and unsuspended class C license issued by the state. A prior conviction of any of the offenses mentioned in subsection 4-19-29(A) of this chapter, shall be a good cause for denial of the driver's permit by reason of such conviction. The chief of police shall consult such records and consider such evidence as is available to him at the time of acting on the application to determine the fitness of the applicant. In addition, all applicants shall take and pass with negative results a controlled substance and alcohol test in accordance with California Government Code section 53075.5 as it may be amended or renumbered. Such test shall be taken no more than thirty (30) days preceding the date the application is filed for a new permit or renewal of an expired permit and the negative results must be received by the chief of police no later than thirty (30) days after the date the application is filed. Failure to meet these deadlines shall result in the invalidation of the permit process. The test shall be taken in a certified national institute on drug abuse (NIDA) laboratory, certified documentation of the results shall be submitted to the chief of police in the time frames outlined herein along with sufficient identifying factors to match the test results with the permittee.
(E) Investigation: As soon as possible, before the issuance of a driver's permit, the chief of police shall make such further investigation of the character and fitness of the applicant as he deems necessary. After the completion of such further investigation, if he is satisfied that the operation, by the applicant, of a vehicle authorized to be operated under the terms of this chapter will be detrimental to the public health, peace, safety or welfare, or that the holder of such driver's permit is unfit to hold the same, he shall revoke such driver's permit as provided in section 4-19-29 of this chapter.
(F) Effective Period: The chief of police shall keep a copy of such driver's permit on file in his office. Such driver's permit shall constitute evidence of compliance with the terms of this chapter. Such driver's permit shall be effective until the expiration date printed thereon pursuant to subsection (G) of this section, or until suspended or revoked as provided in section 4-19-29 of this chapter.
(G) Expiration: All permits issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire on the three hundred sixty fifth day following the date of its issuance, unless suspended or revoked as provided herein.
(H) Renewal: A renewal driver's permit shall be issued by the chief of police to any permittee who has paid a renewal fee pursuant to subsection 4-2-28(A)23(b) of this title and completed all the requirements, including, but not limited to, the controlled substance and alcohol test as indicated in subsection (D) of this section.
(I) Change Of Carrier: An endorsement of a change of carrier by whom a permit holder may be employed shall be made on a permit by the chief of police whenever the holder thereof makes application therefor and pays a transfer fee pursuant to subsection 4-2-28(A)23(c) of this title.
(J) Duplicate; Fee: A fee pursuant to subsection 4-2-28(A)23(d) of this title shall be collected for the issuance of each duplicate driver's permit.
(K) Transfer: In the event that a driver holding a valid permit issued by the county requests a transfer to a company operating within the city, the chief of police may accept the results of the investigation made by the county and issue a city permit to such driver or may require an investigation similar to that required for a new permit; however, in either case, a transfer fee pursuant to subsection 4-2-28(A)23(c) of this title is required.
(L) Operation Within City Limits: If a driver works for a company which is located outside the corporate limits of the city, but licensed to operate both in the city and county, such driver will be required to obtain a permit from the chief of police without regard to any other permit he may have or be required to have by any other agency.
(M) Termination Of Employment Of Any Taxi Driver:
1. An employer shall notify the chief of police, in writing, of the termination of employment of any taxi driver, and driver shall return his/her permit to the city.
2. Upon termination of employment, a driver's permit shall become void. (Ord. 710-04, 4-20-2004)