For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(a) "Compensation" means any fare, reward or donation or other thing of value which a driver and/or owner of a vehicle accepts or receives in return for furnishing taxicab services.
(b) "Public convenience and necessity" means:
(1) A genuine need for additional taxicab transportation facilities in order to adequately and properly serve the needs and convenience of the general public of the City.
(2) In the determination as to whether "public convenience and necessity", as herein defined, shall require the issuance of additional licenses, Council shall consider the following:
A. The resulting effect upon the business of existing holders of licenses and upon the existing agencies of mass transportation.
B. The effect upon traffic congestion and safety on the public streets.
C. The effect upon working conditions and wages or other compensation paid to drivers of taxicabs or existing holders of licenses.
D. Whether persons holding licenses for the operation of taxicabs are, under normal conditions, adequately serving the public.
E. Whether the requirements of "public convenience and necessity" can be adequately met and complied with by the issuance of additional licenses.
(c) "Taxicab" means:
(1) Any vehicle operated for compensation which receives passengers at a place within the City, to be driven to a destination either within or without the City, over any streets which may be available for any travel. Vehicles furnishing mass transportation of persons, such as trolleycoaches and gasoline or diesel buses, or other mass transportation vehicles which are operated on fixed routes and schedules or between fixed termini are hereby expressly excluded.
(2) The place at which such passengers are received may be either:
A. A fixed base from which the taxicab operates;
B. A place designated by a telephone call or other communication received at the base from which the taxicab operates;
C. A taxicab stand as hereinafter defined;
D. A place previously arranged with the passenger; or
E. Any place which, when hailed, is en route.
(d) "Taxicab driver" means any person driving a taxicab. It is the intent of this definition that when the owner or lessee of a taxicab engages in the driving thereof, in addition to being licensed as an operator, shall also be qualified and licensed as a driver.
(e) "Taxicab operator" means any person, firm or corporation engaged in the taxicab business. It is the intent of this definition that anyone who drives a taxicab in any capacity other than as an employee, shall be deemed an operator and shall, in addition to being licensed as a driver, also be required to be licensed as an operator.
(f) "Taxicab stand" means any space on any street or way designated by Council by resolution as a proper place for the exclusive use of taxicabs awaiting patronage.
(g) "Taximeter" means a mechanical device by which the fee due for the hire of a taxicab is mechanically computed upon the distance traveled and upon the waiting time, upon the face of which device such charge is indicated by figures visible to the passengers.
(h) "Waiting time" mean the time during which the taxicab is not in motion after arriving at the place to which it has been called and the time consumed while standing at the passenger's orders. No charge shall be made for any time lost by reason of delay caused by mechanical difficulties of the taxicab, time lost by premature arrival in response to a call or time lost in route to the destination because of any traffic conditions or delays.
(1987 Code 117.01)