(A) No person, co-partnership or corporation shall hereafter use or operate or cause to be used or operated any motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire over or upon any public highway or street in the city, except trunk highways under the control of the state, unless the person, co-partnership or corporation shall first pay the license fee herein prescribed and secure a license from the city so to do in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(B) Application for the operation of a motor vehicle for hire shall be made in writing and filed with the City Clerk and shall state the kind of vehicle to be used, the vehicle identification number and the state license number, the seating capacity of the vehicle, the name of the owner or licensee and the nature of business proposed to be done. Each application shall be duly verified and shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by at least two resident taxpayers of the city, stating that they are acquainted with the applicant and that he or she is a fit and proper person to engage in the business.
(C) No such license shall be issued until the applicant shall obtain a policy of insurance through an insurance company authorized to do business under the laws of the state, insuring the person, co-partnership or corporation operating the vehicles against loss by reason of any damages that may result to any person or persons from the operation of the motor vehicle. The policy of insurance shall insure the operator in at least the minimum amount required by state statutes against claims for damage by reason of injuries to any one person injured or killed through the operation of the motor vehicle. The policy of insurance shall guarantee payment of any final judgment rendered against the owner or licensee of the motor vehicle within the limits hereinbefore provided, because of injury or damage resulting to any person or persons from the negligent operation of the motor vehicle. It shall be in a form satisfactory to the City Council which may require the licensee to replace the policy of insurance if the Council shall, at any time, deem it or the insurer thereon unsatisfactory or insufficient. The default or refusal of the licensee to comply with any such order of the Council shall be ground for revocation of the license of the licensee.
(1) As part of the application process, all parties seeking taxi licensure in the city must pass the state’s Department of Transportation’s annual vehicle inspection. As taxi vehicles do not qualify for a DOT number, they cannot be issued a state inspection decal.
(2) The city shall issue a taxi number identification sticker annually, once the vehicle passes the state safety inspection and provides the proper insurance certificate. This sticker must be adhered to the driver’s side rear window to the vehicle within five days of issuance.
(3) All taxi drivers must be at least 18 years old and pass a criminal background check by the city’s Police Department.
(4) The city shall issue a photo identification card for each driver, which must be displayed in a visible place in the taxi while the driver is on duty.
(5) The city will charge a non-refundable fee, set by City Council resolution, for each background check that is completed for potential taxi drivers.
(D) The insurance policy herein provided or a duly authenticated copy thereof shall be filed with the City Clerk; and shall contain a provision that it cannot be cancelled by the insurer without notice to the city. A current insurance card must be displayed in each taxi.
(Amended 5-1-2012)
(E) License fees.
(1) Annual, non-proratable fees for each taxi license shall be set in accordance with § 6.04.
(2) All taxi licenses shall expire on December 31 of each year.
(F) In any case in which any one person, co-partnership or corporation shall apply for license for more than one such motor vehicle, the person, co-partnership or corporation shall not be required to submit separate policies of insurance for each motor vehicle if it shall file with the city a blanket insurance policy covering all vehicles which gives to the licensee and to any person or persons injured because of the negligent operation of any motor vehicle at least the same amount of protection which is required by the provisions of this section.
(G) Upon compliance with the provisions hereof, the City Council, if it deems the applicant a fit person to engage in the business, may grant the license. Upon the license being granted by the Council, the Clerk shall issue the same and shall furnish to the licensee for each vehicle so licensed containing the number of the license and the period for which the vehicle is so licensed. The license shall, at all times, be displayed on the driver’s side rear window in the motor vehicle. All licensed taxis must be clearly marked as a taxi, with the business name identified on both sides of the vehicle.
(Amended 5-1-2012)
(H) This section shall not apply to the Dial-A-Ride service.
(I) Any license granted hereunder may be revoked by the Council at any time.
(J) (1) Taxi companies found to be in violation of this section within a 24-month period shall be administratively fined as follows:
(a) First offense: $75;
(b) Second offense: $200; and
(c) Third offense: $250 and revocation of license for one year.
(2) If the business gets their license back and receives another violation, the license will be revoked permanently. Failure to pay the fine within 30 days will result in suspension of license. Before any license is suspended or revoked under this section, the licensee shall be given notice of the accused violation and shall be given the right to request a hearing on the matter and to appeal the findings of the hearing on suspension or revocation. In the case of an administrative penalty, the hearing for the penalty may be the same as for the suspension or revocation.
(Amended 5-1-2012)
(K) This section shall be in force and effect from and after 1-1-2000. All licenses issued under any other ordinance of the city to any person to operate any motor vehicle for hire within the city shall be and hereby are revoked on that date.
(Adopted 12-14-1999)