CHAPTER 5
BUSINESSES RELATING TO VEHICLES

ARTICLE A. AMBULANCES

(Rep. by Ord. 5255, 11-17-2014)

ARTICLE B. TAXICABS AND LIMOUSINES

SECTION:

3-5B-1: Jurisdiction

3-5B-2: Definitions

3-5B-3: Permit Required

3-5B-4: Contract Drivers

3-5B-5: Business Application For Company Only

3-5B-6: Denial Of Business Permit For Company Only

3-5B-7: Council Approval

3-5B-8: Issuance Of Permit

3-5B-9: Liability Insurance Required

3-5B-10: Licenses And Fees

3-5B-11: Transfer Of Permit

3-5B-12: Permit Suspension Or Revocation

3-5B-13: Duration Of The Business License

3-5B-14: Driver's License Required

3-5B-15: Application For Driver's License

3-5B-16: Police Investigation Of Applicant; Traffic And Police Record

3-5B-17: Examination Of Applicant

3-5B-18: Consideration Of Application

3-5B-19: Issuance Of License

3-5B-20: Duration Of License

3-5B-21: License Fee

3-5B-22: Lost License

3-5B-23: Suspension Or Revocation Of License

3-5B-24: Vehicles Kept In Sanitary And Structurally Sound Condition

3-5B-25: Condition Of Vehicles; Safety/Mechanical Inspection

3-5B-26: Designation Of Vehicles For Hire

3-5B-27: Taximeter

3-5B-28: Receipt For Payment Of Rates

3-5B-29: Prepayment

3-5B-30: Posting Of Rates

3-5B-31: Overcharge

3-5B-32: Additional Passengers

3-5B-33: Trip Card

3-5B-34: Driver Prohibitions

3-5B-35: Preventing Ingress And Egress

3-5B-36: Smoking Prohibited By Vehicle For Hire Driver

3-5B-37: Violation; Penalty

3-5B-1: JURISDICTION:

This article shall apply to all vehicles for hire whose place of business is in the city or who conducts business in the city. (Ord. 4775, 6-13-2005)

3-5B-2: DEFINITIONS:

   A.   Specific Terms: Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context clearly indicates a different intention, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this article, have the following meanings in this section:

CITY CLERK: The city clerk or the clerk's authorized representative.

DRIVER'S LICENSE: The permission granted to a person to drive a vehicle for hire upon the streets of the city.

HOLDER: A person to whom a permit for operating a vehicle for hire business has been issued.

LIMOUSINE: A motor vehicle with a passenger rated capacity of more than three (3), exclusive of the driver, and not regulated by the office of motor carrier services of the Iowa department of transportation. It shall include the vehicle and driver engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire in a limousine service. The vehicle shall be operated on a fixed route or have reservations twenty four (24) hours in advance for their service, operate without a meter installed in the vehicle, and charge for services on an hourly basis or longer periods of time.

PERSON: Includes an individual, a corporation or other legal entity, a partnership, and any unincorporated association.

TAXICAB: A motor vehicle regularly engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire and not operated on a fixed route and operating with a meter.

TRIP CARD: A daily record prepared by a vehicle for hire driver of all trips made by the driver showing the time and place of origin, destination, number of passengers and the amount of fare for each trip.

VEHICLE FOR HIRE: A taxicab and/or limousine regularly engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire.

   B.   Exceptions: For the purposes of this article, those motor vehicles owned and operated by hotels, motels and other boarding places for the purpose of transporting patrons between said hotel, motel, or boarding place and another point; ambulances and other emergency vehicles; and buses operated by the metropolitan transit authority or vans operated by the regional transit commission, are excluded from this article. (Ord. 4775, 6-13-2005)

3-5B-3: PERMIT REQUIRED:

No person or business shall operate a vehicle for hire owned or controlled by that person to be operated as a vehicle for hire upon the streets of the city without having first obtained a permit. However, a department of transportation certified charter carrier may be exempted from all requirements and fees for licensing upon registration of business and submission of proof of a department of transportation motor carrier certificate and certificate of insurance in compliance with section 3-5B-9 of this article. (Ord. 4775, 6-13-2005)

3-5B-4: CONTRACT DRIVERS:

   A.   Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3-5B-3 of this article, a permit may also be granted to an applicant therefor or renewed to an existing holder of a permit, who proposes to furnish vehicle for hire service, at least in part, through drivers who are duly licensed by the city, who are bound by written agreement with the permit holder to furnish vehicle for hire services of the quality provided for in this article, and who either own or are lessees of licensed vehicles for hire. Such agreement shall incorporate the provisions of this article applicable to such driver.

   B.   Holders of permits operating under this plan shall be treated as owners in applying sections 3-5B-9 and 3-5B-26 of this article. The operator of each vehicle for hire company must ascertain that each driver working for said company obtains a license, in addition to a license for said operator of the company.

   C.   Nothing herein shall change the holder's obligation to furnish to the city the insurance coverage provided for in section 3-5B-9 of this article or change the license fees provided for in section 3-5B-10 of this article. (Ord. 4775, 6-13-2005)