Chapter 5-114 TAXICABS

“Public passenger vehicle” means a motor vehicle, as defined in the Motor Vehicle Law of the state which is used for the transportation of passengers for hire excepting motor vehicles used as part of and in connection with the operation of a bus line operating on a fixed route or as a public utility.

“Taxicab” means a public passenger vehicle equipped with a taximeter and having seating capacity for not more five adult than passengers exclusive of the front seat.

“Taximeter” means a mechanical device which records and indicates a charge of fare measured by distance traveled, waiting time and extra passengers. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. J. (part)), 1995; prior code § 5-46-1)

5-114-020 License.

It is unlawful for the owner of a public passenger vehicle to operate the same, or permit the same to be operated, or for any person to drive a public passenger vehicle on the public ways unless such public passenger vehicle is licensed as hereinafter provided. (Prior code § 5-46-2)

5-114-030 Inspection required.

No public passenger vehicle shall be licensed until it has been inspected under the direction of the mayor and found to be in safe condition for the transportation of passengers, clean of appearance and well painted. (Prior code § 5-46-3)

5-114-040 Certificate.

No license for any public passenger vehicle shall be issued except in renewal of a license previously issued for such vehicle, or upon transfer to permit replacement of a vehicle for that licensed, unless the mayor, after a public hearing, shall determine that public convenience and necessity require additional public passenger service of the character offered, and the mayor shall so recommend to the council. In determining whether public convenience and necessity require the licensing of any public passenger vehicle, the mayor shall take into consideration:

A. The demand for such;

B. The effect on traffic congestion;

C. Whether the safe use of the streets for vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be impaired;

D. The financial responsibility of the applicant and the amount of reserves to be established for the payment of personal injury, death and property damage claims;

E. The color scheme and character of equipment; and

F. Any other facts which the mayor may deem relevant. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. J. (part)), 1995; prior code § 5-46-4)

5-114-050 Application.

A. Application for a public hearing, pursuant to the terms of Section 5-114-040, shall be made to the clerk upon payment to the clerk of a fee as laid out in Chapter 3-01, Fees, Fines, Insurance and Guarantee Requirements. In addition thereto, the applicant requesting a hearing as set forth in Section 5-114-040 shall also furnish the clerk with such information as the clerk may require under the terms of this section.

B. Applications for a license to conduct such business as set out in this chapter shall be made by the owner and operator upon forms furnished by the clerk. Such applications shall be addressed to the council and shall contain the full name and address of the owner and operator, the officers of a corporation or members of a partnership, information as to financial responsibility, and names of sureties signing bonds of applicant.

C. In the event the mayor shall recommend to the council that the public convenience and necessity require additional taxicabs, then the applicant for a license shall file with the clerk the following information, prior to the issuance of the license or licenses: A complete description of the vehicle for which the license is desired, including kind and make of vehicle, motor and serial number, seating capacity, state license number, car number, color of vehicle, horse power and such other data as the council may prescribe. (Ord. 3494 § 2(B), 2024; prior code § 5-46-5)

5-114-060 Insurance required.

A. All applicants shall, before a license is issued, furnish the clerk with a certificate of insurance issued by an insurance company which has issued public liability and property damage policies covering each vehicle of the applicant, in accordance with the requirements of Illinois Revised Statutes 1957, chapter 95 1/2, Paragraph 8-109. Such certificate shall describe the policy so issued, the amount thereof, and the period covered thereby, and shall state that all requirements of state law have been satisfied.

B. In the event that any licensee shall receive notice of any cancellation, forfeiture or withdrawal of any such policy of insurance, he shall forthwith cease business operations, and immediately notify the clerk of the cancellation, forfeiture or withdrawal, and he shall not resume business operations until and unless he shall furnish the clerk with a new certificate of insurance. (Prior code § 5-46-6)

5-114-070 Bond.

No license as required in this chapter shall be issued to any person unless the applicant has secured the bond required by statute. (Prior code § 5-46-7)

5-114-080 Character requirements.

No such license shall be issued to be held by any person who is not a person of good character or who has been convicted of a felony; nor shall such license be issued to or held by any corporation or partnership if any officer thereof would be ineligible for a license by the terms and conditions of this chapter. (Prior code § 5-46-8)

5-114-090 Fee.

Each person who shall operate a taxicab business shall pay an annual license fee as laid out in Chapter 3-01, Fees, Fines, Insurance and Guarantee Requirements, plus a fee per taxicab as laid out in Chapter 3-01, Fees, Fines, Insurance and Guarantee Requirements. Such fee shall be in addition to any other vehicle fees now required by the provisions of this code. (Ord. 3494 § 2(B), 2024; Ord. 3316 § 2 (part), 2015; Ord. 3221 § 30, 2009; Ord. 2770 § 1 (part), 1992: prior code § 5-46-9)

5-114-100 Register.

It shall be the duty of the clerk to keep a register of the names of persons to whom such license is granted, or transferred, the date when issued or transferred, the number of the license and the description of the vehicle licensed. (Prior code § 5-46-10)

5-114-110 Cab stands.

A. The following locations on the public streets are designated as cab stands:

1. The Southeast Comer of 154th Street and Park Avenue, being the west side of the Illinois Central Railroad Station House.

B. Each cab stand shall be appropriately marked by signs erected under the supervision of the chief of police. It is unlawful to park any vehicle other than a licensed taxicab, in any cab stand.

C. A licensed taxicab may be parked in any cab stand while such taxicab is in charge of its driver on duty awaiting fare. (Prior code § 5-46-11)

5-114-120 Name required on vehicle.

Every vehicle licensed shall bear on the outside thereof, in a conspicuous place, the name of the owner thereof in letters not less than two inches in height, which letters shall be of a color in contrast to the color of the car and shall be proportionate and legible. (Prior code § 5-46-12)

5-114-130 Meters.

Taximeters shall be connected with and operated from the front wheel or the transmission of the taxicabs to which they are attached. (Prior code § 5-46-13)

5-114-140 Equipment.

Taximeters shall be equipped with a flag at least three inches by two inches in size, either painted red or bearing thereon in letters at least one inch in height the word “vacant” or the words “for hire.” The flag post of such flag shall be kept up or towards a vertical position when the taxicab is for hire, and the flag post shall be kept down or towards a horizontal position when such taxicab is engaged. (Prior code § 5-46-14)

5-114-150 Meter dial.

Taximeters shall have a dial which shall register the tariff in accordance with the established rates of fare. The taximeter shall be so placed that the dial thereof is in plain view of the passenger while riding in such taxicab or upon alighting. Taxicabs shall be equipped with a light which during the period between sunset and sunrise shall be so reflected upon the dial of the taximeter as to enable the passenger to read the figures indicated thereon. (Prior code § 5-46-15)

5-114-160 Meter testing.

A. Every taximeter shall be tested to determine the accuracy of the recording mechanism with respect to distance traveled either by running the taxicab to which it is attached over a course a standard mile in length or by a mechanical test. Both of the foregoing tests may be made in the discretion of the mayor.

B. To determine whether a taximeter correctly registers waiting time, such taximeter shall be tested by comparing with the standard time the time recorded as shown by the fare computed on the dial thereof.

C. When any test shows that a taximeter correctly records the charge or fare measured by distance traveled, waiting time and extra passengers, it shall be sealed, and a written certificate of the test shall be issued to the owner. (Prior code § 5-46-16)

5-114-170 Meters to be sealed.

No person owning, controlling or operating any taxicab shall offer or let the same for hire unless the taximeter attached thereto has been sealed by the mayor, or by someone under his direction. It shall be the duty of the mayor, or someone under his direction, to seal all taximeters found to be accurate and correct and to keep a record of the number of each taximeter and the date of inspection thereof. (Prior code § 5-46-17)

5-114-180 Tampering.

No person shall tamper with, break or mutilate any taximeter or the seal thereof. (Prior code § 546-18)

5-114-190 Rates of fare.

Rates of fare for taxicabs shall be as follows:

First one-fifth (1/5) mile or fraction thereof for one person	$1.20
Each additional one-sixth (1/6) mile or fraction thereof	0.20
Each additional person over twelve (12) years and under sixty-five (65) years	0.50 extra
For each minute of waiting time or fraction thereof	0.20

(Ord. 2824 § 1, 1993: Ord. 2441 § 1, 1986: Ord. 2159, 1979: Ord. 2151, 1979: Ord. 2(09, 1974: Ord. 1862, 1970: prior code § 5-46-19)

5-114-200 Fare registered.

It shall be the duty of the driver of every taxicab, at the termination of his services, to throw the flag to the nonrecording position on the taximeter and call the passenger’s attention to the fare registered. The taximeter shall not be changed until after the fare is paid or a charge ticket therefor made out and delivered to the person hiring such taxicab. (Prior code § 5-46-20)

5-114-210 Receipt.

Upon the request of any passenger, the driver of such vehicle shall give the person requesting a receipt for the amount of the fare demanded and paid. (Prior code § 5-46-21)

5-114-220 Safety test.

Every taxicab licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall, every ninety (90) days, undergo a safety test comparable with the safety test given by the state of Illinois and the following items shall be tested:

Wheel alignment;

Wheel-lugs;

Bolts;

Tires;

Frame;

Axle;

Drag link;

Tie rod ends;

Spring shackles;

Steering wheel play;

Play in king bushings;

Hand brake;

Service brake;

Pedal reserve;

Windshield wiper

Windshield glass;

Left door glass;

Right door glass;

Other glass;

Rear view mirror,

Horn;

Tail light;

Stop light;

Directional lights;

Head light intensity;

Aim;

Light switches;

Muffler and exhaust;

Cab and body,

Forward and reverse and a report furnished the mayor and the owner of the said cab shall have ten days after the test, in which to have the vehicle repaired, if necessary, and in the event the necessary repairs have not been made the mayor shall revoke the license of said cab. (Prior code § 5-46-22)

5-114-230 Employment of drivers.

Before any licensee hereunder may employ any person as a cab driver, it will be necessary for said person to be fingerprinted by the police department and to receive from the chief of police a certificate entitling said person to employment. No person who has been convicted of a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude or who is not of good repute shall be issued such certificate. Any person employed as a cab driver shall pay an annual license fee as laid out in Chapter 3-01, Fees, Fines, Insurance and Guarantee Requirements. (Ord. 3494 § 2(B), 2024; Ord. 2770 § 1 (part), 1972; prior code § 5-46-23)

5-114-240 Number of licenses.

The city clerk shall not issue licenses for more than thirty-nine (39) taxicabs unless this number be changed by action of the city council. (Ord. 2101, 1977: prior code § 5-46-24)