Chapter 5.15 TAXICABS

The term “motor vehicle” wherever used in this chapter shall be held and construed to mean and include every self-propelled vehicle by or upon which any person or persons may be transported or carried upon any public highway, street or alley, excepting vehicles used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

The term “person” wherever used in this chapter shall be held and construed to mean and include natural persons of either sex, firms, co-partnerships, associations and corporations, whether acting by themselves, by servant, agent or employee. The singular number shall include the plural, and the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and the neuter.

The term “taxicab” wherever used in this chapter shall be held and construed to mean every motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire not operated exclusively over a fixed or defined route, except for limousines and cars for rent without drivers. [Ord. 1118 § 2, 2003; Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 §§ 1, 2, 3, 1946.]

5.15.020 Operator to secure franchise.

One or more franchises may be issued by the city for the business of engaging in the operation of taxicabs. The person to whom a franchise is issued may operate one or more taxicabs, but a separate license for each taxicab shall be required. The franchise shall be for a period not to exceed five years, with an option in the franchise for the holder to renew the franchise for an additional five years; provided the holder is in good standing, and provided further the franchise holder shall have first right to any subsequent renewal upon such terms as prescribed by the council for any renewal. [Ord. 887 § 1, 1985; Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 § 4, 1946.]

5.15.030 Cancellation of franchise.

The franchise issued under this chapter may be canceled by the council in the event the franchise holder fails to operate the business for a period of 30 continuous days or any driver employed by the franchise holder in the conduct of said business violates any laws governing and regulating the sale, manufacture, possession and transportation of intoxicating liquors, for failure to pay all licenses and fees by this chapter required or for otherwise failing to comply with the substantial provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 § 5, 1946.]

5.15.040 Certificate from police committee.

No such license shall be issued except upon a certificate of the police committee of the city of Junction City and such license shall be in accordance with such certificate and with the terms of this chapter. [Ord. 266 § 6, 1946.]

5.15.050 Contents of certificate.

All taxicab certificates issued by the said committee shall set forth the name of the person to whom the license is to be issued, the number of vehicles proposed to be operated, the maker and the maker’s number of each vehicle, the seating capacity of each, and the number of the state license of each vehicle to be operated by such licensee. [Ord. 266 § 7, 1946.]

5.15.060 Application for and granting of license.

Every person desiring to obtain a license for the operation of a taxicab under this chapter shall file written application therefor with the city recorder of the city of Junction City, setting forth the name of the person to whom license is to be issued, the number of vehicles proposed to be operated, the name of the maker and the maker’s number of each, the seating capacity of each and the number of the state license of each such vehicle, and should the state license number of such vehicle be changed during the life of such license, such change and number shall be immediately reported to the police committee. When a certificate is issued by the police committee, the city recorder shall, upon receipt of the license fee or fees herein provided for each taxicab to be operated under such license, issue a license to such applicant in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the certificate of said police committee. [Ord. 266 § 8, 1946.]

5.15.070 Fees.

There shall be paid to the city recorder, by each taxi service operating in the city of Junction City, an annual license fee of $20.00 for each year or part of year that such service operates within the city of Junction City, and a further annual license fee of $10.00 for each taxicab operated, such license fees to cover the cost of the regulation and inspection of such service, and are to be paid in advance. [Ord. 266 § 9, 1946.]

5.15.080 Transfer and fee.

The city recorder shall, upon recommendation of the police committee, transfer a license issued under the provisions of this chapter from one car to another car, and said committee shall, upon being satisfied that the change of ownership of a car is bona fide, authorize the transfer of the license covering such car to such new owner, by filing with the city recorder a written notice of its approval of such transfer. A fee of $1.00 is to be collected for each transfer as herein authorized. [Ord. 266 § 10, 1946.]

5.15.090 Appeal.

Any person aggrieved by any action of the police committee may appeal to the council by serving upon said police committee a written notice of appeal and filing a duplicate thereof with the city recorder within five days after such action, and thereupon the recorder shall place such appeal upon the calendar of the council, to be heard in the regular course of business of the council. [Ord. 266 § 11, 1946.]

5.15.100 Chauffeur’s permit.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a taxicab in the city of Junction City without first obtaining a chauffeur’s permit from the state of Oregon. [Ord. 266 § 12, 1946.]

5.15.110 Penalties for incompetency, recklessness, etc.

Any driver or chauffeur of any taxicab who has been found guilty in the municipal court of any incompetency in driving, or of any violation of Chapter 10.05 JCMC or the terms of this chapter, may be debarred from driving any taxicab in the city of Junction City for a period of not to exceed one year thereafter, and if the owner of any such vehicle operated in the city of Junction City shall knowingly permit any such debarred driver, during said period of one year, to operate any such vehicle, the license of that owner may be revoked by the council. [Ord. 266 § 13, 1946.]

5.15.120 Age limit for chauffeur.

It shall be unlawful for any licensee under this article to permit any person under the age of 21 years to operate any taxicab owned or controlled by him in the city of Junction City. [Ord. 266 § 14, 1946.]

5.15.130 Taxicab rates – Display.

The schedule of rates for a taxicab shall be conspicuously posted in the taxicab in a manner that may be easily read from both inside and outside of the taxicab in machine lettering. Letters and numerals to be read from inside the taxicab shall be not less than one-quarter of an inch high, and letters and numerals to be read outside the taxicab shall be not less than three-quarters of an inch high, on cards not less than four inches by six inches. “Zoned rates” or “metered rates” shall be machine lettered on the exterior of each taxicab in letters not less than one inch high to indicate the manner in which charges for services are made. [Ord. 887 § 2, 1985; Ord. 621 § 1, 1973; Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 349 § 1, 1956; Ord. 266 § 15, 1946.]

5.15.140 Assignment of franchise.

Any assignment of the franchise granted under this chapter shall not be effective until first approved by the council. [Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 § 16, 1946.]

5.15.150 Fare computed by taximeter.

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate, or engage in the business of operating, a taxicab or taxicabs, unless a taximeter is at all times used on each of such taxicabs in determining the fare or rate to be charged and collected; and it shall be unlawful for any person operating or driving, or engaged in the business of operating, a taxicab or taxicabs to charge, demand, collect or receive any fare, rate or charge which is not directly based, measured and computed upon the record on the reading face of the taximeter used on such taxicab or taxicabs. It shall be unlawful for any person to use or employ any other or different method of computing or measuring such distance or time charges than the methods hereinabove specifically provided. Provided, however, that during the emergency the fare is to be computed by speedometer at the rate and method hereinabove provided and, until such time as taximeters can be procured, the fares to be computed by speedometers, and that a slip be delivered to the passenger of the speedometer reading upon entering the cab, and a receipt upon leaving the cab, which receipt shall show the speedometer reading upon entering and leaving, together with the charge. [Ord. 266 § 17, 1946.]

5.15.160 Taximeters to be inspected.

It shall be the duty of the owner or lessee in possession or control of any taxicab to at all times keep such taximeter accurate and have same approved by the Sealer of Weights and Measures before having placed in service. When any such taximeter has been approved by the Sealer of Weights and Measures, his seal or certificate shall be plainly posted on said taximeter for the information of the public. Said Sealer of Weights and Measures shall inspect all taximeters at least once a year and have the right to inspect them at any and all times. [Ord. 266 § 18, 1946.]

5.15.170 Taximeter installation and charges regulated.

Every taximeter shall be installed at the right side of the driver, and at such height that the flag thereof may be readily seen by observers on the street, and the reading face of such taximeter shall at all times be well lighted and readily discernible to the passengers riding the taxicab. It shall be unlawful to change the size of the wheels or tires of any taxicab or the gears operating the said taximeter, or to change the taximeter from one taxicab to another, unless the taximeter is re-inspected and approved by the Sealer of Weights and Measures before using. [Ord. 266 § 19, 1946.]

5.15.180 Taximeter flag to be displayed.

It shall be unlawful for any driver of a taxicab while carrying passengers or under employment to display the flag attached to the taximeter at such a position as to denote such taxicab as not employed or to throw the flag of any such taximeter at a nonrecording position at the termination of each and every service. [Ord. 266 § 20, 1946.]

5.15.190 Vehicles to be kept clean and properly equipped.

All vehicles operating under authority of this chapter shall be inspected from time to time by the chief of police for the purpose of determining whether the same are clean, properly equipped, of good appearance and in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers, and said chief of police shall, at the time of such inspection, determine for the guidance of the public the classification and capacity of the vehicle inspected, and it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate, or engage in the business of operating any taxicab, unless and until the same has been inspected and approved by the chief of police. [Ord. 266 § 21, 1946.]

5.15.200 Direct route to be traveled – Fares not charged when vehicle disabled.

Any driver of a taxicab employed to carry passengers to a definite point shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passenger safely and expeditiously to his destination.

In the event that any vehicle described in this chapter shall, while conveying for hire or reward any passenger or baggage, become disabled, or shall break down, the time of stoppage shall be deducted from the charge. [Ord. 266 § 23, 1946.]

5.15.210 Receipts of fare to be given.

Whenever demanded by the passenger, the driver in charge of a taxicab shall deliver to the person paying for the hiring of said taxicab, at the time of such payment, a receipt therefor in legible printing or writing, containing the name of the owner and his address, the name of the driver, the taximeter number and any and all items for which a charge is made, the total amount paid and the date of payment. [Ord. 266 § 24, 1946.]

5.15.220 Refusal to pay fare.

It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the regular fare for a taxicab, after having hired the same. [Ord. 266 § 25, 1946.]

5.15.230 Cruising.

It shall be unlawful for any person to cruise, drive, or operate a taxicab repeatedly or persistently to and fro upon any public street. [Ord. 266 § 26, 1946.]

5.15.240 Report of lost articles.

The driver of any taxicab shall promptly notify the nearest police station, within 24 hours, of all property of value left in his vehicle by any passenger. [Ord. 266 § 28, 1946.]

5.15.250 Load limit.

No driver of any taxicab shall carry more than four passengers plus the driver. [Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 § 29, 1946.]

5.15.260 Driver’s conduct.

No driver of any taxicab shall drive or operate the same while intoxicated or operate the same in a careless or reckless manner, or use any profane or obscene language, or smoke when requested not to do so by the passenger. [Ord. 465 § 2, 1964; Ord. 266 § 30, 1946.]

5.15.270 Obstruction of taxicabs.

No person shall place any vehicle in such relation to any taxicab as to cut off or unreasonably obstruct entrance to or exit from such vehicle, or otherwise unreasonably interfere with the management of such vehicle. [Ord. 266 § 31, 1946.]

5.15.280 Soliciting fares.

Any driver licensed under this article while seated within his vehicle may solicit patronage of passersby in a tone of voice not louder than an ordinary conversational tone, but such driver shall not use any mechanical or noisemaking device of any kind to solicit patronage, nor shall he take hold of or obstruct the way of any person for the purpose of solicitation. [Ord. 266 § 32, 1946.]

5.15.290 Violation – Penalty.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in the municipal court, be punished by a fine not exceeding $200.00 or by imprisonment in the city jail for one day for each $2.00 of such fine unpaid. [Ord. 373, 1959; Ord. 266 § 33, 1946.]