ARTICLE III. VEHICLE FOR HIRE BUSINESS LICENSE
30-6 Business licenses required.
Every vehicle for hire operation in the city or airport, whether an individual, corporation, d/b/a, limited liability corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, shall obtain a vehicle for hire business license from the administration office. There shall be an annual application fee for each license, as set out in Schedule I, which shall be determined by the board, approved by the city council by resolution, and posted with the administration office. TNC drivers and drivers who do not own their own vehicle for hire business do not require a business license.
(Ord. of 2-16-16)
30-7 Application.
(a) Every applicant must complete a business license application provided by the administration office.
(b) Every applicant must provide the administration office with a physical address for the applicant, as well as an official and current mailing address where all notices may be sent and any daily contact information.
(c) Applicant shall register with and meet all requirements of the Vermont Secretary of State to do business within the state of Vermont and shall maintain a registered agent in the state of Vermont.
(Ord. of 2-16-16)
30-8 Investigation and disqualification.
(a) By making application for a vehicle for hire business license, the applicant shall be deemed to have authorized being subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(b) No business license will be issued to any applicant, and no driver may operate a vehicle for hire within the city or the airport, who fails to meet the standards of this chapter, including those in Section 30-11.
(c) The administration office may also deny an applicant a business license if it is determined that the applicant cannot or will not comply with the financial responsibility and safety requirements of this chapter or if it is determined that the granting of a business license would jeopardize the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
(d) The denial of a business license may be appealed to the board as provided in Sections 30-4(c) and 30-35.
(e) Receipt of a business license does not authorize pick up and drop off at the airport. The airport sets its own rules and regulations for ground transportation at the airport and any vehicle for hire operations at the airport must be separately permitted by the airport. Any fees related to vehicle for hire operations at the airport shall be established pursuant to the recommendation of the board of airport commissioners.
(Ord. of 2-16-16)
30-9 Responsibilities of licensee—Expiration of license.
(a) License nontransferable. A business license is not transferable unless approved by the board. Approval may be granted only if the following criteria are met:
(1) The licensee pays a transfer fee to the administration office as set out in Schedule I, established by the board and annually posted with the administration office; and
(2) The new business meets all licensing prerequisites of this chapter.
(b) Update of information. All licensees shall have a continuing obligation to notify the administration office of any material change in any of the information required that the licensee is required to report by this chapter, in writing, within five (5) business days of the change.
(c) All licensees must:
(1) Maintain a current list of drivers and/or allow visual inspection of a list of all identification numbers of drivers operating in the city and provide samples for auditing when required pursuant to Section 30-20;
(2) Post in all vehicles for hire operating under the license or provide on the receipt required by Section 30-19(c) the phone number or email address of the administration office, to which complaints concerning the licensee or its drivers may be directed;
(3) a. If the driver is a non-TNC driver, promptly report (no more than forty-eight (48) hours after learning of the suspension or revocation) to the administration office the suspension or revocation of a state operator’s license; or
b. If the driver is a TNC driver, the TNC shall promptly disallow the driver from accessing the TNC’s digital network no more than forty-eight (48) hours after the TNC learns of the suspension or revocation of the TNC driver’s state operator’s license.
(Ord. of 2-16-16)