Chapter 5.12
TAXICAB AND FOR-HIRE CARS
Sections:
5.12.010 Administration and enforcement authority.
5.12.020 License—Required—Application—Duration.
5.12.030 License—Compliance and vehicle condition prerequisites.
5.12.050 License—Fees—Transferability.
5.12.060 Operator license—Required—Application.
5.12.070 Operator license—Required information.
5.12.080 Operator license—Qualifications.
5.12.090 Operator license—Character certification required.
5.12.100 Operator license—Investigation—License exhibition requirements.
5.12.110 Licenses—Fees—Revocation authority.
5.12.120 License revocation and suspension—Hearing—Appeal.
5.12.130 Schedule of fares—Posting and filing requirements.
5.12.140 License to state terms of issuance—Revocation refunds.
5.12.010 Administration and enforcement authority.
The licensing and inspection of taxicabs and for-hire cars, the examination of the qualifications of applicants for licenses to drive taxicabs and for-hire cars and for the licensing of drivers as provided in this chapter and the enforcing of this chapter shall be under the supervision and control of the town marshal or chief of police or any law enforcement agency under contract. (Ord. 292 § 1, 1981)
5.12.020 License—Required—Application—Duration.
No taxicab shall ply or be operated upon the streets of the town without first obtaining a license to do so; such license, if issued, shall be for the calendar year and shall be effective for such period of time unless sooner suspended or revoked, as hereinafter provided. Application for licenses for taxicabs shall be made by the owner thereof upon blank forms to be furnished by the town clerk-treasurer, and such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the type of vehicle and the passenger-carrying capacity. Nor shall any owner of a taxicab allow the same to be operated by any person other than the driver licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 292 § 2, 1981)
5.12.030 License—Compliance and vehicle condition prerequisites.
No taxicab or for-hire car shall be licensed unless the same is in a safe condition for use as such, nor until satisfactory evidence is furnished that the provisions of applicable state laws and this chapter have been complied with. (Ord. 292 § 3, 1981)
5.12.040 License—Issuance.
If upon inspection a taxicab is found to be of lawful construction and in proper condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter upon the payment of the license fee hereinafter set forth, the same shall be licensed by delivering to the owner a card of such size and form as may be fixed by the town clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 292 § 4, 1981)
5.12.050 License—Fees—Transferability.
The license fee shall be thirty dollars per year for each taxicab and for-hire car licensed. In the case of licenses issued on or after July 1st of each year, one-half only of the above fee shall be paid. All such licenses shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of each year and shall not be transferable from owner to owner or from car to car. (Ord. 292 § 5, 1981)
5.12.060 Operator license—Required—Application.
Each person desiring to drive, operate or have charge of a taxicab or for-hire car within the town, shall make written application to the town clerk-treasurer for a license to do so. Such application shall be made upon blanks furnished by the town clerk-treasurer and shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant before a notary public or some other officer duly authorized to administer oaths. (Ord. 292 § 6, 1981)
5.12.070 Operator license—Required information.
Every applicant shall state his name, place of birth, place of residence, length of time he has resided in the town, married or single, last place of employment with name and address of employer, whether he has been previously licensed as such driver, and if so where; whether any such license has ever been suspended or revoked, and if so, for what cause; whether or not he has and if so, the number of such convictions, the approximate dates thereof, the names of the courts in which he was charged, the crime with which he was charged, and the final disposition of the case and/or cases. (Ord. 292 § 7, 1981)
5.12.080 Operator license—Qualifications.
Every applicant must possess the following qualifications: he must be at least twenty-one years of age, and duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle for-hire under the laws of the state of Washington. He must show that he has a good knowledge of the laws of the state of Washington and the ordinances of the town relating to the driving and operation of motor vehicles. (Ord. 292 § 8, 1981)
5.12.090 Operator license—Character certification required.
Every applicant shall accompany his application with a certificate of two reputable citizens of Bridgeport, certifying that the applicant is of good moral character and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs. (Ord. 292 § 9, 1981)
5.12.100 Operator license—Investigation—License exhibition requirements.
Every applicant for such driver’s license shall be referred by the town clerk-treasurer to the town marshal or chief of police or any other law enforcement agency under contract, whose duty it shall be to investigate such applicant and if satisfied with his qualifications, recommend in writing within a reasonable time that a license be issued to him, or if not satisfied with such qualifications, so report to the town council. The town council of the town shall determine whether or not such applicant is entitled to such license and if it determines that such applicant is entitled to such license it shall notify the town clerk-treasurer, and he shall issue such license; such license when issued shall be displayed in a prominent place while driving, operating or in charge of a taxicab or for-hire car covered by this chapter, such display to make license visible to occupants of the vehicle. (Ord. 292 § 10, 1981)
5.12.110 Licenses—Fees—Revocation authority.
Each applicant shall also accompany his application with a certified check or cashier’s check made payable to the town clerk-treasurer or cash in the sum of five dollars which check or cash shall be returned to the applicant if no license is issued under this chapter, otherwise paid to the town clerk-treasurer as an annual license fee. All licenses issued to drivers under this chapter shall expire on December 31st of each year unless previously revoked. The power of revocation with or without cause being expressly reserved to the town council as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 292 § 11, 1981)
5.12.120 License revocation and suspension—Hearing—Appeal.
If the town marshal or chief of police or any law enforcement agency under contract finds that any person licensed under this chapter has been convicted of a criminal violation of federal or state law, or any ordinance of the town and that such conviction established that such licensee is no longer of good moral character and reputation or is not a careful and experienced driver, then the town marshal or chief of police or any law enforcement agency under contract shall make a written report of the circumstances surrounding such matter to the town council, and shall make recommendations to the town council regarding the suspension or revocation of the license of such person. After considering the report and before revoking or suspending any such license, the town council shall order a hearing and in such case shall notify the licensee of the date of such hearing and of the contents of the report of the town marshal or chief of police or any law enforcement agency under contract, which hearing shall be held on a certain day, but shall be not less than ten days from and after the mailing of notice of such hearing to such licensee, and which notice shall require the licensee to show cause on such date, if any he has, why such license shall not be suspended or revoked. If upon hearing before the town council a majority of the town council finds that the license of such licensee should be suspended or revoked, it shall be so ordered. An appeal from such order, suspension or revocation, may be made to the superior court for Douglas County, in the manner provided for under the general laws of the state of Washington. In case of the revocation of license, the same shall be taken up by the town marshal or chief of police or any law enforcement agency under contract and cancelled by the town clerk-treasurer, and in case of the suspension of a license the same shall be surrendered to the town clerk treasurer, and shall be returned to the licensee at the termination of the period of suspension. (Ord. 292 § 12, 1981)
5.12.130 Schedule of fares—Posting and filing requirements.
It is unlawful for any person to operate a taxi cab under a license issued under this chapter unless there is first posted with the town marshal or town clerk-treasurer a schedule of fares to be charged by such driver or owner, and any changes therein shall be so posted before the effective dates thereof. (Ord. 292 § 13, 1981)
5.12.140 License to state terms of issuance—Revocation refunds.
Every license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall state in substance that such license is issued in consideration of the fee paid therefor, and the right of the town council to revoke or suspend such license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Upon the revocation of any license for cause, the unearned portion of the license fee shall be returned to the licensee. (Ord. 292 § 14, 1981)
5.12.150 Violation—Penalty.
It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, and every person convicted of a misdemeanor for the violation of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the jail for a period not exceeding thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment and the license of such person may be revoked. (Ord. 292 § 15, 1981)