Chapter 5.80
TAXICABS
Sections:
5.80.030 Application for license.
5.80.040 Qualifications of drivers.
5.80.050 Inspection of vehicles.
5.80.070 Regulations for operation.
5.80.100 Twenty-four-hour service.
5.80.130 Violations – Penalty.
5.80.010 License required.
It is declared to be essential to the public interest that no person shall be authorized or permitted to operate a taxicab, cabulance, or for-hire vehicle within the corporate limits of the City of Mountlake Terrace unless such person shall be the owner of a valid taxicab or cabulance license issued by the City of Mountlake Terrace. The licenses required under this chapter are separate from and in addition to the business license that may be required under Chapter 5.05 MTMC when applicable. (Ord. 2764 § 17, 2019; Ord. 1128 § 1, 1977).
5.80.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
A. “Taxicab” means any motor vehicle licensed for hire by the state of Washington, which is designed and used for the transportation of persons from point to point on an unscheduled basis over irregular routes. All references to taxicabs shall include cabulances.
B. “Cabulance” means any motor vehicle for hire which is designed for the purpose of transportation of handicapped persons who, by reason of physical or mental infirmity, may not be conveniently transported on public mass transportation vehicles or in ordinary motor vehicles or taxicabs, or who cannot drive their own automobiles. The licenses for cabulances shall be distinct from those for other for hire vehicles, and shall not include ambulances. (Ord. 1128 § 1, 1977).
5.80.030 Application for license.
Every person desiring to operate or have charge of a taxicab, for hire car or sight-seeing car within the City of Mountlake Terrace, shall make written application to the City Clerk for a license so to do, which application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant before some officer duly authorized to administer oaths.
Each application shall be made on forms prescribed and provided by the City of Mountlake Terrace, and shall require the applicant to state his name, age, place of birth, place of residence for the preceding three years, and such other information as may commend itself to the discretion of the City Manager. Such application shall require disclosure of prior employment, prior taxicab or for hire vehicle licenses in other jurisdictions, and criminal record, if any.
The City Manager shall investigate all applicants and recommend to the City Council the granting or denial of the license. Upon approval of the City Council, the City Clerk shall, upon receipt of the annual license fee, issue a license which shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of the year in which it is issued. The annual license fee shall be as set forth in the current Business License Ordinance.
In the application, the applicant shall furnish full information concerning ownership, number and classification of vehicles to be operated; the name under which the applicant intends to operate; and such other information as may be deemed by the City Manager to be necessary for proper supervision and regulation of such vehicle operation. (Ord. 1860, 1990; Ord. 1128 § 2, 1977).
5.80.040 Qualifications of drivers.
Each operator must submit with his application a list of proposed drivers of the taxicabs, said list of drivers to be kept current at all times, and said operator shall supply therewith the same information on each driver as it is required of operators under MTMC 5.80.030. (Ord. 1128 § 3, 1977).
5.80.050 Inspection of vehicles.
All vehicles operating under the 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 operating condition, and said Chief of Police shall at the time of his inspection, ascertain that the vehicle is carrying the permits issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be properly bonded for the public protection, and also the licenses issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 1128 § 4, 1977).
5.80.060 Insurance.
No license shall be issued for any taxicab until proof has first been filed with the City Clerk that the owner thereof carries public liability and property damage insurance thereon in such amounts as are prescribed by the laws of the state of Washington as they are now or hereafter may be amended as conditions precedent to the obtaining of a for hire vehicle license. (Ord. 1128 § 5, 1977).
5.80.070 Regulations for operation.
It shall be unlawful for any operator to knowingly employ any driver who has been convicted of any felony or of driving while intoxicated.
No license shall be granted to any person desirous of operating a taxicab on a part-time basis. All operators must be ready, willing and able to provide consistent full-time service to the public. (Ord. 1128 § 6, 1977).
5.80.080 Revocation.
If at any time the City Manager finds any person holding such a license has conducted or permitted said taxicab business to be conducted in a manner detrimental to the public health or safety, he shall forthwith notify the license holder of the nature of his findings in sufficient detail so as to permit the licensee to defend any such charge. The City Manager shall forthwith set a date for hearing upon the matter, notify the licensee in writing of such date of hearing at least 10 days in advance thereof. Upon any such hearing, pursuant to the provisions of this section, the license may be suspended or revoked. (Ord. 1128 § 7, 1977).
5.80.090 Rates.
All rates in effect shall be made a matter of record at the business office of the City. (Ord. 1128 § 8, 1977).
5.80.100 Twenty-four-hour service.
Each license secured as herein provided shall be granted upon the express condition that the person, firm or corporation securing the license shall provide service to the public on a 24-hour basis, and a telephone shall be procured and used so that the public may be able to call for such service at any time. Failure to maintain such service shall be cause for the revocation of the license. (Ord. 1128 § 9, 1977).
5.80.110 Ownership.
It shall be a violation of this chapter if any unlicensed person shall own or acquire any interest or control or ownership in whole or in part of any taxicab or taxicabs operated in the City of Mountlake Terrace. For the purposes of this chapter, voting control of any corporation operating such taxicabs shall be deemed to constitute ownership and control of such taxicabs. (Ord. 1128 § 10, 1977).
5.80.120 Fare payment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the regular fare for a taxicab after having hired the same. (Ord. 1128 § 11, 1977).
5.80.130 Violations – Penalty.
Any violation of the provisions hereof shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.00. (Ord. 1128 § 12, 1977).