Chapter 5.12
TAXICABS
Sections:
5.12.010 Necessity of regulation.
5.12.020 License required – Fee.
5.12.050 Application for license.
5.12.070 Investigation of applicants.
5.12.090 Qualifications for license – Issuance.
5.12.100 Revocation of license.
5.12.010 Necessity of regulation.
The city declares it necessary to regulate the number of operators, vehicles and taxi stands permitted to carry passengers for hire within the city to ensure the safety and welfare of the general public. (Ord. 562 § 2, 1979)
5.12.020 License required – Fee.
Every person, firm or corporation must first obtain a license from the city to carry passengers for hire to or from any point within the city. All licenses shall expire on December 31st of each year. The fee for such license to be established by ordinance. No licensee shall operate more than two vehicles. No license granted under this chapter shall be assignable or transferable. (Ord. 762 § 2, 1992; Ord. 705 § 2, 1988; Ord. 562 § 3, 1979)
5.12.030 Hours of operation.
A licensee is required to be available for calls 24 hours a day. (Ord. 562 § 4, 1979)
5.12.040 Schedule of fares.
A schedule of fares must be prominently posted in a place where patrons may readily see such schedule in all for-hire vehicles and the office of the licensee, and must be filed with the city clerk-treasurer. No licensee shall charge more than the posted fares for any passenger. In addition to criminal penalties prescribed in OMC 5.12.110, violation of this section may be cause for the city to revoke the license. (Ord. 562 § 5, 1979)
5.12.050 Application for license.
To apply for a license for carrying passengers for hire an application must be made in writing to the city council containing the following information:
A. Name and address of the applicant;
B. Description of all vehicles to be used in carrying passengers for hire, including make, year, exterior color, model and Washington State license number;
C. Number of passengers each vehicle is designed to carry, or number of seats in each vehicle;
D. Amount, character and terms of insurance carried for each vehicle and each driver;
E. Name, address and driver’s license number of each driver to be employed in carrying passengers for hire;
F. Description of any radios to be used and a statement that the licensee will observe federal law and regulations in their operation;
G. A statement of compliance that all state requirements regulating vehicles for use in carrying passengers for hire have been met;
H. A schedule of fares to be charged;
I. The number of taxi stands, if any, to be operated by the license holder. (Ord. 562 § 6, 1979)
5.12.060 Renewal of license.
Any person, firm or corporation who has held a license to carry passengers for hire in the city during the preceding three years and whose license has not been revoked may apply for renewal of the license by submitting a letter of intent to the city council listing any changes in the information originally submitted under OMC 5.12.060. The fee for renewal of a license shall be the same as the fee charged for the original license under OMC 5.12.020. (Ord. 562 § 9, 1979)
5.12.070 Investigation of applicants.
Prior to the granting or denying of any license application, the application shall be referred to the chief of police, who shall investigate the driving record of each driver, and shall perform a visual inspection of each vehicle to be used. License applicants shall make their vehicles reasonably available for such inspection. The chief of police shall then make a report to the city council, including such recommendations as he deems appropriate. (Ord. 562 § 10, 1979)
5.12.080 Public comment.
Any person may submit written statements in favor of or in opposition to the granting of any license applied for under this chapter prior to council action on the application. (Ord. 562 § 11, 1979)
5.12.090 Qualifications for license – Issuance.
A. The city council may grant licenses under this chapter only to persons, firms or corporations who meet these qualifications:
1. Have completed an application as prescribed in OMC 5.12.060;
2. Who employ drivers licensed by the state to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways;
3. Who employ drivers with a record of less than three moving violations of state or city traffic laws in the preceding three years, and with no record of conviction of any felony or gross misdemeanor in the preceding five years;
4. Who use vehicles licensed and equipped as for-hire vehicles as required by state law;
5. Who have insurance coverage which in the judgment of the city council is adequate in form, term and amount. The council may require that the city be named as a coinsured on any insurance policy.
B. Upon the council’s finding that all requirements of this chapter have been met, the council will instruct the city clerk to issue a license upon payment of the required fee. (Ord. 562 § 12, 1979)
5.12.100 Revocation of license.
A. The city council may revoke any license issued under this chapter upon a finding that:
1. The license holder has violated any provision of this chapter;
2. The license holder no longer meets the requirements of this chapter;
3. The license holder has obtained the license through misrepresentation or wilful deception.
B. Prior to such revocation, the license holder shall be notified in writing of the council’s intent to revoke the license, and of the reasons for revocation. The license holder may then request in writing a hearing before the council. If a hearing is requested no revocation shall take effect until five days following the hearing. If hearing is not requested the revocation shall take effect five days after the date notice of revocation is mailed or delivered to the license holder.
C. In the event of revocation of a license, there shall be no refund of any license fees. Reapplication may take place after a six-month waiting period after a revocation of a license. The application will be submitted in accordance with OMC 5.12.050. (Ord. 562 § 14, 1979)
5.12.110 Violation – Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than $25.00 and not more than $300.00. In addition thereto the city council shall have full authority and power to revoke or suspend any license that has been issued; providing, however, that before any license is revoked or suspended the holder of the license will be given a hearing by the city council if a hearing is requested in writing by the license holder. (Ord. 562 § 13, 1979)