Chapter 4.12
TAXICABS
Sections:
4.12.040 License—Qualifications.
4.12.050 License—Requirements.
4.12.070 License—Investigation.
4.12.090 Periodic inspection of motor vehicles.
4.12.110 License—Identification card.
4.12.150 Revocation or suspension.
4.12.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:
(a) “Driver” means a person who drives or operates a taxicab.
(b) “Identification card” means a card issued by the chief of police to a person qualified to drive a taxicab, showing driver’s photograph, fingerprint and signature and date of expiration.
(c) “Operator” means any person, firm, partnership or corporation who shall engage in the business of taxicab for hire.
(d) “Taxicab” means every motor vehicle for hire, used or offered for the transportation of passengers in the city, and not operated exclusively over a fixed and defined route, nor upon a fixed time schedule.
(e) “Taxicab operator’s license” means a license issued by the city of Othello to operate a taxicab. (Ord. 715 § 1, 1985).
4.12.020 License required.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to solicit as a taxicab upon the streets of the city of Othello without being the holder of a valid license issued under the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 715 § 2, 1985).
4.12.030 License—Application.
(a) Application for a license required by this chapter shall be made to the city clerk upon such form as the city clerk shall require. Such application shall show thereon the applicant’s name, age, date of birth, length of time residing in the city of Othello, whether previously licensed and if so, where and whether or not license was ever suspended or revoked and for what cause, current Washington State driver’s license number, description of motor vehicle to be used as taxicab, the names and addresses of four persons, not relatives, who have known applicant for at least two years last past, the amount of public liability and property damage insurance carried, and the name of the insurance company and policy number.
(b) The applicant shall certify that he has read this chapter and that he agrees that he will conform with all the terms and conditions of this chapter.
(c) The applicant must agree to cooperate with the chief of police in making any investigation of the applicant that the chief believes is necessary. (Ord. 715 § 3, 1985).
4.12.040 License—Qualifications.
No person shall be issued a taxicab operator’s license unless he possesses the following qualifications:
(a) Applicant must be at least twenty-one years of age and be in possession of a valid Washington State driver’s license;
(b) Applicant must not have pled guilty or been convicted of driving while intoxicated or crimes of moral turpitude. (Ord. 715 § 4, 1985).
4.12.050 License—Requirements.
Upon completion of application, the applicant shall submit to being fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed under the direction of the chief of police. The motor vehicle to be used as a taxicab shall be inspected by the chief of police. The chief of police shall furnish the city clerk with a report of his findings. (Ord. 715 § 5, 1985).
4.12.060 License—Fees.
No taxicab license shall be issued by the city clerk until the following fees have been paid:
(a) Application Investigation Fee. Each taxicab driver shall be required to pay a one-time thirty dollar application investigation fee which shall include the first year’s issue of the driver’s identification card.
(b) Identification Card Fee. Taxicab driver’s identification cards shall expire at the end of the calendar year. Such card may be renewed upon payment of a two dollars and fifty cents fee for each year thereafter.
(c) Business License. Operator of taxicab business shall be required to have a valid city of Othello business license. Such license shall expire at the end of the calendar year and may be renewed upon payment of a current business license fee. (Ord. 715 § 6, 1985).
4.12.070 License—Investigation.
When an application for a taxicab license, duly signed and sworn to, has been received by the city clerk and all required fees have been paid by the applicant, the chief of police shall investigate the statements contained therein, obtain such other information concerning the applicant’s character, integrity, past conduct and general qualifications as will show the applicant’s ability and skill as a driver of a motor vehicle for hire, and his honesty, integrity and character for the purpose of determining whether the applicant is a suitable person to operate a taxicab within the city. (Ord. 715 § 7, 1985).
4.12.080 License—Approval.
Upon review of the completed taxicab application and upon the recommendation from the police department that all conditions have been met in this chapter, the city clerk would be able to either approve or reject the application through the same process as set for obtaining a city business license. (Ord. 1065 § 1, 2000: Ord. 715 § 8, 1985).
4.12.090 Periodic inspection of motor vehicles.
The vehicles used by the operator shall be inspected for safety each year upon renewal of business license and identification cards. The chief of police shall determine the inspection requirements, and the inspection shall be under his direction. The chief of police may require that the inspection be made by a mechanic. All costs of inspection shall be paid by the operator. (Ord. 715 § 9, 1985).
4.12.100 License—Transfer.
No taxicab license shall be transferred from one person to another; provided, however, that a license may be transferred from one vehicle to another upon application being made to the city clerk and inspection and approval of the new vehicle, under the direction of the chief of police. Each application for transfer shall be issued upon receipt of ten dollars, which sum is the fee for making such transfer. (Ord. 715 § 10, 1985).
4.12.110 License—Identification card.
(a) Every taxicab driver shall, while operating a taxicab, have prominently displayed, his identification card in a form approved by the police chief. Such card shall have thereon, in addition to such other information as may be required by the police chief, the photograph, right index fingerprint and signature of person being identified and the date of expiration of the taxicab license.
(b) All identification cards shall remain property of the city of Othello. When a holder of an identification card shall discontinue driving a taxicab in the city of Othello, the holder shall immediately surrender the card to the chief of police. (Ord. 715 § 11, 1985).
4.12.120 Rates.
The licensee shall prominently post his own established rates in each vehicle and charge accordingly. Charging in excess of his posted rates shall be a violation of this chapter. (Ord. 715 § 12, 1985).
4.12.130 Insurance.
(a) The owner or operator of each taxicab operating within the city is to procure liability and property damage insurance covering passengers as well as other persons, for compensation in amount not less than one hundred thousand dollars for any recovery for personal injury by one person, and not less than three hundred thousand dollars for all persons receiving personal injury, by reason of one act of negligence, and not less than fifty thousand dollars for damage to property of any person other than the assured, and maintain such liability and property damage insurance in force for each taxicab operated within the city. A two hundred fifty thousand dollar combined single limit policy may be substituted.
(b) A certificate for each policy for liability or property damage insurance required in this chapter, shall be kept in full force and effect, and shall be kept on file with the city clerk. Failure to do so shall be cause for the revocation of the license. (Ord. 715 § 13, 1985).
4.12.140 Cruising prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person, in an effort to pick up a fare, to drive or operate a taxicab persistently or repeatedly to and from upon a public street. (Ord. 715 § 14, 1985).
4.12.150 Revocation or suspension.
A taxicab operator’s license issued by the city of Othello may be revoked by resolution of city council at any time for cause deemed to be sufficient; provided, that before any revocation is effective, a public hearing shall be held before the city council of which hearing the licensee shall be given notice, and at which time he shall be entitled to be heard; provided, that the chief of police may suspend the license of any holder thereof who is convicted of violating any city or county ordinance or state or federal law, except minor traffic laws, pending a hearing on the revocation of the license before the city council. The police chief shall provide, within three days, notice to the licensee specifying the violation he committed to have his license suspended or revoked. The licensee shall have the right to appeal the suspension or revocation to the city council within ten days of notice to the licensee. Notice of appeal shall be filed with the city attorney within the specified period. (Ord. 715 § 15, 1985).
4.12.160 Violation—Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction and shall pay a minimum fine of one hundred fifty dollars for each infraction. (Ord. 715 § 16, 1985).