HomeMy Public PortalAbout03 Enacting Taxi-Limo Regs TOWN OF TRUCKEE
California
ORDINANCE NO. 97-03
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF TRUCKEE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL
CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 5.01 (REGULATIONS FOR TAXICABS, LIMOUSINES,
AND OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE)
The Town Council of the Town of Truckee Does Ordain as Follows:
Section 1. ~. Title 5 of the Truckee Municipal Code is hereby amended by
adding Chapter 5.01 thereto as designated in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein
by reference.
Section 2. Summary. Publication and Posting. Within thirty (30) days al[er final adoption
of this Ordinance, the Town Clerk shall have a summary of the ordinance prepared by the Town
Attorney and published as required. Within fifteen (15) days after final adoption of this Ordinance,
the Town Clerk shall have it posted in the three (3) public places designated by Resolution of the
Council.
The foregoing Ordinance was adopted at a regular meet'rog of the Town Council of the Town
of Truckee, held on the 19th day of June, 1997, by Councilmember Carpenter, who moved its
introduction, which motion was seconded by Council member Susman, was upon roll call carried
by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Carpenter, Florian, McCormack, Susman & Mayor Drake
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Robert W. Drake, Mayor
Attest:
CHAPTER 5.01 TAXICABS, LIMOUSINES, AND OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE
5.01.010 Definition. The term "taxicab" as used in this chapter means every motor
propelled vehicle used solely or mainly for the transportation of passengers for hire on the
streets of the Town, irrespective of whether the operation extends beyond the boundaries of
the Town.
5.01.020 License Rea_uired. No person or company shall operate any taxicab within
the Town limits unless he/she first obtains a license to do so from the Police Chief.
EXCEPTION: The Chief of Police may accept, in lieu of issuing a permit under this ordinance,
a permit issued by another California governmental agency, so long as the insurance
requirements contained in Section 5.01.104 are complied with as to the Town.
5.01.030 Applicant Oualificationn. Each applicant for a license to operate a taxicab
shall possess the following qualifications:
(A) Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(B) Have good eyesight and be free from any debilitating illness or disease which
would affect his/her ability to safely operate a taxicab, including freedom from addiction to
the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics:
Ali applicants/drivers must take and pass a drug screen annually. The test
can be done at Tahoe Forest Hospital or any State licensed testing facility.
Results must be filed with the application.
(C) Possess a valid California driver's license.
5.01.040 Application Information Required. Each applicant for a license to operate
a taxicab shall provide the following information to the Town Police Chief:
(A) Full name;
(B) Current address;
(C) Age, height, color of hair, and eyes;
(D) Place of birth;
(E) Places of previous employment for the five (5) years preceding the date of
application;
(F) Whether or not he/she has been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude.
(G) California driver's license number.
(H) A description of every vehicle which the applicant proposes to operate as a
taxicab, giving:
1. Trade name, year and model;
2. Motor or serial number;
3. State license number;
4. Seating capacity;
5. Body style
The application shall be signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury, and filed
with the Town Police Chief. The Chief of Police is authorized to establish an application fee,
not to exceed the reasonable cost of processing the application using Municipal Services
Institute standards.
5.01.050 Applicant: Misrepresentation of Facts Prohibited. Any person knowingly
or intentionally misrepresenting to any officer or employee of the Town any material fact in
applying for a taxicab license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
5.01.060 Applicant: Fingerprints and Photographs Required. Each applicant for a
taxicab operator's license shall have his/her fingerprints taken and shall file two (2) recent
photographs of him/herseff of a size that may be easily attached to the taxicab license. One of
such photographs shah be attached to the license when issued, and shall be carried at all times
when driving a taxicab within the Town. Such photograph shall be attached to the license so
that it cannot be removed and another photograph substituted without detection. The other
photograph shall be filed with the application.
3.01.070 Display of Operator's License and Photograph. Each taxicab driver shall,
upon demand by any police officer or passenger, exhibit his taxicab operator's license and
photograph for inspection.
3.01.080 Annual Fee for Operator's License. The Chief of Police shall establish an
annual fee for the processing and renewal of operators licenses, not to exceed the reasonable
cost of providing the service, using Municipal Services Institute standards.
5.01.090 Authority_ to Refuse to Issue & Suspend or Revoke Operator's License. The
Town Police Chief, in the exercise of sound and reasonable discretion, when the public safety
and interest may require, may refuse to issue a taxicab operator's license, and may suspend
or revoke any such license upon:
(A)
The driver being convicted of a violation of Sections 20001, 20002(a), 20002(b),
23103, 23152, 23153, 23220, or 23222 of the Vehicle Code of the State of
California, or upon any two (2) or more convictions within one year for any
moving violation of the Vehicle Code of the State of California while driving
such vehicle for hire; or
The driver being convicted of offenses requiring registration under either
Section 290 or 11590 of the Penal Code.
(C) The driver or owner, if different, being convicted of any violation of this
ordinance.
5.01.100 Maintenance and Inspecg|0n.
(A) Safety and Sanitation Required. No owner or driver shall operate, or permit any
such vehicle to be operated, in the Town while any equipment used thereon shall
be defective, unsafe, or in an unsanitary condition.
(B) Inspections. Every such vehicle shall, at all times, be subject to inspection by any
police officer of the Town.
(c)
Noncompliance: Suspension of £icenses. The Police Chief may temporarily
suspend with or without notice any taxicab, Hmousine, or motor vehicle for hire
license granted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter whenever an owner
or driver violates any of the provisions of this section. Permanent revocation of
such license may occur under the provision of Section 5.01.090.
Registration. All taxicabs, limousines, or motor vehicles for hire shall be
registered with the Police Chief. Rates charged to hire such vehicles shall be
filed with the Chief of Police and updated as required to remain current.
Inspections. The Police Chief may require a safety inspection on any vehicle
licensed under this chapter under reasonable standards established by the Chief
for that purpose. Any vehicle failing to pass a safety inspection shall be
immediately removed from use by the owner or operator and shall not be used
for transportation until repaired and a new safety inspection is conducted and
passed.
5.01.101 ]Permission Rea_uired to Pick Up Additional Passengers. It is unlawful for
a taxicab driver who has been hired by a passenger or group of passengers to pick up
additional passengers without the express permission of the passenger or group of passengers
who first hired the vehicle.
5.01.102 Availability_. Each person, company or corporation operating taxicabs in
the Town shall maintain a 24-hour availability.
5.01.103 Right to Refuse Service. Any operator of a vehicle under this chapter may
refuse service to anyone who is belligerent or combative, or in any way a threat to the safety
of the operator.
5.01.104 Liabili _ty Insurance. During the term of a permit issued pursuant to this
chapter, the permittee or owner(s) of a taxicab authorized by the permit shall maintain in full
force and effect, at no cost to the Town, a comprehensive auto and general liability insurance
policy.
(A) In an amount no less than One Million ($1,000,000) Dollars single limit per
occurrence; and
(B) Issued by an admitted insurer(s) as def'med by the California Insurance Code;
(C) Providing that the Town, its officers, employees and agents are to be named as
additional insureds under the policy.
No person shall commence operations of a vehicle licensed by the Town until
such time as the insurance required by this section has been received and
verified.
5.01.105 Penalties. Violations of this Chapter shall be a misdemeanor, provided,
however, the District Attorney or Town Attorney may reduce the charge to an infraction.
Violation of this ordinance shall also constitute a nuisance which may be abated in a manner
allowed by law, including the towing of vehicles under Government Code Section 53075.61.