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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.