Alameda Municipal Code § 10-2 Permits

Except for taxicabs which are subject to the franchise requirements of Section 10-5 of this code, it is unlawful to operate any public motor vehicle in the City unless the owner thereof shall apply for, and obtain, a permit to do so, which permit shall be applied for, granted and in existence, all in compliance with the provisions of Section 5-16 of this code. The application for such owner's permit shall set forth in addition to the requirements specified in subsection 5-16.2 of this code, the number of vehicles proposed to be operated, a complete description of the vehicles proposed to be operated and of the proposed operations, together with the initial rates to be charged therefor. In addition thereto, every application for an owner's permit to operate a motor bus shall set forth, in full, the proposed route and schedules, and every application for an owner's permit to operate a taxicab shall set forth, in full, the color scheme and characteristic insignia to be used to designate the vehicles of the owner. Such applications for an owner's permit shall also be accompanied by a sworn financial statement of the applicant.

(Ord. No. 2634 N.S. 1: Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

In addition to the grounds set forth in subsection 5-16.5 of this Code upon which an application for an owner's permit may be denied, the Chief of Police may deny the same if it appears to the chief's satisfaction that such vehicle proposed to be operated is inadequate or unsafe; that the applicant has been convicted of a felony, narcotics violation, prostitution or other crime of moral turpitude within the last two (2) years; that the applicant's proposed color scheme, name, monogram, insignia, uniform or cap, will be in conflict with, or imitate, any color scheme, name, monogram, insignia, uniform or cap used by any other person operating a public motor vehicle in such a manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive or defraud the public or in case of an application to operate a motorbus, the proposed schedule is inadequate or that the proposed route is incompatible with expedient traffic regulations.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

In addition to the grounds set forth in subsection 5-16.7 of this Code, upon which the Chief of Police may revoke or suspend any owner's permit to operate a public motor vehicle, the Chief of Police shall have the power to so suspend or revoke the same for a violation of any of the provisions of this Code or any ordinance, relating to traffic or use of streets or for a failure to pay any judgment for damages arising from the unlawful or negligent operation of the public motor vehicle for which the permit was issued.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

It shall be unlawful for any driver to operate any public motor vehicle in the City unless there exists a valid permit to do so as herein provided. Application for such driver's permit shall be obtained from and subsequently filed with the Chief of Police. It shall be in writing and in triplicate, the original when filed shall have been sworn to before a person lawfully authorized to administer oaths. The application shall set forth the name, age and address of the applicant, his/her past experience in automobiles, the names and addresses of his/her employers during the preceding period of three (3) years, whether or not a chauffeur's license issued to him or her by the State of California or any State or governmental agency has ever been revoked, the endorsement of the owner by whom he/she is to be employed as a driver and such additional information as the Chief of Police may require.

(Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

a. Upon the application for a driver's permit and before it shall be issued, the driver, whether the owner or otherwise, must evidence a proficient knowledge of the traffic laws of the City and of the State, and demonstrate his or her ability to operate a public motor vehicle. Upon satisfying the foregoing requirements, the driver shall be fingerprinted by, and his or her record filed in, the Police Department. Whenever a driver's permit is issued by the Chief of Police, that permit shall be posted in a place conspicuous from the passenger's compartment of the public motor vehicle while the driver is operating same. Every driver's permit issued hereunder shall set forth the name of the owner for which the driver is authorized to operate a public motor vehicle, and shall be valid only so long as he or she continues to operate a permitted taxicab as either an employee or independent contractor. Upon the termination of such employment, the driver shall surrender the driver's permit to the Chief of Police. No driver's permit shall be granted to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years. Such a driver' s permit may be denied by the Chief of Police if it appears to his satisfaction that there is substantial evidence of physical deficiencies of the applicant or that the applicant has been convicted of a felony, narcotics violation, prostitution or other crime of moral turpitude within the last two (2) years.

b. No such driver's permit issued hereunder shall be transferable in any event.

c. Upon the termination of the employment of any driver, the owner by whom such driver has been employed shall immediately give the Chief of Police written notice of such termination.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

Any person making application for a driver's permit shall pay to the Police Department at the time of filing such application, a fee, based on time and materials, provided, however, no permit shall be required of such person for an additional or other driver's permit issued to such person during the same calendar year. The Driver's Permit Fee shall be set by City Council Resolution.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.; Ord. No. 2587 N.S. 2)

a. The Chief of Police shall have the power to revoke or suspend any driver's permit issued hereunder in the event the holder thereof shall be found guilty of a violation of any provision of this chapter, or shall be found guilty of reckless driving, or for the violation of any other provision of this Code or other law; which violation, in the sound discretion of the official, shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the fact that the driver is not a competent person to operate a public motor vehicle.

b. In the event of such revocation or suspension of a driver's permit, such certificate as may be issued in connection therewith shall be, by the holder thereof, surrendered to the Chief of Police.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.; Ord. No. 2182 N.S.)

Any person excepting to any denial, suspension or revocation of an owner's permit or a driver's permit applied for or held by him shall have the right to appeal to the City Council and under the conditions provided for in subsection 5-16.8 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 693 N.S.)