6429.2. - PERMITS REQUIRED.

No person shall operate or cause to be operated upon any street any taxicab or automobile for hire, unless there shall have been issued by the City an operator's permit to the operator applicant pursuant to Chapter 3 of this Article (Section 6311 et seq.) and a driver's permit to the driver thereof pursuant to this Division, and unless each such permit shall be in full force and effect. All permits granted pursuant to this Article shall be nontransferable.

Each permit issued by the License Officer shall entitle the holder thereof to also obtain a license from the License Officer, upon payment of the license fee at the rate specified in subsection 6220.39, to operate each automobile for hire or taxicab as set forth and described in the permit. Such license shall be securely attached in a conspicuous location to the rear left portion of the licensed automobile for hire or taxicab at all times when said vehicle is in use.

(Amended by Ord. 1896 adopted 10-20-88; amended by Ord. 2263 adopted 12-1-09)

The granting of a permit for the operation of an automobile for hire or taxicab, and full compliance by the permittee with all the provisions of this Division, shall entitle the permittee to operate, so long as such permit is in full force and effect, such automobile for hire or taxicab for the transportation of passengers over the streets of the City, provided that at all such times each automobile shall be driven by a driver holding a valid permit under the provisions of this Division.

Any permit issued under the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Article granted to a holder of an operator's permit to operate an automobile for hire or taxicab, or to a driver to drive said automobile, shall be in full force and effect unless the holder thereof shall violate any of the provisions of this Division or until said permit has been revoked, suspended or canceled or has expired, but in no event to be for a period beyond the calendar year of its issuance. No person holding an operator's permit which is not in full force and effect shall allow any automobile under his ownership, management or control to be used for the carrying of passengers for hire upon the streets of the City; and no person whose driver's permit has expired or has been revoked, suspended or canceled shall drive, operate or be in charge of an automobile for hire or taxicab.

In case the term of the insurance policy or policies required by the provisions of this Division for the operation of an automobile for hire or taxicab shall expire or shall be canceled, such permit shall, by such expiration or cancellation, be immediately and automatically suspended until such insurance policy or policies are reinstated and are again in full force and effect, or until replaced by other insurance to the approval of the Council; provided that in any case where such insurance has been canceled or has expired, and has not been reinstated nor replaced with other insurance within ten (10) days after the expiration or cancellation thereof, then the permit which has been issued for the operation of such automobiles for hire or taxicabs covered by such insurance shall be automatically canceled, annulled and set aside.

The failure to use any duly licensed automobile for hire or taxicab upon the streets of the City and to have the same in active service for the reasonable convenience of the people of the City for a period of thirty (30) days shall automatically revoke, cancel and rescind the permit applicable to such automobile.