Azusa Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Certificate means a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to division 2 of this article.

Taxicab means every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle having a seating capacity of less than eight persons, excluding the driver, by means of which members of the general public are transported for hire upon any public street in the city and not over a regular or defined route and irrespective of whether the operation extends beyond the city limits or not.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.010)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

The following shall be observed by all persons operating taxicabs:

(1) Any person driving a taxicab shall wear a distinctive cap with a badge in plain sight inscribed with the name of the person to whom the certificate has been issued.

(2) No taxicabs shall be operated in the city unless the undertaking provided for in section 82-69 is in full force and effect.

(3) No taxicab shall remain standing upon any portion of any public street within the city, except for loading and unloading passengers and then not for a period of more than five minutes, except at such stand as may be designated by the city council. This subsection shall not apply to any taxicab while such taxicab is engaged by and being paid for by a passenger.

(4) No operator or owner of any taxicab shall solicit or carry any passenger after such taxicab shall have been engaged or while in use for another passenger, without the consent of the passenger first engaging the taxicab having been first obtained. A passenger engaging such taxicab shall have the exclusive right to full and free use of the passenger compartment and the whole thereof if he desires it.

(5) The operator of any taxicab shall carry any passengers engaging the taxicab safely and expeditiously to their destination by the most direct and accessible route.

(6) No person shall operate any taxicab without prepaying any license fee required by the city for the transaction of such business.

(7) All taxicabs shall be kept in good mechanical condition.

(8) No person shall drive a taxicab in the city without first having obtained an appropriate state driver's license and a city taxicab driver's permit, issued in writing by the chief of police as provided in division 4 of this article.

(9) No owner or operator of any taxicab shall indulge in unfair competition with competitors or shall commit any fraud upon the public or other persons engaged in the same business, and the city council shall be the sole judge of what constitutes fraud or unfair competition under this subsection. Any complaints to the council of violation of this subsection shall only be heard upon written complaint specifying the act complained of and sworn to by the complainant before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths.

(10) Every taxicab shall have posted in the passenger's compartment a schedule of rates and charges for the hire of the vehicle, a card bearing the driver's name and address as provided in this article and another card bearing the owner's name, address and telephone number, the cab number and the police department phone number, all contained in a small metal container or holder at least three to four inches in size and placed in a conspicuous place in the passenger compartment.

(11) The driver of a taxicab shall be reasonably available to render service while the taxicab is parked at any stand designated by the city council, except while assisting passengers to load or unload or while answering his telephone.

(12) No charge shall be made by any operator or owner of a taxicab lower than or in excess of the rates posted in the passenger compartment of the taxicab and approved by the city council.

(13) No taxicab shall be operated unless the passenger compartment is kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

(14) Every taxicab shall be equipped at all times with a standard-type fire extinguisher in good working condition.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.120)

Under this article, every certificate holder shall designate each of his taxicabs by number, and no two taxicabs of any certificate holder shall be designated by the same number. The name or trade name of the certificate holder and the number by which the taxicab is designated shall be printed, stamped or stenciled conspicuously on the outside of each taxicab and in the passenger compartment thereof.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.200)

No certificate or permit issued under divisions 2 and 4 of this article shall be transferable either by contract or operation of law without the permission of the city council having been first obtained, and any such attempted transfer shall be sufficient cause for revocation thereof.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.210)

Any certificate or permit granted under divisions 2 and 4 of this article may be revoked by the city council, either as a whole or as to any car described therein or as to the right to use any distinctive color, monogram or insignia, after five days' notice to the certificate holder, requiring him to appear at a certain time and place to show cause why the certificate should not be revoked for any of the following reasons:

(1) The undertaking or insurance provided for in section 82-69 has not been given or has been withdrawn or lapsed for nonpayment of premium, or is not in force for any reason.

(2) The nonpayment for any license fee provided by the schedule of license fees in this Code.

(3) Failure to observe any of the rules and regulations or provisions set out in this article or in the certificate.

(4) The violation of any state laws or city ordinances, by any certificate holder, operator or driver of any taxicab covered by such certificate.

(5) Failure to maintain satisfactory service to the public by means of any of the vehicles described in the application or for failure to keep any such car in use for an unreasonable length of time or for failure to use the distinctive color, monogram or insignia described in the application or for deviation from the schedule of rates and fares set forth in the application.

(6) Any cause which in the opinion of the city council makes it contrary to the public interest, convenience and necessity for the certificate or permit to be continued.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.080)

The city council may by resolution specify stands at which taxicabs may be parked pursuant to any ordinance or law governing the parking of motor vehicles within the city and may by such resolution specify the nature and extent of the use to which such stand may be devoted. Such stand shall consist of one car space, to be marked off, painted and reserved for taxicabs only.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.100)

No person shall refuse to pay the legal fare for the hire of any taxicab, after having hired the taxicab, with the intent to defraud the person from whom it is hired.

(Code 1971, § 5.40.110)