Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 5.72 Taxicabs

"Taxicab" means every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle of the distinctive color of public appearance, such as is in common usage in this country for taxicabs, used for transportation of passengers for hire over the streets of the city, and not over a defined route, irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the boundary lines of the city, at rates for distance traveled, or for waiting time, or for both, when such vehicle is routed under direction of such passengers or persons hiring the same; however, charter buses are not included within the definition of "taxicabs."

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No person shall operate a taxicab within the city without first having obtained a written permit for the operation of such vehicle under and in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed in this chapter.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Applicants for taxicab permits shall file with the city council an application upon blanks provided by the city police department, containing such information as is required by the rules and regulations of the city council pertaining to the operation of taxicabs. The application shall be accompanied by a fee as set by resolution of the city council for the first vehicle and a fee set by resolution of the city council for each additional vehicle covered by the license.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No person shall operate any taxicab, as defined in Section 5.72.010, upon the streets of the city, and no person who owns or controls any such vehicle shall permit it to be so driven, and no such taxicab shall be so driven unless the driver of said taxicab has first obtained and has then in force a driver's permit issued under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

A. Any person may apply to the city for a permit to operate a taxicab by filing with the chief of police upon forms supplied by the city police department an application containing the following information:

1. Name, address, and other pertinent applicant information;

2. Convictions, if any, in the courts of any state of the United States or in any United States court;

3. The endorsement of the owner by whom he is to be employed as driver;

4. Number and expiration date of his/her valid driver's license;

5. Such other information regarding the character and experience of the applicant as may be necessary or desirable to enable the chief of police to ascertain applicant's qualifications for a driver's permit;

6. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations Livescan fingerprint check to be processed through the Blythe police department.

B. Upon receipt of the application, the chief of police or his/her designee shall also conduct an investigation of each applicant for a driver's permit. On the basis of this investigation and the results of the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations background checks, he/she shall approve or reject the application. A permit may be denied for any of the following reasons:

1. Person under the age of twenty-one years;

2. Person has been convicted of a felony or of any offense involving moral turpitude;

3. Person has been convicted of driving a vehicle recklessly or while under the influence of intoxicating liquors within a period of three years prior to the date of the application;

4. Person has been convicted of driving a vehicle while under the influence of narcotics;

5. Person not possessing a valid driver's license.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Each driver's permit granted by the city council must be filed with the city clerk or his/her designee, who shall collect the sum set by resolution of the city council. The clerk or his/her designee shall deliver to each permittee such evidence of the issuance of the driver's permit and of the identity of the holder thereof as the city council may prescribe.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

The city council shall have the authority to adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the service and safety of the operation of taxicabs. Permits provided for in this chapter may be granted, denied, revoked, suspended or cancelled as to any person or applicant whenever, in the exercise of reasonable and sound discretion, the city council determines that the provisions of this chapter have or have not been complied with, or that the permittee or applicant is or is not a fit and proper person to be in charge of or operate a taxicab, as may be determined by the rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of and the extent, quality and character of the service of such vehicle.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

From the time of the revocation or during the suspension of any permit, no person whose permit is revoked or suspended shall drive, operate or be in charge of any taxicab, or permit any taxicab on which the license has been revoked or suspended to engage in the operation of such vehicle as a taxicab, or allow any such taxicab to stand while awaiting employment at a location designated in such revoked or suspended permit, or until the period of suspension has expired.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

The chief of police of the city may issue the permits required by this chapter at the direction of the city council, and he/she may suspend any of the permits mentioned in this chapter whenever the permittee has not complied with the provisions of this chapter or has been convicted of a felony, reckless driving, the use, sale, possession, or transportation of narcotics, or for assault or battery, or has charged rates other than those which the permittee has on file with the city council and as set forth in this chapter, or has violated any of the rules and regulations of the city council pertaining to the operation of and extent, quality and character of service of taxicabs.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

The action of the chief of police in suspending any of the permits provided for in this chapter shall be subject to the ratification and approval of the city council without further action at any of its meetings held subsequent to the action of the chief of police, but not later than thirty days thereafter.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

All permits issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be for a period not to exceed one year, and all such permits shall expire upon such date as may be fixed by the city council.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Regardless of the provisions of Section 5.72.200, this section grants a further authority to the chief of police as follows: the chief of police has authority to issue a sixty-day temporary permit, revocable at any time by the chief of police, permitting a person to temporarily operate a taxicab within the city, pending a complete background investigation by said chief of police or his/her designee of any applicant driver of a taxicab. The chief of police shall have the right to revoke any such sixty-day temporary permit at any time by verbal or written notice to such applicant driver or to the registered owner of any such taxicab by any verbal or written notice to such registered owner. After the expiration of any sixty-day temporary permit, unless said person complies with Sections 5.72.130 through 5.72.150 and 5.72.180, said sixty-day temporary permit shall automatically expire and be of no further force and effect. The chief of police has authority to grant a sixty-day extension as necessary in extenuating circumstances.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No permit for the operation of any taxicab shall be granted until the city council, after a public hearing, conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the city council, determines that public convenience and necessity require the operation of such taxicab. The declaration of public convenience and necessity shall not be necessary for the granting of the same number of permits held by the applicant under the same name and color scheme on the date prescribed by the city council for the expiration of permits, and such permits shall be classed as renewals and shall be granted automatically on the filing of an application unless the applicant violates other provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

If the city council finds that further taxicab service in the city is required by public convenience and necessity and that the applicant is fit, willing and able to perform such public transportation and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the rules promulgated by the city council, the city shall issue a permit stating the name and address of the applicant, the number of vehicles authorized under said permit and the date of issuance; otherwise, the application shall be denied.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

In making the findings, the city council shall take into consideration the number of taxicabs already in operation, whether existing transportation is adequate to meet the public need, the probable effect of increased service on local traffic conditions, and the character, experience and responsibility of the applicant.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Each permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall entitle the owner thereof to obtain a business license to engage in the business described in such permit from the city finance department, upon the payment of the business license fee. The finance department clerk shall issue such license.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

A. Permits may be issued to owners of taxicabs allowing such vehicles while awaiting employment to stand at certain designated places upon the street.

B. No such permit shall be granted except upon the application of the person desiring such stand, filed with the city council, stating the number of taxicabs for which the permit is sought, and the proposed location of such stand.

C. The application must contain either the written consent of the occupant of the first floor of that portion of the building or property in front of which it is desired that such vehicle shall stand or, if such building is used for hotel purposes, the written consent of the person operating such hotel.

D. If there is no building on the premises in front of which it is desired that such taxicab shall stand, or if there is a building and the first floor is unoccupied, then such permit may be granted on the written consent of the owner of such building or premises.

E. Not more than three taxicabs shall be permitted to stand on any one side of a street within the limits of any one block.

F. No permit shall be issued for any taxicab to be located within three hundred feet of another stand on the same side of the street.

G. The city council may, after exercising reasonable discretion, grant renewals or extensions of permits for such stand.

H. The fee payable to the city for each cab stand permit issued shall be as set by resolution of the city council, in addition to the further sum payable by each taxicab owner or operator for one taxicab and the sum for each additional taxicab.

I. No owner or driver of any taxicab shall stand while awaiting employment at any place other than a stand designated by the city council and assigned to the owner of such vehicle.

J. Stands may be occupied for a period of twenty-four hours a day except where standing, stopping and parking of vehicles is otherwise prohibited during any portion of twenty-four hours.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No permit shall be issued or continued in operation unless there is in full force and effect a liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, deposited with the city clerk, and providing for each taxicab vehicle authorized under this chapter, a minimum single combined limit of three hundred thousand dollars. Said insurance shall inure to the benefit of any person who shall be injured or who shall sustain damage to property proximately caused by the negligence of a holder of a permit under this chapter, his servants or agents.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No permit issued under this chapter may be sold, assigned, mortgaged, transferred, or interest therein diminished without the written consent of the city council being first had and obtained.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Any motor-propelled vehicles may transport a passenger or passengers from a point outside to a destination within the city or may proceed through the city while en route to a destination outside the city without the issuance of a permit under this chapter, and such operations shall not of themselves constitute engaging in the operation of a taxicab within the city.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Taxicabs for which permits have been issued shall be operated by the owner thereof or by an employee of the owner. No owner or driver of any such taxicab shall enter into any contract, agreement or understanding between themselves by the terms of which such driver pays to, or for the account of, such owner, a fixed or determinable sum for the use of such taxicab.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

A. No taxicab permit shall be issued to any person until a standard, distinctive and uniform color scheme has been adopted by the applicant and approved by the city council, which designates by color the owner of said taxicab.

B. No permit shall be issued to any person whose color scheme, name, monogram or insignia is in conflict with or imitates any color scheme, monogram, name or insignia used by another concern in such manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive or mislead the public.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Every taxicab shall display in the rear of the driver's seat and in the passenger's compartment, in full view of the passengers, a card not less than two inches by four inches nor more than two and one-half inches by five inches, which has printed thereon the owner's name under which he operates and the business address and telephone number of such owner together with the rates to be charged for such vehicle.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Every taxicab shall have painted upon the door of said cab the name under which the owner operates, together with the telephone number and the cab number. The number of the cab and the telephone number shall be painted upon the rear of said vehicle. All of the lettering mentioned in this section shall be not less than two and one-half inches in height and not less than five-sixteenths inch stroke.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Every taxicab may display an electrically lighted vacant sign attached to the top of such cab. Every such sign shall be not more than two and one-half inches by nine inches in length.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No person shall display any sign other than those mentioned in Sections 5.72.230 through 5.72.250 without first obtaining the written permission of the city council to do so.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

The passengers of a taxicab shall have the full and exclusive right to the passenger compartment, and no owner or driver of such taxicab shall solicit or carry additional passengers.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Any driver employed to carry passengers to a definite point shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passengers safely and expeditiously to their destination.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

No person shall charge, collect, demand, receive or arrange for any compensation for the service of any taxicab any amount, rate or compensation greater than the charges or rates regulated by the city council. Rate increases shall be approved by the city council before implementation, and any extraordinary increase must be justified by the operator before the city council.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

A. It is unlawful for any owner or driver to operate any taxicab in the city unless and until such vehicle is equipped with a taximeter of such type, style and design as may be approved by the Blythe police department and certified annually by the county of Riverside department of weights and measures, and it is the duty of every owner operating a taxicab to maintain such taximeter in such condition that it will at all times correctly and accurately indicate the correct charge for the distance traveled and waiting time. Such taximeters shall be at all times subject to inspection by the Blythe police department which is authorized at its instance or upon complaint of any person to investigate or cause the taximeter to be investigated, and, upon discovery of any inaccuracy in said taximeter, to remove or cause the same to be removed and not to be used until it has been correctly adjusted.

B. Taxicabs not equipped with meters operating in the city at the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be equipped as soon as delivery can be obtained. Under no condition shall the date of installation of said meters be more than one hundred eighty days from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

C. Every taximeter shall be equipped to register the cost of transportation of passengers in the city and the taximeter shall be so placed in the taxicab that the display showing the amount to be charged may be readily seen by the passengers in the taxicab. It is unlawful for any owner, driver or operator of a taxicab in the city to charge any sum in excess of the amount shown on said dial for conveyance in said taxicab.

D. It is unlawful for a taxicab driver, while carrying passengers, to display the flag or the device attached to the taximeter in such position as to denote that the vehicle is for hire or to cause the taximeter to record when the vehicle is not actually employed or to fail to cause the device on the taximeter to be placed into a nonrecording position at the termination of each and every service.

E. It is unlawful for the owner or driver of any taxicab in the city to fix, charge or collect for service a rate more or less than the rate set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Every driver shall maintain a daily manifest upon which all trips made each day are recorded, showing time and place of origin and destination of each trip and amount of fare. All such completed manifests shall be returned to the holder of the permit under this chapter at the conclusion of his tour of duty. The forms for each manifest shall be furnished to the driver by the holder of the permit under this chapter and shall be of a character approved by the chief of police, and shall be made available for inspection at the request of the chief of police or his/her designee.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

All taxicabs shall be inspected by a certified mechanic, at the cost of the operator, on an annual basis. The operator will submit a form certifying the vehicle(s) as mechanically safe along with his/her annual renewal forms.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars and possible suspension or revocation of his/her driver's permit.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)

Any person found providing taxi service within the city of Blythe without first obtaining a city of Blythe taxicab operator's and/or driver's permit shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

(Ord. 823 § 1 (Att. A) (part), 2007)