Brentwood Municipal Code Art. I General

The enactment of this chapter is authorized and required by Government Code Section 53075.5. (See also Government Code Sections 53075.6 through 53075.9 and Vehicle Code Section 21100.) This chapter serves as the taxicab transportation service policy of the city, as required by Government Code Section 53075.5(b)(1).

The purpose of this chapter is to provide rules governing the permitting and operation of taxicab companies and drivers.

(Ord. 913 § 1, 2013)

"City"

means the city of Brentwood.

"Driver"

means an individual who operates a taxicab, whether as an agent, employee or as an owner.

"Employee"

includes self-employment as an independent driver.

"Owner"

means a person or entity engaged in the business of carrying passengers in a taxicab. Owner may be an individual, group of individuals, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, corporation or any other organizational structure identified by name, phone number, central dispatch, color scheme, monogram, or insignia distinguishing itself from any other entity engaged in such business.

"Person"

includes an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association and any other organization.

"Taxicab"

means a passenger vehicle designed for carrying not more than eight passengers excluding the driver, and used for carrying passengers for hire. (Vehicle Code Section 27908.) "Taxicab" does not include a charter-party carrier of passengers within the meaning of the Passenger Charter-Party Carriers' Act (Public Utilities Code Section 5351 et seq.).

"Taximeter"

means any mechanical or electronic device by which the charge for hire of a motor vehicle is mechanically calculated, either for distance traveled or time consumed, or both, and upon which device the charge is indicated by figures.

(Ord. 913 § 1, 2013)

A. Owner's Permit. No person may operate a taxicab business within the city without first obtaining an owner's permit and a city business license.

B. Driver's Permit. No person may drive a taxicab within the city without first obtaining a driver's permit and, unless the driver is an employee of the owner, a city business license.

C. Exceptions. The permit requirements of this section do not apply to any of the following:

1. The operation of a taxicab proceeding through the city while en route to a destination outside the city;

2. The operation of a taxicab by an owner who has a current, valid permit issued by another public entity if the taxicab only brings passengers into the city and does not solicit any passenger while in the city;

3. A vehicle operated under a ride-sharing agreement, for example when a commuter transports another who contributes gasoline money;

4. An ambulance or medical transportation services company vehicle (Insurance Code Sections 10178.5, 10352; Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14136.1);

5. A vehicle (such as a rental car) leased for self-operation where the lessee does not use the vehicle for transporting other people for hire;

6. A limousine, which is any sedan or sport utility vehicle of any length with a seating capacity of not more than ten passengers including the driver, used in the transportation of passengers for hire on a prearranged basis (Public Utilities Code Section 5371.4);

7. A vehicle listed as an exclusion under Public Utilities Code Section 5353 (b) through (f) and (h), (i), (k), (l) and (n).

(Ord. 913 § 1, 2013)