Corcoran Municipal Code Ch. 4 For-Hire Vehicles

The term "vehicles" as used in this Chapter shall mean every motor propelled vehicle used solely or mainly for the transportation of passengers for hire on the streets of the City and irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the corporation limits of the City. (Ord. 272, 1970)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any vehicle for hire or taxicab upon any public street in the City without first having obtained a license to do so in accordance with provisions of this Chapter and without complying with or having complied with all provisions in a manner hereinafter provided. (Ord. 272, 1970)

Application for such license shall be made in writing and filed with the City Council along with an application fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) made payable to the City. The application shall state:

A. The name and address of the applicant and if same shall be a corporation, the name of its principal officers or if the same shall be a partnership, association or fictitious company, the name of the partners or persons comprising the association or company with the address of each.

B. A description of every motor vehicle which the applicant proposes to use including:

• 1. The trade name;
• 2. The serial number;
• 3. The State license number;
• 4. The seating capacity;
• 5. The body style.

C. The street number and exact location of the place where the applicant proposes to stand each such vehicle.

D. A proposed schedule of rates or fares to be charged for carrying passengers in such vehicles.

E. The distinctive color scheme, name, monogram or insignia which shall be used on each such vehicle.

F. That the applicant will operate said vehicle at least six (6) hours a day and not less than five (5) days a week.

G. If any proposed stand is in the public street, the application shall be accompanied by written consent thereto of all occupants on the ground floor of any building in front of which such vehicle is to be located and for twenty five feet (25') each way therefrom or, if there is no such occupant, by written consent thereto of the owner or lessee of such building or lot. (Ord. 272, 1970)

Before a license shall be issued by the City Clerk, the applicant to whom a permit shall have been awarded by the City Council shall deliver to the City a certificate of insurance executed by a company duly authorized under the laws of the State to do business. The insurance policy shall contain an endorsement that the insurance company issuing such policy will not allow the same to be cancelled for any purposes without serving notice of cancellation upon the City. In the event of failure of licensee to carry such policy or policies in force or to properly renew such policies, the City Clerk shall immediately cancel the license therefor. (Ord. 272, 1970; 1996 Code)

No license to operate a vehicle for hire shall be issued unless and until the City Council shall by resolution declare that public convenience requires the licensing of such vehicle for which application is made and issued a certificate of public convenience therefor.

A. Authority To Issue Certificate: The Council shall have the power and it shall be their duty to issue such certificate of convenience, or to refuse to issue the same, according as their judgment the public convenience of the City and its inhabitants may require. Upon receipt of an application and in determining whether such convenience requires the licensing of a vehicle, said Council shall take into consideration:

1. Whether the demands of public convenience require such proposed or additional transportation service.

2. The financial responsibility of the applicant and likelihood of the proposed service being permanent, responsible and satisfactory.

3. The number, kind, type and condition of equipment.

4. The number of vehicles for hire now operating in the City and the increased traffic condition and demand for increased parking spaces upon the streets in the City by the public both vehicular and pedestrian will be preserved.

5. Any such further investigation or relevant factors as the City deem advisable and necessary.

B. Decision Of Council Final: The findings and decisions of the City Council upon all questions of public convenience shall be final and conclusive. No license shall be issued to operate less than five (5) days a week, nor less than six (6) hours daily. The City Council may at any time after hearing and for good cause suspend, alter, amend or revoke any such license. (Ord. 272, 1970)

The following rules and regulations shall be observed by all persons operating taxicabs or automobiles for hire, and it shall be unlawful to operate such taxicabs or vehicles for hire in violation of any of the following rules:

A. Identification: Any person operating a taxicab must have in plain view within the vehicle, picture identification including his/her name, permit number, description, etc.

B. Stop At Railroad Crossings: All taxicabs and vehicles for hire shall, while carrying passengers, come to a full stop within thirty feet (30') of the nearest rail before crossing any railroad tracks where no gates are maintained.

C. Vehicles Left Standing: No vehicle for hire or taxicab shall remain standing upon any portion of any public street except for loading and unloading passengers, and then not for a period of more than five (5) minutes, except at such stand as may be described in the application for license and designated by the City Council. The provisions of the subsection shall not apply to any vehicle for hire or taxicab while the same is engaged by or being paid for by a passenger or while a licensed operator is seated at the vehicle's seat in the taxicab or vehicle for hire awaiting engagement by a passenger.

D. Exclusive Right To Full Use: No operator or owner of any vehicle for hire or taxicab shall solicit, take or carry any passengers after such vehicle shall have been engaged or while in use for another passenger, without the consent of the passenger first engaging the same having been first obtained. A passenger engaging such vehicle shall have the exclusive right to full and free use of the passenger compartment and the whole thereof if he/she desires the same. The operator of any taxicab, shall carry any passenger engaging the same safely and expeditiously to his/her destination by the most direct and accessible route.

E. Inspection Required: All vehicles affected by this Chapter shall be maintained in good working order and must be inspected by the Chief of Police or his/her deputy each month. (Ord. 272, 1970)

F. Age Requirement: No taxicab or vehicle for hire shall be operated by any person under the age of twenty one (21) years or by any person who does not have a valid driver's license as prescribed by the California State Motor Vehicle Code or by any person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or by any person who is for any reason whatsoever unable or incompetent to safely handle such vehicle. (Ord. 272, 1970; 1996 Code)

G. Unfair Competition Or Fraud: No owner or operator of any vehicle for hire or taxicab shall indulge in unfair competition with competitors or shall commit any fraud upon the public or upon persons engaged in the same business, and the City Council shall be the sole judge as to what constitutes fraud or unfair competition pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. Any complaint or violation of the provisions of this subsection shall 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.

H. Schedule Of Rates: A taxicab shall have posted in the passenger's compartment a schedule of rates for the hire of such vehicle.

I. Charge In Excess Of Rates: No charge shall be made by any operator or owner of a taxicab or vehicle for hire in excess of the rates posted in the passenger compartment of such vehicle and approved by the City Council.

J. Condition Of Vehicle: No vehicle for hire shall be operated unless the passenger compartment shall be kept clean and in a sanitary condition. (Ord. 272, 1970)

K. Vehicle And Driver Requirements:

1. Every automobile for hire, dial-a-ride vehicle, jitney or taxicab shall be maintained in a safe, neat, clean and sanitary condition.

2. Every automobile for hire, dial-a-ride vehicle, jitney or taxicab shall be equipped with an air conditioning unit. These air conditioning units are to be in good working condition at all times.

3. The driver of all such vehicles shall be courteous and clean of body and wearing apparel.

4. Smoking by drivers or passengers in any such vehicle while same is available for, or actually hired for use, shall be prohibited.

5. All vehicle for hire operations shall have handicapped accessible vehicles as required by Federal law as it now exists or may hereafter be amended. (1996 Code)

All vehicles affected by this Chapter shall be maintained in good working order and must be inspected by the Chief of Police or his/her deputy once each month. (Ord. 272, 1970)

The City Clerk upon receipt and filing of said application approved by the City Council shall issue to applicant a license to operate such vehicle for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire. (Ord. 272, 1970)

The City Clerk shall collect for each vehicle an annual fee which shall be established by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 272, 1970)

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any taxicab or vehicle for hire without first obtaining a permit in writing from the Police Chief. Such permit shall entitle the driver to work only for the owner whose name appears on the permit. A new permit shall be required for each subsequent employment.

A. Application: The applicants for such permit shall file an application therefor with the Police Chief upon blanks to be furnished by the City.

B. Issuance; Refusal: Permits shall be in the form of a card which shall bear the signature, photograph and fingerprints of the applicant. Such card shall be issued in duplicate and one copy shall be filed with the Police Department and the other card shall be conspicuously displayed in the vehicle operated by the driver. No permit shall be issued to anyone for the following reasons:

1. Any person under the age of twenty one (21) years;

2. Any person not a citizen of the United States or who has not declared his/her intentions to become such;

3. Any person who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

4. Any person who has been convicted of reckless driving or driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics; or

5. Any person not possessing a valid driver's license as required by the Motor Vehicle Code of the State.

C. Examination: Each applicant shall be examined by a person designated by the Police Chief as to the applicant's knowledge of the provisions of this Chapter, the Vehicle Code of the State and the geography of the City, and if the result of the examination is not satisfactory, he/she shall be denied a permit.

D. Verification: The Police Chief may revoke a permit issued or may refuse to renew a permit if the driver or applicant has since the granting of a permit:

1. Been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

2. Been convicted of reckless driving or driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics;

• 3. Had his/her State operator's license revoked or suspended;
• 4. Had two (2) or more convictions of speeding within any twelve (12) month period; or
• 5. Violated any provisions of this Chapter. (Ord. 272, 1970)

Every vehicle for hire for the operation for which a permit has been issued shall have the name under which the owner operates plainly in letters at least two inches (2") in height in the center of the main panel of their rear doors. (Ord. 272, 1970)

The holder of any license may substitute one car for another but if such substitution continues for more than three (3) days a description of such car so substituted shall be filed with the Chief of Police. (Ord. 272, 1970)

The fares to be charged by any taxicab licensed under the provisions of this Chapter shall be fixed by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 272, 1970)

It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the legal fare for the hire for any vehicle for hire or taxicab with the intent to defraud the person from whom it is hired. (Ord. 272, 1970)