Cudahy Municipal Code Art. VII Taxicab Operators

“Taxicab” shall mean a motor vehicle, as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code of the state, used for the transportation of passengers for hire when driven by the owner or by an agent of the owner at rates per mile, per trip, per hour, per day, per week, per month, or per other period of time, which vehicle is routed under the direction of the passenger or other persons hiring such vehicle. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.1).

“Taxicab operator” shall mean a person engaged in the business of running, driving, or operating one or more taxicabs and soliciting or accepting passengers in such taxicabs for hire, either by a taxicab stand or elsewhere, within the corporate limits of the city. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.2).

Every taxicab operator shall first procure a license from the city council:

(Ord. 553 § 2; Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.3).

Every application for a taxicab operator’s license shall be signed by the applicant. If the application is for an original license, not a renewal, it shall contain the following information:

(1) The name and address of the applicant;

(2) If the applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of its directors;

(3) The locations of the taxicab stands requested;

(4) The places on private property, if any, where the applicant intends to park taxicabs while awaiting passengers and, if none, a statement of that fact;

(5) The area within which the applicant proposes to operate;

(6) The kind and amount of public liability and property damage insurance covering each vehicle to be used for the acceptance of passengers for hire within the city;

(7) The taxicab color scheme and insignia;

(8) The owner’s trade name and business address;

(9) The number of vehicles to be used for accepting passengers for hire within the city;

(10) The schedule of rates proposed to be charged;

(11) The applicant’s estimate of the need of taxicab service in the area which he proposes to serve and the taxicab service in such area being provided by others;

(12) Demonstrate that the applicant has at least 15 vehicles in its fleet to operate as taxicabs within the city;

(13) Written documentation that each driver employed by the applicant has successfully passed a controlled substance and alcohol test which complies with the requirements of Government Code Section 53075.5(b)(3);

(14) Written documentation that each driver employed by the applicant has complied with CMC 5.08.590; and

(15) Such further information as either the sheriff’s department or the city council may require. (Ord. 553 §§ 3 – 6; Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.4).

The city council may grant a taxicab operator’s license if the city council finds that:

(1) After all requests for the modification of existing taxicab operator’s licenses have been granted, wholly or in part, or denied, the public convenience and necessity still justify the operation of one or more additional taxicabs in the area applied for;

(2) The applicant is a fit and proper person to possess a taxicab operator’s license;

(3) The applicant has complied with all of the provisions of this chapter; and

(4) The applicant has at least 15 vehicles in its fleet to operate as taxicabs within the city.* (Ord. 553 §§ 7, 8; Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.5).

* Editor’s Note: Section 14 of Ordinance No. 553 provides that existing taxicab operators with a valid license may continue to operate without complying with the provision of subsection (4) of this section.

In addition to the grounds for denial, revocation, modification or suspension set forth in Chapter 5.04 CMC, any taxicab operator’s license may be denied, revoked, suspended, or modified if it is found that the public necessity and convenience do not require the granting or continuance of such license. (Ord. 505 § 6. 2002 Code § 6-21.6).

Upon obtaining a taxicab operator’s license, the licensee shall submit to the sheriff’s department and bring all of the vehicles licensed thereby to a place designated by the sheriff’s department. A sheriff’s deputy shall attach and seal a city license plate to the rear of the body of each vehicle covered by the license by means of a city seal and metal screws if such vehicle meets all requirements as specified in this chapter. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.7).

If a taxicab operator desires to substitute one vehicle in place of another, and if such vehicle to be substituted complies with the taxicab operator’s license, and the taxicab operator brings both the vehicle under the license and the vehicle to be substituted to a place designated by the sheriff’s department, a sheriff’s deputy may remove the city license plate from the licensed vehicle and place it on the vehicle to be substituted. If the sheriff’s deputy finds that it is impossible or impracticable to bring the licensed vehicle to the place designated, he may permit the licensee to detach the city license plate therefrom by breaking the seal and removing the screws and may waive the requirement that such vehicle be brought to such designated place. Under no circumstances may such seal be broken or removed by anyone but a sheriff’s deputy. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.8).

A taxicab operator’s license which is issued to a corporation shall be valid so long as the directors of such corporation remain the same as shown on the application for such license. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.9).

The city at any time, either on its own motion or upon the application of any licensee, may cause an investigation to be made and hold a public hearing and, after such hearing, may change the area, number of taxicabs, location, or number of taxicab stands, or both, of any operator. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.10).

The city shall not order the issuance of any taxicab operator’s license until the applicant first files with the sheriff’s department a policy of insurance. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.11).

The policy of insurance required before a taxicab operator’s license can be issued shall insure the public against any loss or damage that may result to any person or property from the operation of any taxicab used by the taxicab operator in his business as such. The maximum amount of recovery in such policy shall not be less than the following sums:

(1) For the injuries to any one person or the death of any one person in any one accident, $10,000;

(2) For the injuries to two or more persons, or the death of two or more persons, or for injuries to one person or more, and the death of one person or more in any one accident, $20,000; and

(3) For the injury or destruction of property in any one accident, $5,000. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.12).

In place of one insurance policy the applicant may file not more than two insurance policies, one a policy of primary insurance and the second a policy of excess insurance, if the total insurance resulting from such policies is equal to, or greater than, that required by CMC 5.08.500. (Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.13).

A taxicab operator shall not permit any person to operate a taxicab unless such person is the employee or subcontractor of the taxicab operator and has a taxicab driver’s unrevoked badge, permit or license as required by this chapter. If the taxicab driver is a subcontractor of the taxicab operator, then the taxicab operator shall present proof of insurance naming the taxicab driver subcontractor as a named insured in the amount required by this chapter. (Ord. 573 § 1; Ord. 505 § 3. 2002 Code § 6-21.14).

Every taxicab operator issued a license under this chapter is required to notify the city manager of any change in facts or information presented in the application required by CMC 5.08.420 within 10 calendar days after such change. (Ord. 553 § 9. 2002 Code § 6-21.15).