Daly City Municipal Code Div. IV Taxicab Permits

Every holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall also secure a taxicab permit for each taxicab or handicapped serving van in use or in reserve for use in the city. Such permit shall be issued in an administrative manner by the Daly City police department in the same manner provided for other licenses of the city.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

The taxicabs and handicapped serving vans of every certificate holder operating in the city shall be of a color scheme and bear the certificate holder's trade name, monogram or insignia which are distinguishable from the color scheme, owner's trademark, monogram or insignia used on the vehicles of any other certificate holder already operating pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

A. Every taxicab or handicapped serving van shall have printed or placed on each side and rear of such taxicab or handicapped serving van the name of the owner or the fictitious name under which the owner operates, together with the telephone number of the owner or company. All of such lettering shall be in letters not less than two and one-quarter inches in height and not less than five-sixteenths of an inch stroke. In addition thereto, every taxicab or handicapped serving van shall have printed or placed upon the exterior of such taxicab or handicapped serving van in conspicuous letters of at least three and one-half inches in height and not less than one-half inch stroke, of a color in contrast to the color of the taxicab or handicapped serving van, the number of such taxicab or handicapped serving van.

B. All taxicab or handicapped serving vans shall conform to the color scheme, name, monogram or insignia approved by the city council of the city and as required by Section 5.72.410.

C. Each permitted taxicab or handicapped serving van shall also have visibly painted consistent with subsection A of this section, the words "DALY CITY PERMITTED TAXICAB" on the exterior of each permitted taxicab in letters no less than three inches in height.

D. Each permitted taxicab or handicapped serving van shall also publicly display, while in operation, an official permit insignia or medallion or city logo to publicly show that such taxicab or handicapped serving van is lawfully and currently permitted for operation by the city through the procedures of this chapter.

E. It is unlawful for any person to imitate any color scheme, monogram or insignia used by any other holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity which has been approved by the city.

F. Every taxicab or handicapped serving van shall have attached thereto and shall use a taximeter.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

A. No permitted taxicab shall be issued its initial taxicab permit if that vehicle is older than five years; and no permitted taxicab may be in service for longer than three years. Under no circumstance may any vehicle be in service as a taxicab later than eight years beyond the date of its model year. Notwithstanding the vehicle age limitation above, no vehicle may be used for a taxicab, or for a handicapped serving van that has in excess of one hundred sixty thousand original vehicle miles. It is the conclusive presumption of this section that vehicles exceeding either the age limitation or the mileage limitation are unsafe for continued public use and/or unable to be rendered comfortable and clean consistent with the adopted passenger service standards of this chapter and of the companion regulations.

B. Each taxicab or handicapped serving van operated under a taxicab permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall at all times have all equipment required by the California Vehicle Code, including, but not limited to, the following equipment:

1. One operable safety belt for each passenger carried;

2. A spare tire capable of being used on any of the wheels of the vehicle;

3. A set of tools for changing tires;

4. A hydraulic and emergency braking system in proper operating order;

5. Safety or shatterproof glass in windshield, windows and doors;

6. Interior and exterior rearview mirrors;

7. A fully charged, working fire extinguisher.

C. Each taxicab operated under the taxicab permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained in such condition so that:

1. All doors, windows, hood and trunk will open and close securely;

2. The inside of the taxicab and the luggage compartment is free of litter and trash, and does not soil, rip or otherwise damage the passenger's clothing or effects; and

3. The exterior of the vehicle is clean and in good repair, and does not have any peeling paint, paint primer, dents, rust or missing components which are discernable from five feet of the vehicle.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

A. Before a taxicab permit is issued to any owner, the taxicab and/or handicapped serving van for which such permit or permits are requested shall be delivered to a place designated by the chief of police for inspection, and the chief of police shall designate agents to inspect such taxicab or handicapped serving van and equipment to ascertain whether such taxicab or handicapped serving van and equipment comply with the provisions of this chapter.

B. Permitted taxicabs and handicapped serving vans shall also be required to submit to and pass an annual vehicle safety inspection at or prior to issuance of any annual taxicab or handicapped serving van permit.

C. The driver of a taxicab or handicapped serving van shall inspect the taxicab and its equipment at least once each day.

D. The registered owner of a taxicab shall be strictly responsible for the safety of each taxicab and handicapped serving van. The registered owner shall make diligent efforts including routine inspection and daily written documentation where appropriate of the safety of all taxicabs. The registered owner shall not permit any taxicab to be used when the registered owner, lessee or operator has reason to know that a taxicab or handicapped serving van is in an unsafe condition.

E. The chief of police, or any member of the police department under his direction, shall have the right, at any time after displaying proper identification, to enter into or upon any certificated taxicab or handicapped serving van for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated or to evaluate whether such vehicle is safe and operable and does not endanger passengers or the public.

F. Any taxicab or handicapped serving van which is found, after any such inspection, to be unsafe or in any way unsuitable for taxicab or handicapped serving van service shall be immediately ordered out of service, and before again being placed in service shall be placed in a safe condition.

G. The city may contract with local mechanics and service garages that are qualified and experienced and can make the initial and annual vehicle inspections required by this chapter. The cost of such inspections shall be borne by the permittee and/or vehicle owners, and the results shall be upon a form issued by the city to the local mechanic or service garage and its results following such inspection shall be submitted directly back to the Daly City police department.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

Whenever a certificate holder replaces a taxicab or handicapped serving van for which a permit has been issued, or adds additional taxicab(s) following authorization for additional certificated taxicabs by the city council, the certificate holder shall file with the chief of police the name, type, year of manufacture, serial number, and motor number of the vehicle abandoned and of the vehicle to be placed in use. The chief of police shall, as a matter of right, authorize the replacement of such vehicle under the existing permit. Vehicles so replaced shall conform to all requirements of this chapter, and specifically to all requirements of this division addressing safety equipment, inspections, signage and upkeep.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

Any holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity may make application to the chief of police for taxicab permits for standby taxicab or handicapped serving vans to the extent of one such permit for each five taxicabs or fractional portion of such unit as authorized in any by the certificate. Each vehicle which may be permitted as a "standby" under this section shall be operated only as a temporary replacement for a taxicab or handicapped serving van authorized under this chapter and only during the time normally required for the repair or reconditioning of such duly authorized taxicab or handicapped serving van. Each such standby vehicle shall comply with all provisions of this chapter which apply to vehicles in regular use by the holder of the certificate, and specifically to all requirements of this division addressing safety equipment, inspections, signage and upkeep.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

A certificate of public convenience holder shall be required to supply at least one handicapped serving van for the benefit of passengers needing such service. The city's overall conditions for taxicabs as to general operational condition, safety equipment, annual testing and cleanliness apply to handicapped serving vans.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

Advertising not exceeding twelve square feet, total area, may be permitted on the exterior of taxicabs permitted upon the public streets of Daly City, excluding advertisements on taxicabs for the sale of tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)

In order to ensure continued maintenance, cleanliness and vehicle safety of permitted vehicles to be used as taxicabs and/or handicapped serving vans, it is a requirement that each certificate holder own, and that the Department of Motor Vehicles certificate of title and registration identify the certificate holder as both the legal owner (unless title reflects financial institution security interest) and registered owner of each taxicab and/or handicapped serving van to be used in providing taxicab services in the city. Implementation of this section shall be deferred until January 1, 2005.

(Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 2000)