Desert Hot Springs Municipal Code Ch. 5.20 Taxicabs

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:

“Driver”

means every person in charge of or operating any taxicab, either as agent, employee or otherwise, under the direction of the owner or as owner.

“Owner”

means every person having use or control of any taxicab, whether as owner, lessee or otherwise.

“Taxicab”

means every automobile or motor propelled vehicle for hire used for the transportation of passengers over the public streets of the City and not over a defined route, irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the boundary limits of the City, and such vehicle is routed as to destination under the direction of a passenger or of a person hiring the same.

(Prior code § 117.01)

License fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council and shall be payable annually.

(Prior code § 117.02)

Before any business license shall be issued, the owner shall be required to file with the City Manager, and thereafter keep in full force and effect, a policy of insurance executed by an insurance company approved by the City Attorney. Such policy of insurance shall insure the owner and the driver of each of the vehicles operated, or to be operated, under the owner’s permit against liability for damage to property and for injury to or the death of, any person as a result of the ownership, operation or other use thereof. The minimum liability limits on each such vehicle shall not be less than $100,000 on account of personal injury to or death of any one person in any one accident, and $300,000 on account of personal injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and the minimum liability limits upon each such vehicle shall be not less than $25,000 for damage to or the destruction of property in any one accident. All policies shall contain a provision for a continuing liability thereunder up to the full amount of coverage thereof, notwithstanding any recovery thereon, and that the City shall be held harmless for all claims, demands and actions of any type whatever, occasioned by the operation of the permittee’s taxicab business, and shall further contain a provision providing that such policy will not be canceled until notice in writing shall be given to the City, addressed to the City Manager, at least 30 days immediately prior to the time such cancellation shall become effective.

Editor’s note: Ord. 91-13, adopted 6-18-91, deems Section 5.20.030 suspended and inoperative and states that it shall remain suspended and inoperative while there is in full force and effect an ordinance or other enactment regulating, licensing and franchising the operation of taxicabs in the Coachella Valley, adopted by the Board of Directors of Sunline, a Joint Powers Transportation Agency of which the City of Desert Hot Springs is a member. At such time, if ever, that there is no effective ordinance or other enactment of Sunline regulating, licensing or franchising the operation of taxicabs within the City limits of the City, the provisions of Section 5.20.030 of the City code of ordinances shall be deemed operational and in full force and effect.

(Prior code § 117.03)