Healdsburg Municipal Code Art. III Taxicab Driver's Permits

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any taxicab in the City unless he or she has a valid taxicab driver's permit issued by the City.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

Applications for a taxicab driver's permit shall be filed with the chief of police, along with any fee(s) as established by the City Council for the issuance of such permit. The application shall be in writing and made under penalty of perjury. The chief of police or his or her designee shall undertake a preliminary investigation to verify the criminal history information submitted by the applicant and shall submit the applicant's fingerprints to the state of California for criminal history review. Any information submitted in the application that is false, or any required information that is omitted, shall result in denial of the permit. The application shall include but not be limited to the following information:

A. The name, age, and address of the applicant.

B. Past experience operating motor vehicles generally and taxicabs specifically.

C. The names and addresses of former employers during the preceding three-year period.

D. The places of residence during the preceding three-year period.

E. Whether a driver's license issued to the applicant has ever been revoked or suspended.

F. A copy of the applicant's current driver's license.

G. An endorsement of the operator of the taxicab business for whom the applicant seeks to drive a taxicab.

H. Proof of the applicant's negative test results for controlled substances and alcohol.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

An application for a taxicab driver's permit shall be made to the chief of police and, at the time of filing such application, a fee in an amount to be set by resolution shall be paid to the City; provided, that such fee shall include the amount set by the state to cover the cost of processing such applications.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

A. No taxicab driver's permit shall be issued to any person who:

1. Is under the age of 21 at the time of application.

2. Fails to provide documentation of either citizenship or employment authorization as required by the Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1324a).

3. Has been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude.

4. Has been convicted of any offense specified in the California Vehicle Code involving reckless driving or alcohol or drug offenses except convictions more than five years old or whose convictions have been expunged or set aside pursuant to satisfactory completion of a court-approved diversion program.

5. Fails to possess a valid driver's license suitable for operation of a taxicab.

6. Has received a positive test result in any random test for controlled substances or alcohol within the past 12 months.

7. Provides false or materially incomplete information required for issuance of the permit.

8. Has been convicted of an offense which requires registration pursuant to California Penal Code Section 290.

9. Has been convicted within five years of an offense involving the sale of a controlled substance even if expunged pursuant to California Penal Code Section 1203.4.

10. Has been convicted within five years of any offense involving the use of force or violence upon another person.

11. Has been convicted of more than one violation of driving while under the influence of any drug or alcohol within the past seven years prior to submitting the application.

12. Is on parole or probation for a crime, and the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a taxicab driver in a potentially negative manner.

13. Has had a taxicab driver's permit issued by any jurisdiction revoked within the past three years.

14. Fails to provide a medical clearance that meets the standard set forth in the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR 391.41 through 391.49). This is satisfied by providing a completed medical examination report for commercial driver fitness determination form or a medical examiner's certificate issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

B. Every taxicab driver's permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall set forth the name of the operator for whom such driver is authorized to operate a taxicab, and shall be valid only so long as the driver continues to drive for such operator.

C. All drivers of taxicabs shall display their taxicab driver's permit in a conspicuous place in the passenger compartment of the taxicab whenever the taxicab is being used to transport passengers.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

The chief of police shall investigate the applicant for a taxicab driver's permit under this chapter and, after such investigation, shall either grant or deny the permit. Any person whose application has been denied may within 10 days after such denial request that the denial of his or her application be reviewed by the City Manager. The City Manager shall investigate such applicant and may, after a hearing, either grant or deny such permit.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

A. All taxicab drivers' permits issued pursuant to this chapter expire every two years on their anniversary date unless earlier terminated, suspended, or revoked pursuant to the provisions set forth herein.

B. Drivers may renew their permits if still qualified to operate a taxicab by meeting all the permit requirements set forth in this chapter for new taxicab driver's permits, including, but not limited to, passing the test for controlled substances and alcohol. A medical clearance exam that meets the standard set forth in the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR 391.41 through 391.49) will be required to determine the driver's fitness for duty as a taxicab driver with the renewal application every two years.

C. Taxicab driver's permits are void upon termination of taxicab driver's employment with the operator listed on the permit. Each driver shall return the permit to the chief of police upon such termination.

D. The operator shall notify the chief of police within 10 days whenever a driver's employment is terminated.

E. It shall be unlawful to transfer any taxicab driver's permit to any other person.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

A. The chief of police shall have the authority to temporarily suspend any taxicab driver's permit in the event the holder is arrested, charged, or cited for any violation of the California Vehicle Code punishable by suspension of the taxicab driver's license. The chief of police may revoke or refuse to renew any taxicab driver's permit if the driver:

1. Is convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude, including any narcotics violations;

2. Is convicted of driving recklessly or while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances;

3. Has his or her driver's license suspended or revoked;

4. Tests positive for any controlled substance or alcohol during any test;

5. Violates any provision of this chapter; or

6. Has provided false information or omitted information required on a taxicab driver's permit application.

B. Any driver whose permit has been suspended or revoked may request a hearing to contest the suspension or revocation pursuant to the procedures set forth in HMC § 5.16.420. It shall be unlawful for any driver to operate any taxicab while his or her appeal from any suspension or revocation is pending unless the City Manager grants a temporary driver's permit valid only during the period of the appeal.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)

The chief of police shall keep a record of each driver granted a taxicab driver's permit under the provisions of this chapter, which record shall contain the full name, age, residence, places of residence for two years preceding the date of application, race, weight, height, color of eyes and hair, fingerprints, place of birth, places of previous employment covering three years preceding the date of application, whether he or she has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, and whether he or she has ever been previously licensed as a driver, and if so, whether his or her license has ever been revoked and for what cause.

(Ord. 1083 § 2, 2009)