La Mirada Municipal Code Ch. 4.30 Taxicabs

No person shall operate a taxicab within the city without first complying with the terms of this chapter.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

Upon obtaining a taxicab operator's license, the licensee shall submit such license to the law enforcement agency and bring all of the vehicles licensed thereby to a place designated by the law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency shall attach and seal a license plate or decal to the rear of the body of each vehicle covered by the license, if such vehicle meets all requirements as specified in this chapter.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

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 law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency may remove the license plate or decal from the licensed vehicle and place it on the vehicle to be substituted. If the law enforcement agency finds that it is impossible or impracticable to bring the licensed vehicle to the place designated, he may permit the licensee to detach the license plate or decal 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 other circumstances may this seal or decal be broken or removed by anyone but the law enforcement agency or other designated agency or officer of the city.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

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 its application for such license.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

The finance director shall not issue any taxicab operator's license until the applicant first files with the finance director an undertaking or a policy of insurance or a financial statement and excess policy of insurance which undertaking, policy or undertaking and policy shall comply with the provisions of this code and shall first be approved by the city attorney.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

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 injury to any one person, or the death of any one person in any one accident, five hundred thousand dollars;

(2) For the injury to two or more persons, or the death of two or more persons, or the injury to one person or more, and the death of one person or more, in any one accident, one million dollars;

(3) For the injury or destruction of property in any one accident, two hundred thousand dollars.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

(a) The undertaking required before a taxicab operator's license can be issued shall be conditioned that the taxicab operator shall pay all damages to person or property for the amount of which he may become liable arising out of the conduct of the business of taxicab operator, and that any person having such a cause of action against the principal may join the surety as a party defendant or in his own name sue separately the surety on such undertaking.

(b) The amount of the undertaking shall be calculated as follows:

(1) Ten thousand dollars for the taxicab;

(2) An additional four thousand dollars for each additional taxicab up to and including a total of five taxicabs;

(3) An additional two thousand dollars each for the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth taxicabs;

(4) An additional one thousand dollars for each additional taxicab over ten.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

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 Section 4.30.060.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

If any taxicab operator or driver has any notice or information of a change or cancellation of any insurance policy which policy is required under this chapter he shall give immediate notice to the finance director or the law enforcement agency of such change or cancellation.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

Taxi stands shall be at only those locations approved by the permit review board. The permit review board may require the consent of the owner of any property adjacent to the taxi stand before approving such taxi stand.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

(a) The permit review board shall approve minimum and maximum rates which may be charged by the permittee. The approval shall designate whether the rates are flat rates or mileage rates. The approval shall designate whether or not the rates shall be computed on a meter basis. A taxicab operator shall not charge in any case any more or less than the rates specified in his permit.

(b) Every taxicab operator shall post and maintain in that part of every taxicab which he operates which is most conspicuous to the passengers thereof, in letters and figures which are clearly legible and not less than one-quarter inch high, the schedule of rates permitted by his license.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

Every taxicab operator and every taxicab driver shall accept any passenger, unless:

(1) He has no facilities available; or

(2) The transportation requested is such that the driver or operator may not legally accept such passenger; or

(3) The proposed passenger refuses or says that he will refuse or cannot pay the fare; or

(4) The proposed passenger is drunk, disorderly or for other reasons not a fit passenger.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

A taxicab operator shall not permit any person to operate a taxicab unless such person is the employee of the taxicab operator and has a taxicab driver's permit, or license as required by this title.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

A person other than the owner or employee of the owner shall not drive or operate any taxicab.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

A person shall not:

(1) Fail or refuse to pay the fare authorized by the taxicab operator's license for which he has become liable; or

(2) Accept a ride in any taxicab without having on his person sufficient funds to pay the authorized fare unless prior to accepting such ride, he informs the driver of the taxicab that he does not have such funds; or

(3) Accept a ride in any taxicab with the intent to defraud the operator or driver thereof or not to pay the full fare authorized.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

A taxicab driver shall not stop for or accept any passenger except:

(1) Within the area specified in the license for the taxicab which he is driving;

(2) A taxicab driver who has driven a passenger to any place may wait for and accept such passenger. If the taxicab driver for any reason moves the taxicab from the location where he had left the passenger, this section does not apply.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

Every taxicab driver shall carry his passengers to their point of destination by the most direct practical route unless specifically directed otherwise by such passengers.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

When a taxicab is engaged, the occupants shall have the exclusive right to the full and free use of the passenger compartment. No taxicab operator or taxicab driver may solicit or carry additional passengers unless the taxicab operator's license expressly permits the carrying of additional passengers, and then only to the extent expressly permitted.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).

(a) Any person desiring to obtain a permit, or renew an existing permit, to operate a taxicab, shall make application to the finance director. Prior to submitting such application for a permit or renewal of a permit, a nonrefundable fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars shall be paid to the department of finance to defray, in part, the cost of the investigation and report required by this chapter. The department of finance shall issue a receipt showing that such application or renewal fee has been paid. Permit issuance or renewal fees required under this chapter shall be in addition to any license, permit or fee required under any other chapter of this code.

(b) Neither the filing of an application for a permit or renewal thereof, nor payment of an application or renewal fee, shall authorize the operation of a taxicab until such permit has been granted or renewed.

(Ord. 383 § 2 Ex. A (part), 1986).