Pittsburg Municipal Code § 5.56.200 Driver's permit required

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any taxicab in the city unless he or she has a valid taxicab driver's permit as herein provided.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

Application for each driver's permit shall be filed with the chief of police, along with application fee as described in PMC § 5.56.220. The application shall be in writing and made under penalty of perjury. Said application shall set forth the name, age, and address of the applicant, the applicant's past experience in operating automobiles, the names and addresses of the applicant's employers during the preceding period of three years, places of residence for two years preceding the application, whether or not an operator's license or permit issued to the applicant by the state or any state or government agency has ever been revoked or suspended, the name, address, and endorsement of the operator by whom the applicant is to be employed as a driver, the physical description, weight, height, and color of eyes and hair, and such additional information as the chief of police may reasonably require to determine the applicant's driving record. Upon satisfying the foregoing requirements, said applicant shall be photographed and fingerprinted and the applicant's record filed by the chief of police.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

A. Application and renewal fees for driver's permits shall be the amounts set forth in the city's fee schedule.

B. Application fees are payable at the time of application submission. Renewal fees are payable on January 1st of each year.

C. No application fee shall be required of an applicant for a driver's permit if said person has had additional or other driver's permits issued to such applicant during the 12 months immediately preceding by the city. However, if a background investigation is required of an applicant, then the application fee shall be collected.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

Each applicant for a driver's permit must:

A. Be a person of good moral character. In making this determination, the following factors shall be considered:

1. Whether the applicant has been convicted of an offense involving the use of force or violence upon the person of another;

2. Whether the applicant has been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, such as fraud or theft;

3. Whether the applicant has intemperate habits or a bad reputation for trust, honesty, and integrity;

4. Whether the applicant has been refused or has had revoked any license or permit by any governmental agency or entity for a violation of law or lack of good moral character;

5. Whether the applicant has knowingly made false, misleading, or fraudulent statements of fact in this application or any other document required for a driver's permit;

6. Whether the applicant has a driving record that has less than three convictions for moving traffic violations during the year prior to application;

7. Whether the applicant has had any convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the 10 years prior to application;

8. Whether the applicant has had any convictions for hit-and-run driving or reckless driving the five years prior to application;

9. Whether the applicant poses any foreseeable risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public;

10. Whether the applicant has any record of a commitment or detention under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150;

B. Be of the age 21 years or over, unless otherwise approved by the chief of police;

C. Be of sound physique with good eyesight and not suffering from or being treated for epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble, or any other infirmity of the body or mind, and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor, or illegally using amphetamines, barbiturates, hypnotic drugs, or narcotics which might render him unfit for the safe operation of a taxicab;

D. Be clean in dress and person;

E. Have a valid California driver's license of the proper class which authorizes the driver to operate a taxicab;

F. Be able to provide proof of employment, or an offer of employment, as a taxicab driver in the city;

G. Submit satisfactory proof of a negative drug and alcohol test result as required under this chapter.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

The chief of police shall investigate said applicant, and such investigation shall include the completion of a criminal background check. After such investigation, the chief of police shall either grant or deny the permit. Any person whose application has been denied may, within 10 days after said denial, appeal to the city manager or the city manager's designee.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

All driver's permits shall indicate the name of the driver, the name of the driver's employer, the address and telephone number of the driver's employer, the permit expiration date, and such other information as the chief of police deems appropriate. The permit shall limit the driver to operate a taxicab of the employer whose name is set forth on the permit.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

A. Term. The term of each driver's permit shall be through December 31st of the calendar year it was issued.

B. Renewals.

1. A permittee may apply for a permit renewal by submitting to the chief of police, before the expiration of his or her driver's permit, a renewal application and a nonrefundable renewal fee in an amount set forth in the city's fee schedule. Said application for renewal shall be subject to investigation pursuant to PMC § 5.56.240 and shall require applicant to submit to fingerprinting at the time of submitting the renewal application. If there are no material changes and the provisions of PMC § 5.56.210, § 5.56.220, and § 5.56.230 have been satisfied, the chief of police shall renew the permit and issue a new driver's permit.

2. Renewals must be made prior to expiration of issued driver's permit. If driver's permit is renewed after expiration date, application will be considered as new.

C. Posting. The driver's permit shall be carried by the permittee at all times he or she is driving a vehicle as described in this chapter and posted in a place conspicuous from the passenger's compartment of the taxicab while said driver is operating such vehicle.

D. Transfer. No driver's permit issued under this chapter shall be assignable or transferable.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

Every person holding a taxicab driver's permit shall at all times keep the chief of police notified of his or her residence address. He or she shall notify the chief of police, in writing, of any change in said address within 10 days after such change is made.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

A. Except as provided in subsection (B) of this section, a driver's permit shall become void upon termination of a driver's employment, including termination of self-employment if the driver is also a taxicab operator, and the operator of any taxicab business shall confiscate the driver's permit of any driver leaving his or her employ and within five days shall notify and forward said permit to the police department.

B. If a driver changes his or her employment to employment by a different operator, he or she shall, within 24 hours thereafter, notify the chief of police for the purpose of having his or her driver's permit changed so as to properly designate the name of the new employer.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)

A. The chief of police shall have the power to suspend any driver's permit issued hereunder in the event the holder thereof either is arrested, charged, or cited for any violation of the Vehicle Code punishable by suspension of driver's license, or violates PMC § 5.56.230. In addition, a permit issued to a driver under this chapter may be suspended immediately upon a finding by the chief of police that the holder has engaged in conduct that presents an immediate risk to the continued health, safety, or welfare of the general public. Any suspension may be appealed under the terms of this chapter.

B. A driver's permit issued under this chapter may be revoked by the chief of police or his or her designee, after notice and hearing, for any of the reasons specified as grounds for denial of the issuance of the permit, for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, for failure to pay any judgment for damages arising out of the operation of a taxicab for which a permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter, or upon the driver's being adjudged guilty of violating any section of the Vehicle Code punishable by suspension or revocation of his or her driver's license, of a physical assault or battery upon a person, or of theft, fraud, or any other crime of moral turpitude. Any revocation may be appealed under the terms of this chapter.

C. Any driver's permit revoked or suspended must be immediately surrendered to the chief of police.

(Ord. 15-1400 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015)