Portola Municipal Code Ch. 10.41 Insurance for Vehicles for Hire

"Ambulance" means a specially equipped vehicle, car, truck, or aircraft, equipped and staffed with personnel, for conveying sick and/or wounded people.

"Bus" means every automobile or motor-propelled vehicle having a capacity of ten or more passengers, and operating over the streets of the city on a regularly defined route, irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the city and having a fare fixed by the Public Utilities Commission of the state.

"Driver" means any person in charge of, or operating, any taxicab, bus or rent car, either as agent, employee or otherwise under the direction of the owner, or as owner.

"Owner" means any person having use or control of any taxicab, bus or rent car, whether as owner, lessee or otherwise.

"Rent car" means any automobile or motor-propelled vehicle, excluding taxicabs, operated at rates per hour, and not equipped with a taximeter, used for the transportation of passengers for hire over the public streets of the city and not over a defined route, irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the city; and such vehicle is routed as to destination under the direction of the person hiring the same.

"Taxicab" means any automobile or motor-propelled vehicle operated at rates per mile or for wait time or for both, and equipped with a taximeter, used for the transportation of passengers for hire over the public streets of the city and not over a defined route irrespective of whether the operations extend beyond the city; and such vehicle is routed as to destination under the direction of the person hiring the same.

"Taximeter" means any mechanical instrument, appliance, device or machine by which the charge for hire of a passenger-carrying vehicle is mechanically calculated, either for distance traveled or time consumed, or both, and upon such instrument, appliance, device or machine such charge is indicated by figures.

(Ord. 223 (part), 1987)

A. No person shall operate any regulated vehicle unless such person shall have in full force and effect a policy of insurance or a certificate of self-insurance, or a combination thereof, as provided in this section, a copy of which shall be on file with the city clerk.

B. Such policy of insurance shall be issued by a company authorized to do business in the state and shall name as a coinsured the city and, further, shall insure the person operating such regulated vehicle against liability for damage to property in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars and injury or death to any person in the minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars per person or one million dollars per accident or occurrence, resulting from or arising out of or in any way connected with such operations.

(Ord. 223-A, 1988: Ord. 223 (part), 1987)

As an alternative, in whole or part, to the requirements of subsection B of Section 10.41.011, and as provided by the financial responsibility laws of the state, any person may satisfy the city's insurance requirements as qualifying under state law as a self-insurer and by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the state department of motor vehicles. Such self-insurance may be in the amounts which satisfy the above city requirements in whole or in part. In addition, any person who is self-insuring hereunder shall execute a hold harmless agreement, including agreement to defend against all claims and actions arising from the operation of vehicles authorized by this chapter, to the benefit of city and its elected and appointed officers and employees.

(Ord. 223 (part), 1987)

No person shall operate a taxicab, bus, rent car or ambulance, unless he is a licensed chauffeur as provided by the laws of the state. If he or she has had his or her license or permit revoked in any city, county or state for just cause, said revocation shall be disclosed forthwith.

(Ord. 223 (part), 1987)

Any policy of insurance shall provide that in the event of cancellation thereof, the city administrator shall immediately be notified. Upon cancellation of any certificate of self-insurance, the city administrator shall be immediately notified by the holder thereof. In the event of any cancellation of a policy of insurance or certificate of self-insurance, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any regulated vehicle until another insurance policy or certificate of self-insurance, or both, is in force and on file with the city clerk.

(Ord. 223 (part), 1987)

Violations of the provisions of this chapter shall result in immediate suspension of the privilege to operate the vehicles regulated, if such vehicles are vehicles for hire such that the city has regulatory authority over them pursuant to the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 294 § 8, 2002: Ord. 223 (part), 1987)