Redding Municipal Code Ch. 6.32 Vehicles for Hire

The following terms, as used in this chapter, are defined as follows, unless the particular provision or context requires otherwise:

A. "Automobile for hire" includes every motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire and operated over the public streets of the city, the vehicle being routed under the direction of the passenger or of the persons hiring it.

B. "Limousine" means every vehicle meeting the specifications of "automobile for hire" as defined in subsection A of this section and which, in addition to such specifications, is of a color and appearance such as is commonly used for limousines, i.e., a large, seven to nine passenger automobile, with a glass division window separating the chauffeur's compartment from the remainder of the vehicle, painted black, dark blue, dark green or dark brown.

C. "Limousine service" means the provision of a limousine, as defined in subsection B, for hire, together with a uniformed chauffeur, for the transportation of one or more passengers over the public streets of the city, the vehicle being routed under the direction of the hiring person. Such service expressly differs from bus-type service, wherein more than one person hires transportation to the same or a different destination. Any type of airport bus or airport limousine service is not included within the limousine license and is expressly prohibited.

D. "Operate within the city" or "operate within the corporate limits of the city" means the soliciting, accepting, picking up or embarking within the city of a passenger or passengers for transportation or conveyance to any point within or without the city. Prepaid round trips which originate outside the city limits shall not constitute a defined operation under this subsection.

E. "Public vehicle for hire" includes taxicabs, automobiles for hire, and limousines as defined in this chapter.

F. "Taxicab" means every vehicle meeting the specifications of "automobile for hire" as defined in subsection A of this section and which, in addition to such specifications, is of a distinctive color and appearance such as is commonly used in this state for taxicabs, and is operated at rates per mile or for waiting time, or both.

G. "Taximeter" means any instrument or device attached to a motor vehicle and designed and intended to measure mechanically the distance traveled by such motor vehicle, to record the time the vehicle is in waiting, and to indicate by figures or designs the fare to be charged in dollars and cents.

(Ord. 1720 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

No individual or company shall operate any automobiles for hire on or over any streets of the city without having first obtained approval from the city clerk.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (A), 1995)

The owner or lessee of any vehicle that is required to obtain a permit under this chapter shall pay to the city clerk a license fee as prescribed by Section 6.04.200. No permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid until the city clerk endorses thereon an acknowledgment of the payment of the license fee for the current year. Such fee shall be due and payable to the city clerk on or before the date the business commences, and shall be renewed annually on the anniversary of the effective date of the initial license.

(Ord. 2149 § 3 (I (part)), 1996: Ord. 2111 § 1 (C), 1995; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

Any permit issued under this chapter shall expire at the end of the calendar year in which it is issued; provided, that the license fee therefor is paid in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Unless suspended or revoked, it shall be renewed upon application for renewal within thirty days of expiration.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (D), 1995)

The following shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter:

A. Funeral parlors and undertaking establishments operating vehicles in connection with the funeral and undertaking business;

B. Airport limousines regulated by the public utilities commission;

C. Ambulances and limited ambulances.

(Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

The owner's permit required by this chapter shall be granted in writing by the city clerk, upon a satisfactory showing by the applicant that:

A. He has submitted a financial statement which has been reviewed by the finance director;

B. He has submitted evidence of insurance coverage as set forth in Section 6.32.090;

C. The applicant's vehicle or vehicles are possessed of the following qualifications as determined by the chief of police:

1. The vehicle must meet all requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state in regard to equipment and mechanical condition.

2. The vehicle must bear, visibly painted in a distinctive color, in figures at least three inches high, a number of one or two digits, which number shall not be the number of any other vehicle earlier granted a vehicle permit under this chapter. The number shall be specified in the application and noted on the permit. The vehicle must also bear, visibly painted in a distinctive color, in letters at least one and one-half inches high, the name of the owner or lessee thereof. This provision does not pertain to vehicles for hire that are known as limousines.

3. The vehicle must carry in a conspicuous position within its passenger compartment a clear, intelligible, and legible statement of the fares or charges to be made in connection with the use of the vehicle. This provision does not pertain to limousines, the charges for which, having been set by resolution, shall be explained to the hiring person at the time the limousine is reserved.

4. If the vehicle is a taxicab, its entire exterior normally covered with paint must be painted in a distinctive color or system of colors; and the color or system of colors shall be so selected that the vehicle may not reasonably be confused with any ordinary private vehicle or with any other public vehicle for hire holding a vehicle permit under the provisions of this chapter.

5. If the vehicle is a taxicab, it must contain a taximeter as defined in this chapter. The taximeter must be in good working order and capable of accurately recording the distance traveled and waiting time, and the taximeter must be so constructed and located, and in the darkness so illuminated, that the values registered on the taximeter will be at all times clearly visible to any passenger in the taxicab;

D. If the vehicle is a limousine, it must be licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC); and the applicant must provide proof to the satisfaction of the city clerk that he has a valid license issued by the PUC.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (E, F), 1995; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

No person owning or leasing any public vehicle for hire, shall, while such vehicle so owned or leased is being operated, do the following:

A. Fail to maintain as to such vehicle the qualifications required for a permit for such vehicle under this chapter;

B. Do any act, or employ any person to do any act, which would be forbidden by Section 6.32.230 if done by a person driving or operating a public vehicle for hire;

C. Rent or lend the vehicle to any person who operates it, or permit any person to operate it, except himself or his duly authorized agent.

(Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

The owner or lessee of any public vehicle for hire must secure his ability to answer to any claim for damage to person or property which may arise against him by reason of the operation of any vehicle as follows:

A. Public liability insurance in the minimum limits of one hundred thousand dollars for injury or death to any person and three hundred thousand dollars for injury or death of more than one person in the same accident;

B. Public liability insurance for property damage in the minimum sum of fifty thousand dollars;

C. A certificate evidencing such insurance shall be filed with the risk manager.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (G), 1995; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

The owner's permit required by this chapter may be revoked or suspended if it appears that any of the following conditions exist:

A. That any of the qualifications required for the granting of the owner's permit are no longer met by the permittee or his vehicle or vehicles;

B. That the permittee has been convicted of any violation of restrictions imposed upon him as owner or lessee under this chapter, or that he has become bankrupt;

C. That for any other reasonable cause the permittee's vehicle or vehicles have ceased to be fit and proper vehicles to be operated as public vehicles for hire;

D. That the permittee is in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (H), 1995; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

For the purpose of ascertaining whether any cause exists for the suspension or revocation of an owner's permit under this chapter, the chief of police may, and on direction of the city council or upon complaint shall, cause strict inquiry to be made into the conduct of the permittee, the sufficiency and validity of his security, and the conditions of his vehicle or vehicles.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (I), 1995)

Any owner's permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be sold, assigned, leased, transferred or inherited as other property only upon authorization of the city clerk.

(Ord. 2111 § 1 (J), 1995)

A. No person owning, operating or controlling any taxicab or limousine shall demand, charge, collect or receive any greater fares or charges than those which under this chapter are or hereafter may be established, nor shall any such person, except as provided in this chapter, make or collect any charge for the doing of any act required by this chapter.

B. When two or more persons agree to ride in the vehicle at the same time and are transported to approximately the same destination, the combined group shall only be charged one fare based upon the taximeter. Demanding the full fare from each passenger is prohibited.

C. Any person collecting or receiving more than the fares or charges which now are or hereafter may be established under this chapter shall, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, be obligated to return the total of such excessive fee or charge to the person from whom it was collected.

(Ord. 2208 § 1, 1998: Ord. 2149 § 3 (I (part)), 1996: Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

No person shall drive or operate any public vehicle for hire within the city unless he holds a permit, to be known as a driver's permit, therefor, as provided in this chapter, and no person shall drive or operate a public vehicle for hire within the corporate limits of the city under or by virtue of any driver's permit which has been suspended or revoked as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

Every driver under this chapter shall pay to the city clerk an annual license fee as prescribed by Section 6.04.210. The fee shall be due and payable on or before the date the business commences, and shall be renewed annually on the anniversary of the effective date of the initial license. Fees for owner-drivers shall be waived.

(Ord. 2149 § 3 (I (part)), 1996: Ord. 2111 § 1 (K), 1995; Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)

A. A driver's permit or renewal thereof shall be issued to each applicant complying with the provisions of this chapter; such permit shall be issued by the city clerk pursuant to a finding by the chief of police that the applicant for a permit or for renewal is a person of good character, and one who will not endanger the public interests and safety.

B. A person who, within the past ten years, has been convicted of any of the below-listed offenses is not eligible to be granted or hold a driver's permit:

1. A felony, or of any crime under the laws of this state that would amount to a felony;

2. Any crime in this state or elsewhere in which fraud or intent to defraud was an element;

3. Unlawfully possessing or distributing controlled substances as defined in the laws of this state or elsewhere;

4. Any sex offense or crime involving moral turpitude; or

5. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

C. The applicant must hold a valid and appropriate driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles of the state, under the Vehicle Code of the state.

D. The applicant must be fingerprinted by the Redding Police Department.

E. Any person having been denied a driver's permit may make written application for review to the chief of police. The chief of police may, having given due consideration for the proper protection of the public health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city and upon evidence of the good moral character and rehabilitation of the applicant, waive any of the above-enumerated restrictions and conditions and grant said driver's permit.

(Ord. 1959 § 1, 1991)

No person driving or operating a public vehicle for hire shall, while operating such vehicle, do the following:

A. Fail to maintain the qualifications required for an operator's permit under this chapter;

B. Represent his vehicle as a taxicab, if in fact it is not an automobile for hire as defined in this chapter;

C. Refuse without good cause to accept as a passenger any person desiring transportation who shall tender money sufficient to pay his fare to his stated destination;

D. Transport passengers to their stated destination over an unnecessarily circuitous route; provided, that this provisions shall not apply to sightseeing buses;

E. Refuse to load and unload for any passenger such hand baggage as may not exceed the reasonable internal capacity of the vehicle, and such other baggage as may not reasonably exceed its capacity in trunk or top; or, after being requested, refuse to carry such baggage to or from such buildings as the passenger may enter or leave;

F. Make false representations by word, act, conduct or appearance regarding the name or identity of persons owning or leasing the public vehicle for hire he operates, or regarding his own identity; or refuse to give his name and the number of his vehicle to any person requesting them;

G. Refuse or fail, after being requested, to give a receipt for any fare paid;

H. Fail or neglect to report to the police department within twenty-four hours all property left in his vehicle by any passenger;

I. If the vehicle is a taxicab, fail or neglect to throw the flag of his taximeter to a position indicating the actual condition of his taxicab, whether employed or unemployed as the case may be, or fail or neglect at the conclusion of each employed trip or time to call the attention of his passenger to the amount registered on the taximeter;

J. Fail or refuse to allow an appropriate deduction from any fare established by this chapter for any distance traveled or time lost through any disability or breakdown of his vehicle, or through any private purpose of his own;

K. Carry more than one person at a time in the vehicle unless every person to be carried in the vehicle consents thereto.

(Ord. 1475 § 1 (part), 1980)