Sacramento Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

The city council finds as follows:

A. Taxicabs provide an essential component of the public transit system that serves the city. A well functioning taxi system can help the city's efforts to spur downtown and transit oriented development by making it realistic to live and work without a private automobile or a second car. Taxi service can be a valuable resource for visitors, business people, and patrons of bars, clubs, restaurants and stores. At the same time, taxis can also assist those who do not have a car for reasons of income, age, disability or simply personal choice.

B. Taxicabs are operated by private companies that utilize the public rights-of-way to advertise and deliver their services. Left unregulated, the competitive and transient nature of the business can result in predatory, discriminatory, fraudulent and dangerous conduct. Therefore, appropriate regulation of taxicab companies, taxicab drivers and their operations must be in place to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

C. The city's administration of taxicab regulations should not unduly burden the taxicab industry; however, the protection of the public health, safety and welfare shall be deemed paramount in the enforcement and interpretation of taxicab regulations. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:

"Accessible taxicab" means a taxicab that is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles (49 C.F.R. 38.1 et seq.).

"Active," as it relates to any permit, means the permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter, has not been revoked, and has not expired. "Active" includes a permit that is suspended.

"Association" means taxicab fleet association.

"Association office" means the place of business described in Section 5.136.590.

"City manager" means the city manager or the city manager's designee.

"Director" means the director of finance or designee, unless otherwise specified.

"Dispatch service" means an operation that receives requests for taxi service at a central location and communicates with taxicab drivers to respond to such requests.

"Motor vehicle" means every motorized vehicle by or upon which any person may be transported or carried upon a public street, highway or alley, except vehicles used exclusively upon stationary rail tracks or propelled by use of overhead electric wires.

"Operate a taxicab" means to drive, occupy or otherwise use a taxicab to transport or offer to transport any other person from one location to another for compensation. This includes, but is not limited to, soliciting or accepting a fare, driving or occupying a taxicab with the top light illuminated, and stopping a taxicab in a taxicab zone.

"Taxicab" means every motor vehicle designed for carrying not more than eight persons, excluding the driver; and has the word "taxi," "cab," "taxicab" or any other similar word or phrase displayed on the exterior of the vehicle.

"Taxicab fleet association" means an association of taxicab drivers, taxicab owners, managers, taxicab companies, firms, cooperatives and other organizational structures that have formed as a legal entity for the purposes of providing taxicab services in the city. The legal form of a taxicab fleet association may include a business, partnership, corporations, company, sole proprietorship, association governed by bylaws and articles of incorporation, and other legal entities.

"Taxicab Passenger Bill of Rights" means a document or sign that includes a brief summary of standards that a person is entitled to expect as a passenger in a taxicab.

"Taximeter" means an instrument or device used, or designed to be used, to measure the distance and time of a trip by a vehicle, and which automatically calculates and displays the fare due for transportation services.

"Top light" means a light mounted on the roof of a vehicle.

"Valid," as it relates to any permit, means the permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter, is not suspended, is not revoked, and is not expired. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 1; Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

This chapter shall not apply to the operation of taxicabs while transporting passengers from locations outside of the city. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. The following fees are established and imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter:

• 1. Taxicab driver permit application fee;
• 2. Taxicab vehicle permit application fee;
• 3. Taxicab fleet association permit application fee;
• 4. Taxicab permit appeal fee;
• 5. Taxicab re-inspection fee.

B. The city council shall establish the amounts of the foregoing fees, and any penalties, by resolution. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

The city council shall establish the types of charges and the maximum rates allowable for taxicab service, by resolution. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

No permits issued pursuant to this chapter may be transferred, sold, assigned or bequeathed expressly or by operation by law. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is subject to criminal sanctions and administrative penalties pursuant to Chapter 1.28.

B. Violations of this chapter are hereby declared to be a public nuisance subject to a civil action for abatement by the city attorney pursuant to Chapter 1.28.

C. Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is liable for civil penalties of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) for each day the violation continues.

D. In addition to any other remedy allowed by law, all remedies prescribed under this chapter shall be cumulative and the election of one or more remedies shall not bar the city from the pursuit of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions hereof. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

No taxicab fleet association shall cause, allow, or permit any of its registered taxicab drivers to violate any provision of this chapter; aid or abet any of its registered taxicab drivers in the violation of any provision of this chapter; or maintain or conceal any violation of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)