Sacramento Municipal Code Art. III Taxicab Vehicles

A. No person shall operate a taxicab unless a taxicab vehicle permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is in effect for that vehicle.

B. Upon demand of a peace officer or city employee authorized to enforce this chapter, every person operating a taxicab shall present the taxicab vehicle permit that is in effect for that vehicle. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this chapter, the city shall not issue a taxicab vehicle permit if there are four hundred fifty (450) or more active taxicab vehicle permits at the time the application is submitted, except in the following circumstances:

A. If a taxicab vehicle permit was active on January 1, 2014, the city may renew that permit;

B. If a person sells a vehicle that has an active taxicab vehicle permit, the city may issue the new owner a taxicab vehicle permit for that vehicle; and

C. If a person replaces a vehicle that has an active taxicab vehicle permit, the city may issue a taxicab vehicle permit for the replacement vehicle, if the taxicab vehicle permit for the replaced vehicle is simultaneously forfeited. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 6)

A. Whenever the number of active taxicab vehicle permits falls below four hundred fifty (450), the director shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the city pursuant to Section 6063 of the California Government Code. The notice shall request that any person wishing to be considered for a taxicab vehicle permit should notify the director and provide a date when potential applicants must file a letter of intent to apply for the permit. The director may give additional public notice of the availability of a permit as he or she deems appropriate.

B. The director shall thereafter conduct a lottery among all those expressing interest in the available taxicab vehicle permits and establish a sequence in which potential applicants will be considered for the available permits. Specific rules and procedures for the lottery shall be established by the director and approved by resolution of the city council.

C. If the selected applicant fails to qualify for a taxicab vehicle permit or elects not to proceed with the permit application process, applicants drawn in sequence in the lottery shall be considered until the permit is issued. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 7)

A. An owner, lessee, or holder of a similar interest in a taxicab may apply for a taxicab vehicle permit by filing an application with the director. The application shall be on a form approved by the city manager and may require any information or documentation consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

B. To renew a taxicab vehicle permit, the permittee shall file an application with the director. The application shall be submitted no later than thirty (30) days prior to the vehicle permit expiration date. Untimely applications to renew taxicab vehicle permits are subject to a late penalty in the amount established by resolution of the city council.

C. Every application for a taxicab vehicle permit shall be accompanied by an annual nonrefundable taxi-cab vehicle permit application fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council.

D. No person shall knowingly make a false statement of fact or knowingly omit any information that is required in an application for a taxicab vehicle permit. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 8; Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

The director may deny any taxicab vehicle permit for any of the following reasons:

A. The application received is incomplete;

B. The application contains a false or misleading statement or omission of a material fact;

C. The vehicle is not in compliance with all applicable laws and standards, including the provisions of this chapter;

D. Any of the legal and registered owners of the taxicab, or any person with a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the operation of the taxicab has been charged in an indictment issued by a grand jury, or in an information, complaint or similar pleading issued by the United States Attorney, district attorney, city attorney or other governmental official or agency authorized to prosecute crimes, with a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year or with a crime involving moral turpitude; and those criminal proceedings are currently pending;

E. Any of the legal and registered owners of the taxicab, or any person with a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the operation of the taxicab, has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or a crime involving moral turpitude;

F. Any of the legal and registered owners of the taxicab, or any person with a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the operation of the taxicab, has any unpaid and overdue administrative penalties imposed for violations of this chapter;

G. The applicant has not paid the applicable business operations tax pursuant to Chapter 3.08; or

H. Operation of the taxicab is a threat to the public health, safety or welfare. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A taxicab vehicle permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be valid for two years from the date it was issued, unless it is suspended or revoked sooner. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 9; Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

The director may suspend or revoke any taxicab vehicle permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for any of the following reasons:

A. One or more of the circumstances upon which a taxicab vehicle permit could be denied as described in Section 5.136.320, exists or has occurred; or

B. The permittee, any of the legal and registered owners of the taxicab, the lessee of the taxicab, or any person with a ten (10) percent or greater financial interest in the operation of the taxicab, has violated any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab unless the taxicab vehicle is registered with a taxicab fleet association with a valid taxicab fleet association permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

B. No taxicab shall be registered to more than one taxicab fleet association. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab vehicle that is more than eight years old, unless the taxicab vehicle is exempt pursuant to subsection B. The age of a vehicle shall be measured by using January 1st of the model year of the vehicle as the starting date.

B. A taxicab vehicle is exempt from the requirements of subsection A, if the director finds that the vehicle is rare, historical, or of vintage quality.

C. This section shall not be enforced until January 1, 2019. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 10)

No person shall operate a taxicab that is not painted in accordance with the vehicle color plan that is approved by the director, pursuant to Section 5.136.610, for the taxicab fleet association to which it is registered. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab that does not have the following information permanently posted on the exterior of the vehicle:

1. The taxicab identification number, as provided by the director upon issuance of the taxicab vehicle permit, using letters and numbers that are not less than four inches in height;

2. The types of charges and rates being charged for taxicab service, using letters and numbers that are not less than one and one-half inches in height;

3. The name and telephone number of the taxicab fleet association to which the vehicle is registered, using letters and numbers that are not less than two inches in height; and

4. Instructions to contact the city of Sacramento 311 call center with concerns or complaints, using letters and numbers that are not less than two inches in height.

B. The information specified in subsection A of this section, and any other information posted on the exterior of the vehicle, must be displayed in manner that is approved by the director.

C. Except as specified in subsection A of this section, no other name (e.g., name of a taxicab company or a driver) or phone number shall be posted on the exterior of the vehicle using letters or numbers that are more than four inches in height. (Ord. 2012-008 § 2; Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

No person shall operate a taxicab unless the following are clearly displayed in the taxicab passenger compartment in full view of all passengers:

A. A valid taxicab driver permit, issued to him or her pursuant to this chapter;

B. A valid taxicab vehicle permit, issued for that taxicab pursuant to this chapter;

C. A rate schedule consistent with the rate schedule submitted to the director by the taxicab fleet association in accordance with Section 5.136.640, and in the format specified by the director;

D. A Taxicab Passenger Bill of Rights, in print and in Braille, and in a format as approved by the director; and

E. A sign that states smoking is prohibited in the taxicab. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab without a taximeter that complies with the following:

1. The taximeter must be certified as accurate and properly sealed by the director of weights and measures of Sacramento County or a taximeter service agency registered by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, pursuant to Section 12532 of the Business and Professions Code as amended; and

2. The taximeter display must be in full view of all passengers.

B. Taxicab drivers shall turn on the taximeter at the beginning of each trip and turn off the taximeter at the end of each trip. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab without a device capable of electronically processing credit card and debit card transactions and printing a receipt.

B. All taxicab drivers shall accept credit card and debit card charges as payment for taxicab services and shall provide the customer with a receipt. The director shall determine the types of credit or debit cards that must be accepted. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 11)

No person shall operate a taxicab without the equipment necessary to communicate with the dispatch service provided by the taxicab fleet association with which the taxicab is registered, pursuant to Section 5.136.620. (Ord. 2014-0019 § 12)

No person shall operate a taxicab without a working top light that complies with the following:

A. The top light shall be a minimum of ten (10) inches in length and four inches in height, and be visible from all sides of the vehicle; and

B. The word "taxicab," "taxi," "cab" or the business name of the taxicab owner or other words identifying the vehicle as a taxicab shall be clearly visible on the top light.

C. The top light shall be wired to automatically illuminate when the taximeter inside the vehicle is turned off, and automatically extinguish when the taximeter inside the vehicle is turned on. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

No person shall operate a taxicab that has any of the following substandard conditions:

A. A door, window, hood, or trunk that does not open or close securely;

B. Rust, dents or other damage to the exterior of the vehicle to the extent that a single area or multiple areas of damage affect an aggregate area of at least three linear feet of the vehicle's surface. The measurement of each damaged area will be taken from the two most widely spread points of the affected surface;

C. Loose, broken or missing parts that could cause injury to a driver, pedestrian, or passenger, or cause their clothing or baggage to be snagged or torn. These parts include, but are not limited to, mirrors, handles, signs, or chrome, plastic or rubber trim;

D. A passenger compartment that is in a dirty or other condition that could soil a patron's clothes;

E. A luggage compartment that is in a dirty or other condition that could soil or damage baggage or other items placed therein;

F. A passenger compartment that contains loose litter or trash;

G. Upholstery, headliners or floor coverings that are torn, damaged, dirty or otherwise improperly maintained; or

H. Exterior paint, decals, lettering, or numbering that are peeling, defaced, or otherwise improperly maintained. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. Within ninety (90) days prior to the issuance of a taxicab vehicle permit, or a renewal thereof, each vehicle must pass an inspection by a facility that has been approved by the city manager to conduct such inspections. The scope of the inspection shall be determined by the director, and shall consist of requirements that verify that the vehicle is safe, in good mechanical condition, and in compliance with all applicable laws and standards, including the provisions of this chapter.

B. In addition to the inspections provided for in subsection A of this section, the city may inspect any taxi-cab at any time to determine compliance with this chapter, provided that at the time of the inspection a person is operating the taxicab and is not transporting a paying customer.

C. If, as a result of an inspection pursuant to subsection B of this section, a taxicab is determined to be in violation of any provision of this chapter, the city shall provide the permittee a reasonable period of time to correct the violation, and re-inspect the vehicle to ensure that the correction has been made. In addition to any remedies for the violation of this chapter, the city may impose a taxicab re-inspection fee on the permittee in the amount established by resolution of the city council, for the re-inspection conducted pursuant to this section. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. No person shall operate a taxicab unless the city has completed a criminal background check for every person with an ownership interest in the taxicab.

B. If, during the term of a taxicab vehicle permit, any person acquires an ownership interest in that taxicab, the permittee shall notify the director and submit the information required by the director to conduct a background check on that person no later than three calendar days after the person acquires the interest. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, a person may continue to operate that permitted taxicab while the city conducts the background check on the person who acquired the interest. (Ord. 2010-028 § 2)

A. At all times during the term of a taxicab vehicle permit issued pursuant to this chapter, the taxicab vehicle permittee or the taxicab vehicle association to which the taxicab is registered shall continuously maintain in full force and effect automobile liability insurance that covers that taxicab and its drivers. The insurance shall:

1. Be issued by an insurer licensed to do business in California;

2. Provide coverage at least as broad as ISO Form CA 00 01 for bodily injury, including the death of one or more persons, property damage, and personal injury;

3. Provide a combined single limit of not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) per accident; and

4. Cover all losses and damages as specified in Section 5.136.260.

B. No person shall operate a taxicab without the insurance coverage required by this section.

C. Violation of this section, shall be grounds for immediate revocation of the taxicab vehicle permit pursuant to Section 5.136.700(B). (Ord. 2013-0002 § 2)

Taxicab vehicle permittees shall file all current certificates of automobile liability insurance that establish their compliance with Section 5.136.440, with the taxicab fleet association to which the vehicle is registered. (Ord. 2013-0002 § 3)

Taxicab vehicle permittees shall immediately notify the manager of the taxicab fleet association to which the vehicle is registered of any cancellation or lapse of automobile liability insurance required by Section 5.136.440. (Ord. 2013-0002 § 4)