Santa Clara Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

This chapter is to further the public convenience and necessity of transportation services by taxicabs and pedi-cabs, to comply with the requirements of applicable State law, and is enacted pursuant to the Constitution of the State of California and the Charter of the City of Santa Clara ("City"). The ordinance codified in this chapter shall take effect on January 1, 2019.

(Ord. 1989 § 1, 10-16-2018)

For purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined and shall be construed as set forth herein unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

(a)

"Chief of Police"

shall mean the elected Chief of the Santa Clara Police Department, or his/her designee.

(b)

"City Manager"

means the City Manager, or his/her designee.

(c)

For Hire.

A vehicle is "for-hire" if any fare, fee, charge or other consideration is payable for the transportation service of the vehicle, whether paid or not.

(d)

"Owner"

shall mean a person, partnership, firm, association or corporation engaged in the business of taxicab transportation services or pedi-cab transportation services, as applicable. The act or omission of any owner's officer, agent, employee or independent contractor, or of any driver whose services are engaged by owner, is for all purposes the act or omission of the owner.

(e)

"Pedi-cab"

shall have the same meaning as set forth in Vehicle Code Sections 467.5(a) and (b), as that section may be amended or renumbered. Pedi-cab may be referred to as a "vehicle" throughout this chapter.

(f)

"Substantially located"

shall have the same meaning as set forth in Government Code Section 53075.5, as that section may be amended or renumbered.

(g)

"Taxicab"

shall mean a passenger vehicle, designed for carrying not more than eight persons, excluding the driver, used to transport persons for compensation on public streets. Taxicab may be referred to as a "vehicle" throughout this chapter. "Taxicab" excludes transportation network companies as defined and regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

(Ord. 1989 § 1, 10-16-2018)

(a) Taxicab stands shall be maintained and occupied only as provided by laws and ordinances of the City.

(b) Taxicab drivers shall be entitled to use of the stand on a first-come, first-served basis and are not subject to paying additional costs requested from property personnel.

(c) Hotel personnel or its valet representatives shall not ask for or receive any type of compensation from the taxicab drivers in exchange for requesting taxi service.

(d) The driver shall pull onto the taxicab stand from the rear and shall advance forward as the cabs in front pull off.

(e) Except for a customer deliberately choosing a different taxi, taxis shall pick up customers and leave the taxicab stand by the order of arrival only.

(f) A taxicab driver shall not park, stand or stop in any other place where there is a designated taxicab stand provided.

(g) Taxicab drivers shall not leave their vehicle unattended while parked in a taxicab stand.

(h) Taxicabs displaying "out-of-service" signs shall not park in a taxicab stand.

(i) The taxicab owner's right to use a taxicab stand, as provided herein, shall be modified and/or suspended if the taxicab driver fails to obey the provisions of this chapter or any other Federal, State or local laws.

(Ord. 1989 § 1, 10-16-2018)