South Pasadena Municipal Code Ch. 33 Taxicabs

Sections:

33.1 Definitions. 33.2 Identification. 33.3 Unauthorized markings. 33.4 Taximeters. 33.5 Insurance. 33.6 Office and telephone required. - 33.7 Twenty four hour service required. 33.8 Parking in business district. 33.9 Display of driver’s photograph, name, etc. 33.10 Drivers to use most direct route. — 33.11 Stands Authority of city manager to locate, assign, etc. 33.12 Same—Identification. — 33.13 Same Use by other vehicles prohibited. 33.14 Hiring with intent to defraud. 33.15 Interference with inspection. ARTICLE II. PERMITS DIVISION 1. GENERALLY 33.16 Suspension or revocation generally. 33.17 Notice of suspension or revocation. 33.18 Appeal from actions of city manager. DIVISION 2. OWNER’S PERMIT 33.19 Required. — 33.20 Application Generally. — 33.21 Same Not to be acted on unless license fee paid. — 33.22 Same Hearing on. 33.23 Determination of public convenience and necessity prerequisite to issuance. 33.24 Issuance or denial. 33.25 Contents. 33.26 Term. 33.27 Limited permit. DIVISION 3. DRIVER’S PERMIT 33.28 Required. 33.29 Application.

33.30 Qualifications of applicant.

Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

Driver. A person in direct and immediate possession or in charge of, driving or operating a taxicab.

Owner. A person, other than a driver, who owns, controls or directs the use of a taxicab.

Street. A road, passage or way dedicated or set apart and used by the general public for vehicular traffic.

Taxicab. A motor-propelled vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for compensation fixed by a taximeter in accordance with the distance traveled or the time elapsed, and not operated over a fixed route.

Taximeter. A mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for the hire of a passenger-carrying motor-propelled vehicle is mechanically registered, calculated or indicated by means of figures in accordance with the distance traveled or the time elapsed. (Ord. No. 965, § 1.)

Each taxicab operated in the city shall bear the following identification: The owner’s trade name, monogram or insignia, together with a cab number and the owner’s telephone number, shall be painted upon the metal portion of the outside of at least one door on each side of the taxicab. Also, the cab number and the owner’s telephone number shall be printed upon the outside rear panel of the taxicab.

All letters and figures mentioned in this section shall be not less than two and one-quarter inches in height and of not less than fivesixteenths of an inch stroke. (Ord. No. 965, § 2.)

No taxicab shall bear any marks or signs other than those specified in the preceding section and other than such advertising matter as may be approved by the city manager to be fixed or carried on the rear portion of the taxicab. (Ord. No. 1092, § 2.)

Each taxicab operated in the city shall be equipped with a taximeter which will correctly compute and indicate the distance traveled or the time elapsed. Such meter shall be affixed to the taxicab in such manner that the reading dial showing the amount to be and being charged shall be readily discernible from the passenger compartment during all times that such taximeter is operating. (Ord. No. 965, § 2.)

The owner of each taxicab in the city shall secure and pay in advance the annual premium upon an insurance policy whereby the owner and the driver of the taxicab are insured against liability for injury to any person as the result of the ownership, operation or use thereof. The city shall be named on such policy as an additional insured. The minimum liability limits upon each taxicab shall not be less than one million dollars for personal injuries resulting to two or more persons in any one accident. The owner shall file an endorsement of such insurance policy with the city manager wherein it is provided that the insurance policy will not be cancelled by the insurer, or at the request of the insured, until the city, though its manager, has been given notice in writing at least ten days immediately prior to the time when such cancellation shall become effective. (Ord. No. 965, § 2; Ord. No. 1983, § 85.)

Each holder of a taxicab owner’s permit shall maintain a permanent office within the corporate limits of the city available to the public, and shall maintain a telephone at that office. (Ord. No. 1092, § 6.)

Every taxicab owner shall make taxicab service available to the public twenty-four hours each day. (Ord. No. 1092, § 6.)

No driver of any taxicab shall park or stand the same upon any public highway in any business district in the city for any period of time longer than is necessary to discharge or receive passengers then occupying or then waiting for such taxicab; provided, that a taxicab may be parked in a taxi stand established pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. 1106, § 9.15.)

The owner of each taxicab shall cause to be placed and maintained in a conspicuous place in the passenger compartment of each vehicle at all times during the operation thereof, a device in which there shall be visibly displayed the photograph of the driver of such vehicle, together with his name and permit number in legible letters not less than one-quarter inch in height. It shall be unlawful for the driver to operate or for the owner to allow or permit the operation of any taxicab contrary to the provisions of this section. (Ord. No. 965, § 8.)

Any taxicab driver employed to carry any passenger to a definite point shall take the most direct route which will carry the passenger safely and expeditiously to such point. (Ord. No. 965, § 9.)

The city manager is hereby authorized to determine the location of and to mark taxicab stands. Such stands shall be assigned for the use of taxicabs only when the city manager decides that they are convenient to the public. (Ord. No. 1092, § 7; Ord. No. 1106, § 9.15.)

*For state law as to authority of city to license and regulate taxicab stands, see Veh. C.A., § 589.6

Taxicab stands shall be indicated by signs or a white line stencilled with the words “TAXI ONLY,” upon the tops of all curbs and places specified for taxicabs only. (Ord. No. 1106, § 9.15.)

When official signs or markings designating taxicab stands are in place, no person other than the driver of a taxicab shall park or stand any vehicle in the stand. Such stands shall be used only by taxicabs licensed to operate in the city and driven by holders of taxicab drivers’ permits issued under this chapter. (Ord. No. 1092, § 7; Ord. No. 1106, § 9.15.)

It shall be unlawful for any person to hire any taxicab in the city with the intent to defraud the person from whom it is hired. (Ord. No. 965, § 10.)

It shall be unlawful for an owner or a driver of any taxicab which is being operated in the city to interfere with or prohibit any police officer from at any time inspecting any taxicab or portion thereof. (Ord. No. 965, § 7.)