South Pasadena Municipal Code Div. 3 Driver’s Permit

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a taxicab in the city unless he holds a valid driver’s permit issued in accord with this division.

It shall likewise be unlawful for the holder of a taxicab owner’s permit to allow a taxicab licensed to him to be driven by a person not holding a valid driver’s permit issued by the city. (Ord. No. 1092, § 4.)

Any person may apply to the city for a driver’s permit to operate a taxicab upon the streets of the city by filing with the city manager, upon forms to be supplied by the city, an application setting forth the name and address of the applicant and such other information regarding the health, mentality, character and experience of the applicant as may be necessary or desirable to enable the city manager to ascertain whether the applicant fulfills the requirements of this division. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

Each applicant for a permit under this division shall meet the following qualifications:

• (a) He shall be at least twenty-one years of age.

• (b) He shall not have been convicted in the courts of any state or of the United States of any of the following offenses:

• (1) Driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner or while under the influence of an intoxicant or narcotics.

• (2) Pandering.

• (3) Using, possessing, selling or transporting narcotics or intoxicating liquors.

• (4) Imparting knowledge for the obtaining of narcotics or intoxicating liquors.

• (5) Assault or battery.

• (6) Any law or ordinance involving moral turpitude.

• (7) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter.

(c) He must otherwise be a fit and proper person to be the driver of a taxicab. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

Each applicant for a permit under this division shall be photographed and fingerprinted by the chief of police. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

A fee, as established by resolution of the city council, shall be charged each applicant for a driver’s permit, which fee shall be paid to the director of finance prior to the filing of the application with the city manager. A fee, as by resolution of the city council, shall be paid for the annual renewal of each driver’s permit issued. No refunds of these fees shall be made. (Ord. No. 1304, § 1; Ord. 1983, § 87.)

The city manager may issue a taxicab driver’s permit to all applicants thereof if satisfactory proof is given to the city manager that the applicant comes fully within the qualifications prescribed in this division and has complied with all provisions contained herein. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

Within the discretion of the city manager, a driver’s permit may be issued to a person who is licensed as a driver by a neighboring adjacent city, if the licensing standards of such city are at least equal to those of South Pasadena. (Ord. No. 1092, § 4.)

The city manager may refuse to issue any permit applied for under this division if, in the exercise of a reasonable discretion, he shall determine that such applicant is not qualified to be the driver of a taxicab. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

A permit issued under this article shall be in full force and effect until the holder thereof shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter, but in no event for a period of more than one year from the date of issuance thereof. (Ord. No. 965, § 3.)

The chief of police may grant permission in writing for a temporary driver’s permit pending fingerprint investigation, if there is no indication that the applicant is disqualified. The temporary permit shall also be signed by the city manager. Should there prove to be a disqualification, the holder of the owner’s permit shall be notified immediately, and he shall dismiss the disqualified driver within twenty-four hours. Such temporary permit shall be issued in cases of hardship only and for a limited time pending fingerprint investigation. (Ord. No. 1092, § 3.)