St. Helena Municipal Code Art. 3 Permits

A. It is unlawful for any owner or driver to operate, and for any owner to permit the operation of any taxicab or rent car in the city unless both the owner and the driver have obtained a taxicab permit and paid any permit fee required by city council resolution.

B. Every person engaging in the operation of a taxicab or rent car business shall apply for a taxicab permit on a form provided by the chief of police. In addition to any other information deemed necessary by the chief of police, the application shall contain the following information:

1. The name and address of the applicant;

2. A statement of whether applicant is the owner or driver, or both, of a vehicle(s) for hire;

3. Applicant’s past experience in operating motor vehicles and names and addresses of his or her employers during the preceding three years;

4. The number and type of existing driving licenses issued to applicant by the state Department of Motor Vehicles;

5. Whether or not a driving license issued to applicant has ever been revoked;

6. A list of all crimes of which applicant has been convicted other than minor traffic violations;

7. If applicant is a driver, then the name and address of the owner or owners by whom applicant will be employed; and if the applicant is an owner, then the name and address of all drivers whom applicant employs within the city;

8. The number of vehicles to be operated;

9. The make, model, serial number, motor number and state license plate number of each taxicab or rent

car;

10. A description of the distinguishing color or identification scheme of the taxicab or rent car;

11. Location of off-street parking stands;

12. Proof of financial responsibility of the applicant and likelihood of the proposed service being permanent, responsible and satisfactory;

13. Any additional information which may be required.

C. All applicants shall be fingerprinted by the police department and shall furnish with their application two recent photographs, size one and one-half inches by one and one-half inches, one to be filed with the application and one to be securely attached to the permit if applicant qualifies for the issuance thereof.

D. It is unlawful for an owner or driver to make any false or misleading statements in the application for a taxicab permit.

E. Identification and fingerprinting fees, as set by council resolution, shall be paid by each applicant at the time of submitting an application for a permit under this chapter.

F. Upon receipt of an application for a permit, the city clerk shall forward it to the chief of police who shall conduct an investigation concerning the truth of the facts stated in the application, the character of the applicant, the condition of the premises upon which the proposed permitted activity is to take place, and whether the taxicab or rent car to be permitted conform to applicable state and local vehicle requirements. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.20)

In determining whether to grant or deny an application, the police chief shall consider the financial responsibility of the applicant; the number, kind and type of equipment; and the effect of the proposed service on the use of city streets and alleys.

The police chief may deny the permit application if he or she finds that:

A. The applicant has been convicted of a crime, if the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business, profession or occupation for which the permit is to be issued;

B. The applicant has committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit with intent to substantially benefit himself or herself or another, or substantially injure another;

C. The applicant knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the application for the permit, or in any amendment of report to be made thereunder;

• D. The applicant does not possess a valid drivers license issued by the state of California;

• E. The applicant has violated any provision of this chapter; or

F. Issuance of the permit would be inconsistent with public health, safety or general welfare. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.21)

Pending investigation and issuance of a taxicab permit, the police chief is authorized and delegated to issue a temporary thirty (30) day permit for the operation of a taxicab or rent car business. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.22)

A. Upon approval of the application, the chief of police shall issue to the applicant a master taxicab permit and individual taxicab permits for each taxicab or rent car to be permitted. The master taxicab permit shall state the date of issuance, the term of the permit, and the information stated in the application. The individual taxicab permit shall be identical to the master taxicab permit except that it shall be of a size convenient for display in the taxicab or rent car and in addition shall state the motor number, state license plate number, and passenger seating capacity of the taxicab or rent car for which it is issued.

• B. The master taxicab permit and the individual taxicab permits shall be nontransferable and nonassignable.

C. The taxicab permit shall be fixed in a conspicuous place in the taxicab or rent car so as to be seen from the passenger’s compartment. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.23)

If a driver changes his or her employment to a different owner, he or she shall, within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter, notify the chief of police for the purpose of having his or her taxicab permits changed so as to property designate the name of the new employer. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.24)

A taxicab permit issued under this chapter shall continue in effect until suspended or revoked. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.25)

The chief of police may at any time after hearing, suspend, alter, amend or revoke any permit or permit upon any of the grounds on which it might have denied a permit in the first instance. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.26)

A. Any interested person may appeal a decision of the police chief under this chapter to the city council. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the city clerk a written statement of the grounds for appeal written fourteen (14) days after notice of the decision of permit denial, suspension, alteration, or revocation has been given.

B. The city clerk shall set the appeal for hearing before the city council and shall give five days written notice of the hearing to the applicant. In the event that the appeal is relative to an owner application, notice shall also be given to all existing permitted taxicab and rent car businesses in the city. The city council shall hear all interested parties and, if in its determination, public convenience requires the granting of the permit and the granting of the permit to the applicant would be in the best interests of this city and its inhabitants, the city council shall grant such permit. The city council may deny a permit to any applicant on the grounds set forth in Section 5.36.130. (Ord. 02-2 § 3; prior code § 15.27)