Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 5.01 Taxicabs, Limousines, and Other Vehicles for Hire

The term "Taxicab Service" means a company operated for the purpose of transporting passengers for hire on the streets of the Town of Truckee (Town), irrespective of whether the operation extends beyond the boundaries of the Town. Taxicab services which enter the Town for the purpose of delivering passengers who have hired the service in a jurisdiction in which the service is licensed to operate are not regulated by this section, however no such service may solicit or accept any passenger for hire while in the Town.

The term "Taxicab" as used in this chapter means every motor propelled vehicle used solely or mainly for the transportation of passengers for hire on the streets of the Town in a non-prearranged, curbside manner. Vehicles registered with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are not considered taxis and must have a completed waybill in the driver's possession showing the origins of the trip, who ordered and how many people are included.

The term "Taxicab Permit" means a non-transferable permit issued to a specific vehicle to operate the vehicle in a Town authorized taxicab service. Vehicles registered with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are not required to obtain a taxicab permit.

The term "Taxicab Operator" means every person, company, corporation, association operative, or any other organizational structure approved by the Police Department to hold an operating permit to provide taxicab service in the Town. Taxicab Operator includes directors, officers, members, management and administrative personnel.

The term "Taxicab Driver" or "Driver" means any person possessing a valid taxi driver's license issued by the Town of Truckee Police Department. The individual may be a Taxicab Operator, employee of a Taxicab Operator, or a lease driver. Taxicab operators are required to have a taxi driver's license.

No person or company shall operate any taxicab service (as defined in in section 5.01.010) within the Truckee Town limits unless he/she first obtains the required permits and licenses to do so from the Police Chief or his/her designee. Reasonable fees for issuing these permits and licenses may be charged by the Police Department.

All taxi drivers working for a taxicab service defined in section 5.01.010 must obtain a taxi drivers license issued by Town of Truckee prior to providing taxi service. Taxicab drivers must renew their taxi driver's license within one year of the original date of issue by the Town of Truckee Police Department. When applying for or renewing the taxi driver's license, the person must meet all the requirements in section 5.01.050 and pay the fees associated with original and renewal taxi driver's licenses.

All taxicabs used by taxicab services as defined in section 5.01.010 must receive a permit prior to being operated a as taxicab. Taxicab permits shall be renewed annually no later than January 1st each year by the taxicab operator presenting each taxicab to the Police Department for a taxicab inspection and by paying all applicable fees.

EXCEPTION: The Chief of Police may accept, in lieu of issuing a permit under this ordinance, a permit issued by another California governmental agency, so long as the insurance requirements contained in Section 5.01.104 are complied with as to the Town.

(a) Minimum Standards. The minimum taxicab standards are those of the California Vehicle Code. All taxicabs shall meet all applicable standards of the California Vehicle Code as well as the following in order to pass the Town of Truckee Police Department taxicab inspection.

(b) Safety and Sanitation Required. No owner or driver shall operate, or permit any such vehicle to be operated, in the Town while any equipment used thereon shall be defective, unsafe, or in an unsanitary condition.

(c) Interior Information. A 4" x 6" Information Card shall be in plain view of all passengers at all times that the taxicab is in operation. The Information Card shall contain the following information: business name, business address and telephone number of the owner of the vehicle. The Information Card must also include the name, address, website, and phone number of the regulating agency (Truckee PD) and the authorized fare schedule.

(d) Exterior Information. Exterior markings shall be affixed to the taxicab and shall consist of business name, reservation phone number, vehicle number, "Authorized fare posted inside taxicab" statement, and other Truckee PD approved markings. Such exterior markings shall be properly and neatly placed and easy to read (in contrasting colors). The business name shall be placed on each side of vehicle in letters not less than 3 inches in height (in contrasting colors). Vehicle numbers shall be placed on each side and rear of the vehicle in numbers not less than 3 inches in height. Each taxi will have an illuminated taxi top light on the roof.

(e) Inspections. Every vehicle shall, at all times, be subject to inspection by any police officer of the Town. Upon issuance of a Taxicab Services permit and prior to operating, permittee shall present each taxicab listed in the permit application to the Police Department for a taxicab inspection. Upon meeting all inspection standards and upon passing the taxicab inspection, the Police Department will issue a nontransferable Taxicab Permit sticker for each approved Taxicab. The Taxicab Permit sticker must always be affixed to the right-hand corner of the rear window of the Taxicab for which the sticker is issued.

(f) Vehicle Maintenance and Records. All Taxicabs shall, at a minimum, be maintained following the service standards recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Service records and repair or maintenance receipts shall be kept and made available to Police Department staff upon request.

All taxicabs operating in the Town of Truckee shall have a working taximeter. All taximeter seals shall be intact. Taximeters shall be certified by a County Sealer of Weights and Measures. The date the meter was certified must be on the seal and shall not be more than 13 months old. Private meter seals (paper and lead) from a certified meter shop may be used during periods of fare adjustments or when a taximeter has been repaired. Such temporary meter seals shall be valid for thirty (30) days only. No temporary meter seals will be accepted when performing annual inspections. Taximeters shall be placed in the Taxicab so that the reading dial showing the amount of fare to be charged shall be well lighted and easily read by the passenger. Taximeters shall not charge a fare other than the authorized fare.

Each applicant for a taxi driver's license to operate a taxicab shall possess the following qualifications:

(a) Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

(b) Be free from any debilitating illness or disease which would affect his/her ability to safely operate a taxicab, including freedom from addiction to the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics.

(c) Each taxicab operator shall be responsible for verifying enrollment of its permitted drivers in a controlled substance and alcohol testing program with pre-permitting, annual and random test requirements. The taxicab operator shall 1) contract with a certified program administrator; 2) withdraw sponsorship for any driver who has failed to maintain enrollment in the program; 3) provide company policy and educational materials to all drivers and employees; 4) maintain test results and statements of receipt of policy and educational materials on file, by driver; and 5) immediately notify the Department of any "positive" test result (including failure to test or dilute test) and arrange for the return of the taxicab driver's license in the event of this occurring.

(d) Possess a valid California driver's license.

(e) Each applicant shall be enrolled in the DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) program. The taxicab service shall provide a copy of the report to the Police Department at least once each calendar year for each of its permitted drivers, or as requested by the Police Department.

(f) An applicant shall not have been convicted, during the preceding seven years, of any offense relating to the use, sale, possession or transportation of narcotics or addictive or dangerous drugs, or of any act involving force, violence, threat or intimidation against persons, or of any sexual offense, or of any act involving moral turpitude, including fraud or intentional dishonesty for personal gain, or of any offense which results in a felony conviction, or of any offense involving the possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon, or of any offense involving the solicitation or agreement to engage in or engagement in any act of prostitution, or of any act of resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer, public officer or emergency medical technician or of theft in either degree. For the purposes of this rule, a subsequent change of plea or vacation of verdict and dismissal of charges pursuant to California Penal Code Section 1203.4 does not release the applicant from the penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted.

Each applicant for a license to operate a taxicab shall provide the following information to the Town Police Chief or his/her designee:

(a) Full name;

(b) Current address;

(c) Age, height; color of hair, and eyes;

(d) Place of birth;

(e) Places of previous employment for the five (5) years preceding the date of application;

(f) Whether or not he/she has been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(g) California driver's license number;

(h) A description of every vehicle which the applicant proposes to operate as a taxicab, giving:

1. Trade name, year and model;

2. Motor or serial number;

3. State license number;

4. Seating capacity;

5. Body style.

The application shall be signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury, and filed with the Town Police Chief or his/her designee. The Chief of Police is authorized to establish an application fee to cover the reasonable costs to process the application.

Any person knowingly or intentionally misrepresenting to any officer or employee of the Town any material fact in applying for a taxicab permit or license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Each applicant for a taxicab operator's license shall have his/her fingerprints taken and shall file two (2) recent photographs of him/herself of a size that may be easily attached to the taxicab license. One of such photographs shall be attached to the license when issued, and shall be carried at all times when driving a taxicab within the Town. Such photograph shall be attached to the license so that it cannot be removed and another photograph substituted without detection. The other photograph shall be filed with the application.

Each taxicab driver shall, upon demand by any police officer or passenger, exhibit his/her taxi driver's license and photograph for inspection.

The Town Police Chief, in the exercise of sound and reasonable discretion, when the public safety and interest may require, may refuse to issue a taxi driver's license, and may suspend or revoke any such license upon:

(a) The taxicab driver being convicted of a violation of Sections 20001, 20002(a), 20002(b), 23103, 23152, 23153, 23220, or 23222 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California, or upon any two (2) or more convictions within one year for any moving violation of the Vehicle Code of the State of California while driving such vehicle for hire; or

(b) The taxicab driver being convicted of any of the offenses listed in section 5.01.050 paragraph (f).

(c) The taxicab driver or taxicab operator, if different, being convicted of any violation of this ordinance.

It is unlawful for a taxicab driver who has been hired by a passenger or group of passengers to pick up additional passengers without the express permission of the passenger or group of passengers who first hired the vehicle.

Each person, company or corporation operating taxicabs in the Town shall maintain 24-hour availability.

Any operator of a vehicle under this chapter may refuse service to anyone who is belligerent or combative, or in any way a threat to the safety of the operator.

During the term of a permit issued pursuant to this chapter, the permittee or owner(s) of a taxicab authorized by the permit shall maintain in full force and effect, at no cost to the Town, a comprehensive auto and general liability insurance policy as follows:

(a) In an amount no less than One Million ($1,000,000) Dollars single limit per occurrence;

(b) Issued by an admitted insurer(s) as defined by the California Insurance Code;

(c) Providing that the Town, its officers, employees and agents are to be named as additional insureds under the policy;

(d) No person shall commence operations of a vehicle licensed by the Town until such time as the insurance required by this section has been received and verified.

Any change in controlling interest of ownership of a taxicab service by a permittee will automatically result in suspension of the permit to operate a taxicab service.

Violations of this chapter shall be an infraction punishable by fine as determined by the Court. Violation of this ordinance shall also be a public nuisance which may be abated in a manner allowed by law, including towing.

(ORD 2005-08, 10-20-05 2012-08, 8-28-2912)