Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 4 Taxicabs

No person shall operate or allow his employee or agent to operate any taxicabs within the unincorporated areas of the County without first obtaining a license or licenses therefor.

This Article shall not apply to:

(a) A taxicab owned by a person whose principal place of business is outside the County when such taxicab is carrying a passenger from a point of departure outside the County to a destination within the unincorporated area of the County or to a destination outside the County;

(b) A taxicab owned by a person whose principal place of business is within an incorporated area of the County when such taxicab is carrying a passenger from a point of departure outside the County or a point of departure within such incorporated area to any destination in the unincorporated area of the County or to a destination outside the County.

No taxicab shall carry a passenger from a point of departure within the unincorporated area of the County to any destination whatsoever unless the owner and operator hold a license issued as provided in this Article.

(a) "Applicant"—unless otherwise designated, applicant means an applicant for or holder of either an Owner's License or an Operator's License.

(b) "County" means the County of Ventura in the State of California.

(c) "Owner" means a person who is the holder of a beneficial interest in a taxicab, as distinguished from the holder of a security interest therein.

(d) "License"—unless otherwise designated, license means either an Owner's License or an Operator's License.

(e) "Sheriff" means the Sheriff of the County of Ventura or his duly authorized deputy.

(f) "Taxicab" shall include every motor vehicle by means of which passengers are carried for hire over a route or to a destination specified by the passenger, excepting vehicles subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission.

Every applicant for a license required by section 2111 shall personally appear before the Sheriff and make a written application to the Sheriff therefor, stating in addition to the information required by section 2113-2, the following information:

(a) The name, age, personal address and telephone number of the applicant, or if the same be a corporation, of its principal officers, or if the same be a partnership, firm, association, or other entity specified in section 2462(e) of the persons comprising such entity.

(b) Whether the applicant is applying for a license as the owner or operator of a taxicab, or both if he is applying as both owner and operator.

(c) A description of every taxicab which the applicant owns, or operates, giving the vehicle's trade name, year, motor and serial number, state license number, seating capacity, and body style.

(d) The distinctive color scheme, name, monogram or insignia by which every such taxicab owned by the applicant shall be marked.

(e) A date, place, offense and punishment as to each prior conviction of the applicant.

Each applicant for an operator's license must hold a valid, current driver's license as required by the Department of Motor Vehicles for operation of a taxicab, giving its number and date of expiration.

(Am. Ord. 2611—8/1/72)

Each applicant for an Owner's License must represent that he holds a valid, current Motor Vehicle Transportation license issued by the State Board of Equalization.

Each applicant for an Owner's License must represent that he holds in full force and effect a policy of insurance meeting the requirements set forth in section 2483 giving the name of his insurance carrier and the amounts of coverage.

Each applicant for an Owner's License must present with his application a certificate of inspection for each vehicle applied for, from a reputable garage or service station, stating that the vehicles' brakes and lights are in safe condition and good working order.

Whenever a vehicle not previously described in the application has been placed in service as a taxicab, the owner shall immediately submit to the Sheriff the information required by section 2463(c).

Every applicant for an Operator's License shall be fingerprinted and photographed by the Sheriff and the fingerprints and photographs shall be attached to the application, and all Operator licenses. Applicants for an Owner's License shall be fingerprinted only.

The Sheriff may disapprove the application of any applicant for a license required by this Article and may revoke the license of any person licensed under the provisions of this Article who has been convicted of any of the following crimes:

(a) Violation of sections 23101, 23102, 23103, 23104, 23105, 23106 or 23108 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) Violation of sections 192 (3), 367 (d) or 367 (e) of the Penal Code.

(c) Any crime which, under the laws of the State where it was committed, was a felony at the time the defendant was convicted thereof.

(d) Any crime involving moral turpitude.

Any applicant whose application is disapproved or any licensee whose license is revoked under the provision of this Section may appeal to the Board of Supervisors from the disapproval of the application or the revocation of the license within the time and pursuant to the procedure set forth in section 2133. The Board may grant the appeal and approve the application or reinstate the license when such action is not inconsistent with the general purpose and intent of this Article and will result in effecting substantial justice without being detrimental to the public interest, safety or welfare.

The Sheriff shall maintain a file of all applications for taxicab licenses granted or denied. Such records shall be kept for at least five years.

Each applicant shall present for inspection his application, the appropriate license or licenses set forth in section 2463-1 and section 2463-2. If the application and the license or licenses meet the requirements set forth in this Article, the Sheriff shall approve the application.

The license form for any license required by this Article shall contain, in addition to the information required by Section 2113-2, the following information:

(a) A stamp to designate whether it is an Owner's License or an Operator's License.

(b) A statement that the licensee is subject to the provisions of Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4 of the Ventura County Ordinance Code.

(c) In the case of an Operator's License, a photograph of the operator.

(d) Such other information as the Sheriff shall require.

Every owner of two or more taxicabs shall, prior to application or renewal of an Owner's License, pay a fee of $30. The owner of one taxicab only shall pay a fee of $10. Every operator shall, prior to application or renewal, pay a fee of $10.

Every Operator's License shall be at all times prominently displayed in the taxicab being driven by the operator.

Every owner shall maintain:

(a) A place of business at a fixed address.

(b) A telephone at such place of business.

(c) Taxicabs available for patrons on a 24-hour daily basis.

Taxicab service shall be available at all times by telephone call or by engagement of the taxicab while not in use when properly hailed from the street or curb. It is unlawful for the owner or driver of a taxicab to refuse or neglect to transport any orderly person or persons upon request anywhere in the County, when a taxicab of such owner is not in use, and such service shall be rendered immediately upon request.

The owner and operator of every vehicle covered by this Article shall keep a complete and accurate record of each fare upon a daily fare sheet, showing the time and place of origin and destination of the trip, the number of passengers carried and the amount of fare collected. Such record shall be kept on file for a period of not less than six months and shall be available for inspection at all times by any peace officer.

It is unlawful for any owner or operator to carry or permit or cause to be carried, any person known by such owner or driver to be traveling to a place for the purpose of committing an unlawful act. Likewise, it shall be unlawful for any owner or operator knowingly to permit or acquiesce in the commission of any unlawful act within or about the taxicab.

All taxicabs, before being placed in service, shall be approved by the Sheriff who shall approve the vehicle if it meets the standards of cleanliness and appearance set forth in this Article, and if the applicant has presented the certificates required by Section 2463-4 and if the applicant is not disqualified under Section 2477.

The Sheriff may refuse to approve an application for a license or a vehicle, or revoke a license or vehicle approval, for failure to comply with any of the requirements of this Article, including, but not limited to, the reasons listed in this section. The Sheriff may revoke a license previously granted after complying with the notice provisions of Section 2478. Any or all of the following reasons shall be sufficient for denial of the application for the license, or revocation of owner or operator licenses or vehicle approval:

(a) That the application is not in the form, or does not contain the information required by this Article;

(b) That the applicant has made a false representation on his application, or that the applicant has failed at any time to fulfill the representations contained in his application;

(c) That the vehicle or vehicles described are inadequate, unsightly, unclean, unsanitary, or unsafe for the purposes for which they are to be used;

(d) That the applicant has, at some prior time, had a license for the operation of an automobile for hire or taxicab revoked for cause, or that the applicant is not financially responsible, or that the applicant has violated or failed to comply with the insurance requirements of Section 2483;

(e) That the persons then holding licenses for the operation of taxicabs or automobiles for hire, as defined in this Article, are under efficient management and are adequately serving the public under normal conditions;

(f) That the applicant for an Operator's License is under the age of 18 years

(g) That a license previously issued has not been used by the applicant in that neither the applicant nor any agent or employee has operated a taxicab in the unincorporated area of the County for more than 180 days.

(Am. Ord. 2611—8/1/72)

A notice of intention to revoke shall be delivered personally to the applicant or mailed to the applicant prior to revocation. The notice shall specify the date upon which revocation shall be effective.

Each taxicab must be equipped with a taxi meter which will correctly compute and indicate the amount charged, distance traveled or time elapsed and must be affixed to the taxicab in such a manner that the reading dial showing the amount to be and being charged can be readily discernible from the passenger compartment during all times that such taxi meter is operating. Every person holding an Owner's License required by this Article must before operating or allowing his employees or agent to operate any taxicab, file with the Sheriff a schedule of the rate of fare to be charged to the public. Such rates may be changed at any time by filing a new schedule of rates with the Sheriff. It is unlawful for any owner or operator to charge a rate different from that on file in the Sheriff's office.

Every taxicab shall have displayed in a conspicuous place in the passenger compartment thereof at all times a sign stating in clearly legible characters the rate of fare charged for carrying passengers therein, the owner's name or the fictitious name under which he operates, business address and telephone number of such owner and the license number furnished by the Sheriff. It is unlawful for any owner or operator to operate a taxicab in violation of this section.

Every driver of a taxicab who is engaged in carrying passengers shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passenger safely and expeditiously to his destination, unless otherwise directed by the passenger.

When a taxicab is engaged, the person or persons engaging such taxicab shall have the exclusive right to the full and complete use of the passenger compartment, and it is unlawful for the owner or driver of such taxicab to solicit or carry additional passengers therein.

It is unlawful for any owner or driver to drive or operate any taxicab, or cause the same to be driven or operated unless the owner holds in full force and effect at all times while such taxicab is being operated, a policy of insurance then in effect in a solvent and responsible company insuring the owner and any driver of the taxicab against loss by reason of injury or damage that may result to persons or property from the negligent operation or defective construction of such taxicab, or from violation of this Article or laws of the State of California. The policy shall be limited for each occurrence to no less than $25,000 for the injury or death of one person and to no less than $50,000 for the injury or death to two or more persons in the same accident, and to no less than $5,000 for injury to or destruction of property.