Ventura Municipal Code § 6.150.300 Permit denial

Driver’s permit applications will be in a form prescribed by the police chief and will contain all of the following information:

A. Name, age, citizenship, and address of the applicant;

B. Two recent photographs of the applicant, size one and one-half inches by one and one-half inches, one to be filed with the application and one to be permanently attached to a driver’s permit when issued;

C. Past experience as a driver, including the names and addresses of the applicant’s employers during the preceding three years;

D. Whether any driver’s license, either state or other governmental agency, has ever been suspended or revoked;

E. The name and address of the operator by whom the applicant is to be employed as a driver. Such application must be verified by the applicant and endorsed by the operator. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

After submitting an application for a driver’s permit, an applicant must demonstrate a proficient knowledge of the traffic laws of the city and the state and demonstrate the driver’s ability to operate a taxicab or automobile for hire to the satisfaction of the police chief. Upon satisfying the foregoing requirements, the applicant will be fingerprinted and a record thereof filed in the police department bureau of identification. No driver’s permit may be granted by the police chief for two weeks after date of application, but the police chief may authorize a temporary permit during this time period. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

The police chief will issue a permit if:

A. The application was complete in accordance with this chapter;

B. There are no grounds for denying the permit;

C. The applicant provides proof of a negative result on the test for controlled substances as required by this chapter; and

D. The applicant accepts the driver’s permit in writing. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

Every driver’s permit issued will set forth the operator’s name for whom the driver is authorized to operate a taxicab and will be valid only so long as the driver continues in the employment of said operator. Upon the termination of employment, the said driver will forthwith surrender the driver’s permit to the police chief. No driver’s permit will be issued to anyone younger than 18 years. No driver’s permit issued hereunder will be transferable. Upon the termination of the employment of any driver, the operator employing that driver will immediately give the police chief written notice of such termination. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

A permit must be denied if the police chief finds that:

A. The applicant was convicted of a felony or any criminal law involving moral turpitude;

B. The applicant failed to comply with any part of this chapter; or

C. Information submitted by the applicant is materially false. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

A. The police chief will summarily revoke any driver’s permit issued under the provisions of this chapter provided the police chief has knowledge that the holder thereof:

1. Has been convicted within the last seven years of a felony, or the violation of any of the provisions of the state narcotic laws, or of assault, battery, or a crime involving moral turpitude;

2. Has been convicted within the last five years of driving while under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics or reckless driving;

3. Has a driving record which shows a negligent operator point count as specified in the California Vehicle Code Sections 12810 and 12810.5, or any successor statute or regulation. For the purposes of this subsection, a plea or verdict of guilty, a finding of guilty by a court, a plea of nolo contendere, or a forfeiture of bail is deemed a conviction;

4. Has had more than three chargeable vehicle accidents within the last three years or more than one such accident within the last year; or

5. Has tested positive for alcohol or controlled substances as provided in this chapter.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the police chief may, using the police chief’s sound discretion, take into account any mitigating circumstances concerning any of the criminal convictions, driver’s license suspensions or revocations, moving violations and accidents enumerated therein, in deciding whether the applicant for a taxi driver’s permit is a competent person to operate a taxi under the provisions of this code, and in issuing, revoking or suspending the driver’s permit. In utilizing this discretion, the police chief will take into account the following factors:

1. The severity of the crime, suspension, revocation, violation, or other act in question;

2. The extent of the applicant’s prior criminal record; and

3. The nature of and circumstances surrounding the crime, suspension, revocation, violation, or other act in relation to the type of permit sought by the applicant.

C. Any driver who may be aggrieved by the action of the police chief in suspending or revoking a driver’s permit, or any applicant who may be aggrieved by the denial by the police chief of this application, may exercise the applicant’s administrative review rights set forth in this chapter.

D. Any driver whose driver’s permit is revoked pursuant to the provisions of this chapter will not be reinstated or granted a new permit before the expiration of one year from the date of any such revocation. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

It is unlawful for any driver to operate or be in charge of any taxicab without displaying in a conspicuous place a valid driver’s permit issued pursuant to this chapter, and no driver will fail, while operating or in charge of such vehicle, to have in the driver’s immediate possession such driver’s permit. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

It is unlawful for any driver operating or in charge of any taxicab to display a driver’s ID issued to another driver or use for the purpose of operating such vehicle a driver’s permit issued to another individual. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

All driver’s permits will initially expire one year from the driver’s next birthday. The permit may thereafter be renewed biannually, provided the driver complies with all provisions of this article and there is no basis for denial. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)

It is unlawful for the driver of any meter taxicab, upon receiving full payment for a fare as indicated by the taxi meter, to refuse to give a receipt upon the request of any passenger making such payment. (Ord. No. 2000-12, § 3, 5-9-00)