Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 2 Permits

(a) No operator substantially located in the City shall operate or permit the operation of a taxicab in Watsonville without having first obtained an operator’s permit from the Chief of Police and a City business license (pursuant to Chapter 3-4).

(b) An operator substantially located outside the City shall obtain prior approval of the Chief of Police to use the taxicab stands and pick up street hails within the City.

(c) An operator substantially located and permitted by another city or by the County may operate in the City on a prearranged basis only. That operator may pick up trips originating through an online enabled application, phone dispatch, or internet website. That operator may not use the taxi stand or pick up street hails within the City without prior authorization of the Chief of Police.

(d) An applicant for an operator’s permit shall be the registered owner of at least one (1) taxicab at the time of filing the application pursuant to Section 5-22.24; and must continue to own and maintain at least one (1) taxicab and one (1) permitted driver.

(e) It shall be unlawful to operate a taxicab without a valid operator’s permit issued by each city or county in which an operator is substantially located. The minimum fine for operating without a permit from the city or county in which a taxicab company is substantially located shall be Five Thousand and no/100ths ($5,000.00) Dollars.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)

The Chief of Police shall deny the granting of an operator’s permit if it shall appear to their satisfaction that the applicant proposes to operate vehicles which are inadequate or unsafe, or that the applicant has pleaded guilty or been convicted of a felony or of any narcotic law or of any penal law involving moral turpitude, or in case the applicant has not complied with all the terms and conditions of this chapter. The Chief of Police may further deny the granting of any operator’s permit if it appears to their satisfaction that the applicant is not a financially responsible person, or any reasonable cause which within their sound discretion renders the proposed operation undesirable to health, safety, or welfare of the people of the City of Watsonville.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)

No more than one (1) non-wheelchair-accessible taxicab for each two thousand seven hundred (2,700) residents (or major fraction thereof) of the City of Watsonville, as reflected by the last United States Census, shall be permitted to operate in the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)

Every applicant for an operator’s permit shall execute and file with the Police Department a verified application, upon forms provided by the City, containing the following information:

(a) The applicant’s name, home address, and business address;

(b) Sufficient information to demonstrate that the operator is substantially located within the City. This shall include, as a minimum, the business address and the trip data demonstrating that the total number of prearranged and non-prearranged trips that originate within the City’s jurisdiction account for the largest share of the operator’s total number of trips over the previous calendar year;

(c) The applicant’s trade name and distinguishing vehicle markings, color or colors if any;

(d) The applicant’s past taxicab service experience;

(e) Whether any license, permit or certificate issued to the applicant has been denied, revoked or suspended by any public entity. The circumstances of said denial, revocation or suspension shall be fully explained;

(f) Whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime within five (5) years before the date of the application, including the nature of the crimes;

(g) The number of vehicles proposed to be used as taxicabs; and

(h) Such further information as the Police Chief may reasonably require in order to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)

Any person desiring to obtain an operator’s permit to be substantially located within the City shall apply to the Chief of Police. Each application shall be accompanied by an active City business license, pursuant to Section 3-4.05, and a policy of liability insurance, which shall be in writing, and shall set forth a description of each motor vehicle which the applicant proposes to use, giving the name of the vehicle manufacturer, VIN, and the State license number.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)

The renewal of an operator’s permit shall be made annually to the Police Department. The renewal procedure shall be limited to the review and updating of the operator’s permit application information including trip data from the previous year. If there are substantial changes in the operator’s application information, the Police Chief may require that the owner submit a new application for review and approval.

(§ 1, Ord. 1401-20 (CM), eff. March 26, 2020)