HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 900560 - Taxicabs & Buses' ! ! ! i• IL i
1 OTHER : FOR HIRE WITHIN TUE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN,
WHEREAS, the City of Georgetown City Council met at its regular meeting and
determined that regulation of taxicabs, buses, and other vehicles for hire is in the best interest
of the public; and
WHEREAS, the current regulation of taxicabs and buses, which was adopted on July 24,
1947, is outdated; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the regulation of taxicabs, buses and
other vehicles for hire by permit is preferable over regulation by franchise;
NOW, THEREFOREBE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN,
SECTION I.
The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby found and
declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a
part hereof, as if copied verbatim.
SECTION H.
An ordinance regulating taxicabs and buses by franchise, attached hereto as Exhibit "A",
was previously approved by the City Council of the City of Georgetown, dated the 24th day of
July, 1947, is hereby repealed. The attached Exhibit "B", "Taxicabs, Buses, and other Vehicles
for Hire", is hereby adopted by the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, to regulate
taxicabs, buses and other vehicles for hire by permit.
SECTION III.
If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance,
shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application thereof,
of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be'severable.
This ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect following second
reading and passage by the City Council and duly signed by the Mayor and attested by the City
Secretary. Publication in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of
Georgetown is accordingly so ordained.
1990.
Mayor
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Marianne Landers Banks
City Attorney
Elizabeth Gray
City Secretary
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A. DEFINITIONS.
(1) "Taxicab" shall mean every automobile, or motor -propelled vehicle, used for the
transportation of passengers for hire over the public streets of the City, irrespective of
whether or not the operation extends beyond the City limits, at rates for distance
traveled, or for waiting time, or for both, or for the trip, or at rates per hour or per day.
Also included in the definition of taxicabs are limousines as the term is generally
understood as vehicles for hire by the hour. It is, however, intended by this section to
exclude from this definition the owner, lessee, or operator of automobiles or motor
vehicles who are operating the same in the City and within a radius of five miles of the
City by contract with persons to transport them for part of the expense of such
operation, when such expense under such contract is paid by the week, month, or a
longer period of time.
(2) "Bus" shall mean every vehicle regularly operated in the City over a fixed or defined
route. Excluded from this definition are those bus services that receive financial support
from the City, bus services that do not charge fees for their services, bus services that
are specially exempted from this ordinance by the City Council, and bus services
regularly operated in the City to or from some other City.
B. PERMIT REQUIRED
No individual, firm, or corporation shall operate or cause to be operated upon or over the
highways, streets, or alleys within the City limits any service car, jitney, taxicab, bus, or
other vehicle for the transportation of persons as passengers for compensation or hire, unless
there has been obtained for such vehicle and existing in full force and effect a permit duly
issued by the City. It shall be and is hereby declared unlawful to do the hereinabove without
the prior permit which must be in full force and effect.
C. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
{1} Application
An application for a permit for the operation of a taxicab or bus service within the City
shall be filed with the City Secretary's office on a form provided by the City.
Applications for renewal of existing permits shall be filed annually prior to expiration
of the permit. Applications for initial service may be made at any time. The applicant
shall provide the following information:
(a) Name of company;
(b) Address of company;
(c) Telephone number of company;
(d) If a corporation, name and address of major officers of corporation and major
stockholders of corporation;
(e) If a partnership, name and address of partners;
(f) If a proprietorship, name and address of owners;
(g) Description of make, vehicle identification number and permit number;
(h) Names, addresses, ages, and driver's permit numbers for each driver operating
vehicles or other identifying number for the company, such information to be kept
current during the year. The Risk Manager will verify that no driver has been
ticketed for two (2) or more moving violations or motor vehicle accidents within
the most recent twelve (12) month period. No driver in violation of this section
shall be allowed to drive. Failure to provide such information for each driver
operating a taxicab or bus within the City shall be grounds for revoking the permit
of the taxicab or bus company; and,
(i) Written statement that no permitted vehicle will be operated by any drivers not
identified in the permit application.
(2) Endorsement
Applicants shall file applications with an endorsement by the Risk Manager to the effect
that he has approved, as suitable, insurance coverage as herein prescribed. Said
applicant shall keep in full force and effect during the term of the permit a policy of
public liability insurance, issued by an insurance company fully authorized to do
business in this state and performable in this county, insuring the public against any and
all loss or damage that may result to any person or property from the operation of such
vehicle or vehicles, provided that the least minimums in amounts as required by State
law. This insurance policy shall be issued for one calendar year for the year in which
the permit is to be granted.
(3) Right to Inslect
In addition to the requirements of state law regarding vehicle safety inspection, and the
requirements specified herein, the City shall have the right to inspect all taxicabs and
buses permitted or to be permitted under this section to determine if such vehicles meet
the following minimum standards.
(i) Each vehicle shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher that is in good
operating order;
(ii) Each vehicle shall be reasonably free from dirt or rubbish and shall be
otherwise clean and sanitary;
(iii)The vehicle identification number and permit number shall be compared to the
numbers listed on the taxicab or bus permit application for accuracy; and,
(iv) Each vehicle shall have the lettering permanently affixed to the door as
required by this section; and
(3) Fee
Each application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable permit fee of Twenty-five
Dollars ($25) per vehicle and an additional Twelve Dollars ($12) per driver per year to
cover the expense of carrying out the provisions of this section.
D. ISSUANCE OF PERMIT
The City Secretary's office shall issue to each applicant a permit decal or renewal decal
thereof for each vehicle upon the filing of written proof of insurance as required herein and
upon a determination that all requirements of this section have been met. The permit shall
be issued for one year.
E. PERMIT TO BE DISPLAYED
The permit issued under the provisions of this section shall be displayed at all times on the
lower left corner of the rear window of the vehicle. Such vehicle shall have permanently
affixed to the door the name under which it is operated, with lettering not less than two and
one-half (2 1/2) inches in height, with such other advertisement as the owner may desire; but
it must show that it is a taxicab or bus. The lettering shall be kept legible at all times.
F. WHO MAY OPERATE VEHICLES
(1) No vehicle for which a permit has been issued shall be operated by anyone except the
drivers listed on the permit application.
(2) No person may drive or operate any taxicab or bus unless and until he has provided his
name, address, age, driver's license number and social security number to the City
Secretary's Office.
(3) No operator, driver or chauffeur of any taxicab or bus shall operate a motor vehicle for
more than twelve (12) hours in any twenty-four hour period.
(4) No person under the age of nineteen (19) years shall operate a taxicab.
(5) No person shall operate a vehicle without appropriate licensing from the Texas
Department of Public Safety.
(b) No person may drive any taxicab or bus in the City if he has been finally convicted of
a crime that affects his ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and
discharge the responsibilities of the permitted occupation.
G. ISSUANCE OF DRIVER BADGE
At the direction of the City Secretary, the Personnel Department shall issue a badge to each
approved driver. The driver shall display this badge at all times while operating a permitted
vehicle. The badge is the property of the City of Georgetown, and shall be surrendered to
the City of Georgetown upon the request of any City employee so authorized by the City
Manager,
H. PERMIT/DRIVER BADGE NOT TRANSFERABLE
No permit or driver badge shall be transferable to any other person, firm or corporation, nor
shall such permit be used for the operation of any vehicle except the vehicle for which said
permit is issued.
I. PASSENGERS
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the taxicab or bus business to overcrowd
the taxicab and thereby endanger the passengers carried therein; the term "overcrowded"
shall mean that the driver is transporting a greater number of people in the vehicle than
has been recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle or for whom there is no seat
belt, inclusive of the driver.
(2) It shall be the duty of the driver of any taxicab or bus to accept as a passenger any
person who seeks to so use the taxicab or bus, unless he feels such person is unsafe or
vehicle is already occupied by a fare -paying passenger. No person shall be admitted to
a taxicab occupied by a passenger without the consent of the passenger.
(3) It shall be unlawful to knowingly permit a taxicab or bus to be used in the perpetration
of a criminal offense.
J. FARE SCHEDULE
It shall be the duty of the driver of any taxicab or bus to display the fare schedule in a
location visible to passengers at all times while passengers are in the vehicle.
K. MECHANICAL CONDITION
No permitted vehicle shall be operated unless it is in suitable mechanical condition for the
safe transportation of passengers over the highways and streets of the City. It shall be the
duty of both the permit holder and the driver of the taxicab or bus to ensure that the vehicle
is in suitable mechanical condition, as required above, prior to transporting any passengers.
L. PENALTIES
(1} Violations of this ordinance shall each constitute a separate offense and shall each be
punishable as a Class C misdemeanor and shall each be punishable by a fine not to
exceed $200.00 for each day the violation exists.
(2) In addition to the penalties provided in this Code for the violation of any of the
provisions of its laws, any owner or operator of a taxicab or bus service who permits
drivers to operate or drive any vehicle while not properly permitted is subject to the
immediate cancellation of his permit to operate in the City of Georgetown. However,
before such cancellation, the owner shall be given written notice and an opportunity to
be heard before the City Manager or his designee as to why the permit should not be
canceled.
(3) Any person who drives any taxicab or bus in the City and has been finally convicted
of a crime that affects his ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and
discharge the responsibilities of the permitted occupation shall have his permit
immediately canceled. However, before such cancellation, the owner shall be given
written notice and an opportunity to be heard before the City Manager or his designee
as to why the permit should not be canceled.
M. WHEN PERMIT MAY BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED
In case any defendant pleads guilty or is convicted in Municipal Court of violating any
provision of this section, the prosecutor may, in addition to imposing a fine, also present said
conviction to the City Manager or his designee in order that the permit for the vehicle
involved be suspended or revoked.