Chapter 3.07
TAXICABS
Sections:
3.07.020 Insurance required – Bond.
3.07.040 License requirements.
3.07.060 Violation – Revocation of license.
3.07.010 License required.
Every person maintaining public auto service, other than regular prescribed and established bus routes, for transporting passengers by auto within the City, or within and without the City, but where the transportation starts within the City, is hereby required to obtain what shall be known as a “taxi license.”
3.07.020 Insurance required – Bond.
A. It shall be unlawful to drive or operate any taxicab in the City unless the owner thereof shall have obtained a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or policies from a responsible and solvent corporation, authorized to issue such policies under the laws of the State of California, insuring said owner and covering said taxicab and also unless said owner shall file with the City Clerk the written certificate or certificates of such corporation, all as provided in this chapter. The City Council may at any time require an owner to replace any such policy with another policy and if such owner fails to so replace such policy, within 10 days from the date of any such notice, with a policy and a certificate thereof, both in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, then, at the termination of the said 10 days the owner’s license for the taxicab covered by such policy shall be, by such failure, automatically suspended until such time as said requirement is complied with, or said license is revoked, whichever is sooner in event.
B. Each motor vehicle liability insurance policy required under the provisions of subsection (A) of this section, in addition to the provisions required to be therein under the laws of the State of California shall provide coverage under the National Standard Liability Form and shall also provide that: Such policy covers any and all taxicabs which may be driven or operated by or for the owner insured under the said policy and regardless of whether or not any permit has been granted said insured under the provisions of this chapter; such policy insures the owner, as defined in this chapter, and any other person driving, using or responsible for the use of any taxicab, covered by said policy, with the consent, express or implied, of said owner, and also the City against loss from the liability imposed on any of them by law for injury to, or death of, any person or damage to property, arising from or growing out of the maintenance, operation or ownership of any taxicab covered by the policy to the amount or limit of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, any one person, or $30,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of any one accident resulting in injury to, or death of, more than one person, and of $5,000 for damage to property of others, resulting from any one accident; such policy of a continuing liability up to the full amount thereof notwithstanding any recovery thereon; such policy, in the event of the death of the owner, inures to, and is for the benefit and protection of, any person, who shall sustain or suffer any damage or injury, or to the heirs or legal representatives of any such person, as the case may be, who may be so damaged or injured or suffer death, by reason of the negligent operation of any taxicab, covered by the policy, during the period covered by the policy, and the life of the owner, and any such person, or the heirs or legal representatives of any such person, as the case may be, may, in such event, sue the insurance carrier, provided that any such action must be brought within the period of time that an action on the policy could have been brought against the owner if he had not died and that no recovery can be had in such action in excess of the limits of the policy, and further provided that the payments required to be made, in such event shall be made directly to any such person, or the heirs or legal representatives of any such person, as the case may be1.
C. Each certificate required under the provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall certify that the issuer thereof has issued a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or policies insuring the owner named in said certificate and that each of said policies contains each of the provisions required to be therein as provided by subsection (B) of this section and that none of the said policies can or will be cancelled except upon 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the City Clerk. Each of said certificates shall be conclusive evidence against the issuer thereof that its contents are true and correct. All such certificates shall be subject to the approval of the City Attorney.
D. Subject to the approval of the City Council, the owner of any taxicab or taxicabs, operated under the provisions of this chapter may file a bond of a responsible and solvent corporation authorized to issue such bonds under the laws of the State of California, containing the conditions, and giving the protection required in the motor vehicle liability insurance policy required by subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this section, in lieu of either, all or any part of the insurance coverage required by said subsections. (Ord. 77-25, 9-1977; Ord. 153, 4-23-1946)
3.07.030 License fees.
The required license fee for the operation of the taxicab business in the City shall be as prescribed in NCC 3.01.180. (Ord. 191, 6-14-1955; Ord. 153, 4-23-1946)
3.07.040 License requirements.
A. Schedule of Rates Filed. Every person licensed to operate a taxi service as provided in NCC 3.07.010 is required to keep on file with the City Clerk a schedule of rates to be charged for transporting passengers within the City.
B. Display of Letters. Every taxi licensed and operated under this chapter shall have displayed upon the body of said taxi the words “Taxi” and “Newman” in letters plainly distinguishable in color, and not less than three inches in height.
C. Identification Card. Every driver operating a taxi under a license from the City shall first procure and at all times carry on his person an identification card which is to be issued in accordance with the regulations of the Police Department of the City and without charge.
3.07.050 Taxicab stands.
A. The City Council may, by resolution, locate and designate taxicab stands, which stands when so established shall be appropriately designated, “Taxis Only.”
B. It shall be unlawful for the owner, driver or operator of any taxicab to allow said taxicab to remain parked, while awaiting employment, except in a regularly established taxicab stand; provided, however, that taxicabs may park in any available parking space when actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers. (Ord. 153, 4-23-1946)
3.07.060 Violation – Revocation of license.
A. Any person convicted of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction2.
B. It is further provided that in the event of a wilful violation of any of the terms of this chapter by a licensee or by an employee of a licensee, with the consent and/or approval of the licensee, the license of such party may be revoked by the City Council upon one day’s notice thereof being served upon the licensee or left at the licensee’s address of record. (Ord. 77-5, 2-22-1977; Ord. 153, 4-23-1946)
California Vehicle Code § 16500.
See NCC 1.04.010.