Chapter 5.12
TAXICABS
Sections:
5.12.010 Supervision of police chief.
5.12.020 License – Required.
5.12.030 Compliance with state and city laws required.
5.12.040 License – Card issuance.
5.12.050 License – Fee.
5.12.060 Operator license – Required.
5.12.070 Operator license applicant – Data required.
5.12.080 Operator license applicant – Qualifications.
5.12.090 Operator license applicant – Character certificate required.
5.12.100 Operator license applicant – Investigation.
5.12.110 Operator license – Fee required.
5.12.120 Operator license – Revocation procedure.
5.12.130 General license provisions.
5.12.010 Supervision of police chief.
The licensing and inspection of taxicabs and for hire cars, the examination of the qualifications of applicants for licenses to drive taxicabs and for hire cars and the licensing of drivers as hereinafter provided, and the enforcing of this chapter shall be under the supervision and control of the chief of police. (Ord. 164 § 1, 1946).
5.12.020 License – Required.
No taxicabs shall ply or be operated upon the streets of the city without first obtaining a license so to do, such license, if issued, shall be for the calendar year and shall be effective for such period of time unless sooner suspended or revoked, as hereinafter provided. Application for licenses for taxicabs shall be made by the owner thereof upon blank forms to be furnished by the clerk-treasurer, and such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the type of vehicle and the passenger carrying capacity. Nor shall any owner of a taxicab allow the taxicab to be operated by any person other than the driver licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 164 § 2, 1946).
5.12.030 Compliance with state and city laws required.
No taxicab or for hire car shall be licensed unless the taxicab is in a safe condition for use as such, nor until satisfactory evidence is furnished that the provisions of applicable state laws and this chapter have been complied with. (Ord. 164 § 3, 1946).
5.12.040 License – Card issuance.
If upon inspection a taxicab is found to be of lawful construction and in proper condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter upon the payment of the license fee hereinafter set forth, the taxicab shall be licensed by delivering to the owner a card of such size and form as may be fixed by the clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 164 § 4, 1946).
5.12.050 License – Fee.
The occupational license fee shall be $25.00 per year plus $10.00 per year for each taxicab and for hire car licensed. All such licenses shall expire on December 31st of each year and shall not be transferable from owner to owner or from car to car. (Ord. 554 § 3(f)(1), 1981; Ord. 174 § 1, 1952; Ord. 164 § 5, 1946).
5.12.060 Operator license – Required.
Every person desiring to drive, operate or have charge of a taxicab or for hire car within the city, shall make written application to the clerk-treasurer for a license so to do. Such application shall be made upon blanks furnished by the clerk-treasurer and shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant before a notary public or some other officer duly authorized to administer oaths. (Ord. 164 § 6, 1946).
5.12.070 Operator license applicant – Data required.
Every applicant shall state his name, place of birth, place of residence, length of time he has resided in the city, married or single, last place of employment with name and address of employer, whether he has been previously licensed as such driver, and if so where; whether any such license has ever been suspended or revoked, and if so, for what cause; whether or not he has ever been convicted of a crime, and if so, the number of such convictions, the approximate dates thereof, the names of the courts in which he was charged, the crime with which he was charged, and the final disposition of the case and/or cases. (Ord. 164 § 7, 1946).
5.12.080 Operator license applicant – Qualifications.
Every applicant must possess the following qualifications: He must be at least 21 years of age, and duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle for hire under the laws of the state of Washington. He must show that he has a good knowledge of the laws of the state of Washington, and the city ordinances, relating to the driving and operation of motor vehicles. (Ord. 164 § 8, 1946).
5.12.090 Operator license applicant – Character certificate required.
Every applicant shall accompany his application with a certificate of two reputable citizens of Stanwood, certifying that the applicant is of good moral character and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs. (Ord. 164 § 9, 1946).
5.12.100 Operator license applicant – Investigation.
Every applicant for such driver’s license shall be referred by the clerk-treasurer to the chief of police, whose duty it shall be to investigate such applicant and if satisfied with his qualifications, recommend in writing within a reasonable time that a license be issued to him, or if not satisfied with such qualifications, so report to the council. The council shall determine whether or not the applicant is entitled to such license and if it determines that such applicant is entitled to such license it shall notify the clerk-treasurer, and he shall issue such license. The license when issued shall be displayed in a prominent place while driving, operating or in charge of a taxicab or for hire car covered by this chapter, such display to make license visible to occupants of the vehicle. (Ord. 164 § 10, 1946).
5.12.110 Operator license – Fee required.
Each applicant shall also accompany his application with a certified check or cashier’s check made payable to the clerk-treasurer, or cash in the sum of $10.00, which check or cash shall be returned to the applicant if no license shall be issued hereunder, otherwise retained by the clerk-treasurer as an annual license fee. All licenses issued to drivers hereunder shall expire on December 31st of each year, unless previously revoked. The power of revocation with or without cause being expressly reserved to the council as provided in SMC 5.12.120. (Ord. 554 § 3(f)(2), 1981; Ord. 174 § 2, 1952; Ord. 164 § 11, 1946).
5.12.120 Operator license – Revocation procedure.
If the chief of police finds that any person licensed hereunder has been convicted of a criminal violation of federal or state law, or any city ordinance, and that such conviction establishes that such licensee is no longer of good moral character and reputation or is not a careful and experienced driver, then the chief of police shall make a written report of the circumstances surrounding such matter to the council, and shall make recommendations to the council regarding the suspension or revocation of the license of such person. After considering the report and before revoking or suspending any such license, the council shall order a hearing and in such a case shall notify the licensee of the date of the hearing and of the contents of the report of the chief of police, which hearing shall be held on a certain day, but shall not be less than 10 days from and after the mailing of notice of such hearing to such licensee, and which said notice shall require the licensee to show cause on such date, if any he has, why such license shall not be suspended or revoked. If upon hearing before the council a majority of the council shall find that the license of the licensee should be suspended or revoked, it shall be so ordered. An appeal from such order, suspension or revocation, may be made to the superior court for Snohomish County, in the manner provided for under the general laws of the state of Washington. In case of the revocation of the license, the license shall be taken up by the chief of police and canceled by the clerk-treasurer, and in case of the suspension of a license, the license shall be surrendered to the clerk-treasurer, and shall be returned to the licensee at the termination of the period of suspension. (Ord. 164 § 12, 1946).
5.12.130 General license provisions.
Every license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall state in substance that such license is issued in consideration of the fee paid therefor and the right of the council to revoke or suspend such license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Upon the revocation of any license for cause, the unearned portion of the license fee shall be returned to the licensee. (Ord. 164 § 13, 1946).