11.060 Taxicab Vehicle License and Taxicab Driver’s Licenses.

(1) Definitions.

Taxicab. A taxicab shall be defined to mean all vehicles carrying or soliciting passengers for hire, compensation or reward in the City of Manitowoc, with the following exceptions:

1. Vehicles operated on established routes, regulated by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and regulated by the State of Wisconsin;

2. Ambulances licensed under MMC 11.070; and

3. Vehicles operated by volunteer organizations whose drivers are not compensated.

(2) Taxicab Vehicle License.

(a) Taxicab Vehicle License Required. No taxicab shall be operated on the streets of the City of Manitowoc for which a license has not been issued under this section. This requirement shall not apply to taxicabs used exclusively for trips which do not originate and terminate in the City. Licenses shall be issued on a calendar year basis. Origination shall be defined by the place at which the passenger(s) enters the vehicle. Terminate shall be defined by the place at which the passenger exits the vehicle.

(b) License Plate. The City Clerk shall issue a plate to each taxicab licensed hereunder, which plate shall be nontransferable to any other vehicle. The license plate shall be attached in a conspicuous place on the rear of the licensed vehicle, except that upon approval of the Police Department the plate may be simply carried in the licensed vehicle if the State of Wisconsin has issued a registration plate for the vehicle which identifies it as a vehicle for hire.

(3) Taxicab Vehicle Licensing Procedure.

(a) Application. Application for a taxicab vehicle license shall be made by the owner thereof upon blank forms to be furnished by the City Clerk.

(b) License Fee. The annual nonrefundable taxicab license fee shall be $30.00 per vehicle, which shall be submitted with the application.

(c) Insurance. No taxicab vehicle license shall be issued unless and until the applicant shall have filed with the City Clerk a certificate of insurance in a form satisfactory to the City Attorney demonstrating that the owner is carrying liability insurance with limits of at least $300,000 per occurrence combined single limit bodily injury and property damage issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Wisconsin. The vehicle owner shall immediately notify the City Clerk should the insurance policy lapse for any reason. Failure to do so will result in automatic and immediate revocation of the license.

(d) Inspection. No vehicle shall be licensed hereunder until it has been thoroughly inspected by the Chief of Police or his designee.

(e) Issuance. Following completion of all vehicle licensing requirements, the City Clerk shall issue a taxicab vehicle license to the applicant. Any applicant whose taxicab vehicle license application is denied may appeal such denial to the Finance Committee.

(4) Taxicab Regulations.

(a) Fares Posted. Each taxicab shall have a card with the fares printed in plain legible figures thereon posted in a conspicuous place visible to any passenger.

(5) Taxicab Driver’s Licenses.

(a) Taxicab Driver’s License Required. No person shall be permitted to operate a taxicab for which a taxicab vehicle license is required hereunder without first obtaining a taxicab driver’s license under this section. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to employ as a driver of any taxicab any person other than a driver duly licensed under this section.

(b) License Fee. The fee for a taxicab driver’s license shall be $60.00. The nonrefundable license fee shall be submitted with the license application to the City Clerk’s office. Each license shall expire on December 31st of the second year after issuance.

(c) License Requirements. Applicants for a taxicab driver’s license shall be at least 18 years of age, holding a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, and not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to Wis. Stat. §§ 111.321, 111.322 and 111.325.

(d) Application. Application for a taxicab driver’s license shall be made by the applicant upon forms to be furnished by the City Clerk.

(e) Approval Process. After receipt of a license application form and payment of a nonrefundable fee, the Police Department shall review the form and make an initial determination within three working days as to whether the taxicab driver’s license shall be granted. If the Police Department’s initial determination is to grant the taxicab driver’s license, the City Clerk shall issue a license. If the Police Department’s initial determination is to deny the taxicab driver’s license, the applicant may appeal the decision within 30 days of receipt of notice of such denial, pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.

(f) Issuance of License. Upon approval by the Police Chief or his designee, the City Clerk shall issue to the applicant a picture taxicab driver’s license. If the Police Department does not recommend granting a license, the City Clerk shall forward the application to the Common Council. If Common Council denies the application, the Clerk shall send notice of denial to the applicant via U.S. mail. Each licensee shall prominently display this identification card on his or her person at all times while employed as a taxicab driver. The licensee shall not permit any other person to use their identification card. Duplicate licenses shall be issued upon presentation of a photo identification and payment of a $10.00 fee.

(6) Appeal of Denial.

(a) Appeal of Denial. Any applicant whose application for a taxicab driver’s license has been denied may appeal the denial within 30 days of receipt of the denial notice to the officer, employee, agent, committee, board, commission or body issuing the notice of denial, requesting review of the determination by submitting in writing the grounds upon which the applicant contends that the decision should be modified or reversed.

(b) Request for Review. A request for review shall be set for a hearing before the Finance Committee and the Committee shall serve the applicant with notice of such hearing at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

(c) Hearing Procedure. Wis. Stat. Ch. 68 is incorporated into this section by reference as amended and modified from time to time, and any denial hearing shall be conducted pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 68.11.

(7) License Revocation or Suspension. The procedure for suspension or revocation of any license issued under this section shall be in accordance with Wis. Stat. Ch. 68.

(8) Penalties. Any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00.

[Ord. 21-219 § 1, 2021; Ord. 19-1197 § 1, 2019; Ord. 17-115 §§ 1 – 4, 2017; Ord. 08-039 §§ 1, 3, 2008; Ord. 06-081 § 4, 2006. Prior code § 11.04]