Chapter 27

VEHICLES FOR HIRE*

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* Charter References: Franchises generally, § 15.5.

Cross References: Police, Ch. 19; license and business regulations, Ch. 15; rates, charges, and fees, Ch. 21; traffic, Ch. 24.

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Art. I. (Reserved), §§ 27-1--27-10

Art. II. Taxicabs, §§ 27-11--27-50

Div. 1. Generally, §§ 27-11--27-18

Div. 2. License, §§ 27-19--27-29

Div. 3. Drivers, §§ 27-30--27-43

Div. 4. Fares, §§ 27-44--27-50

ARTICLE I.

(RESERVED)

Secs. 27-1--27-10. Reserved.

ARTICLE II.

TAXICABS

DIVISION 1.

GENERALLY

Sec. 27-11. Definitions.

As used in this article:

City manager shall mean the city manager or his authorized representative.

Driver shall mean any person who may operate a taxicab for hire and engage in carrying passengers along the public highway and streets along the limits of the city.

Owner shall mean any person, firm, or corporation holding record title to a taxicab as indicated in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan.

Taxicab shall mean any motor vehicle that is held out to the public as being for hire for the purpose of conveying persons along the public highway and streets of the city.

Sec. 27-12. Taxicab stands.

The city council may, by resolution, provide for taxicab stands, their regulations and fees. It shall be unlawful for any owner or driver of any taxicab to use any parking space as a taxicab stand other than those provided for by council resolution.

Sec. 27-13. Physical condition of taxicabs.

All vehicles used for taxicabs or for the purpose of conveying passengers for hire, must be kept in a safe, clean, and sanitary condition, and must be properly equipped with brakes, lights, and warning signals in accordance with the motor vehicle laws of the State of Michigan and ordinances of the city. The city manager or his authorized representative shall make inspections at least annually of all taxicabs to ascertain that this section is being followed.

Secs. 27-14--27-18. Reserved.

DIVISION 2.

LICENSE*

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* Cross References: License and business regulations, Ch. 15.

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Sec. 27-19. Required.

It shall be unlawful for any driver or owner to operate a taxicab within the limits of the city without having secured from the city clerk, a license for each such taxicab.

Cross References: Taxicab license fee, § 21-47.

Sec. 27-20. Application.

Application for a taxicab license shall be made in writing, and shall contain a statement of the name and address of the applicant, the number of vehicles to be operated, the number of drivers to be employed, and such other information as may be required by the city manager.

Sec. 27-21. Same--Prerequisites to issuance.

Before the city shall issue any taxicab license under this article, each applicant shall exhibit proof that an insurance policy, as required by this article, has been filed with the city clerk, that the license fee has been paid to the city treasurer, that the police department has certified that such taxicab is fully equipped with regard to brakes, horns, lights and other requirements of the law, and that all other provisions of this article have been complied with.

Sec. 27-22. Insurance.

It shall be unlawful for any driver or owner of any taxicab to operate the same as a taxicab, unless there shall have been filed with the city clerk an insurance policy for each such taxicab prepaid for the period of its taxicab license. Such policy shall be issued by a responsible insurance company and providing indemnity for the insured of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) for injury to, or death of, one person, and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for injury to, or death of, more than one person, resulting from a single accident, and a further amount of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) on account of property damage to property owners, for any one accident and resulting from the negligent operation, maintenance, or use of any such taxicabs.

Each such insurance policy shall contain a clause obligating the insurer to give the city clerk, by registered mail, at least fifteen (15) days' written notice before the cancellation, expiration, lapse or other termination of such insurance. It shall be unlawful for any taxicab to operate as such after any insurance policy on such cab shall have expired or lapsed or been cancelled. A placard indicating the fact that such taxicab is insured for the amounts required herein shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each such taxicab.

Sec. 27-23. Applicants to meet all qualifications; moral character.

No taxicab license shall be issued by the city manager except to an applicant who is of good moral character and who is qualified as set forth in this article, to engage in the taxicab business.

The city manager may authorize any person to engage in a taxicab business upon proper application and payment of fees as provided in this article.

Sec. 27-24. Revocation.

Whenever any holder of any taxicab license, or any agents, servants or employees of any licensee shall cease to possess the character and qualities provided for as requisite to the issuance of such license, or whenever such holder, agents, servants or employees of such licensee shall violate this chapter or any other ordinances of the city or any state law, then the city manager is hereby empowered to revoke such license.

Secs. 27-25--27-29. Reserved.

DIVISION 3.

DRIVERS

Sec. 27-30. Driver register required.

Each person licensed under this chapter shall keep a register showing the name and address of every driver of a taxicab in his employ. A copy of such register shall be filed with the city manager with changes and additions that may occur from time to time.

Sec. 27-31. Certificate of fitness--Required.

No person licensed under this chapter, nor any person employed by any licensee under this chapter, shall operate any taxicab in the city, who has not first applied for and received from the city manager, a certificate of fitness to drive a public passenger vehicle.

Cross References: Taxicab driver's certificate of fitness fee, § 21-46.

Sec. 27-32. Same--Application.

Any person desiring to secure a certificate of fitness shall make application in writing to the city manager. Such application shall give the name and address of the applicant, the name of and the length of service with his present employer, information as to previous employment, and names of at least two (2) responsible citizens of the city as references. Such applicant shall also be fingerprinted, and shall furnish a legible photo of the size and appearance as shall be determined by the city manager.

Sec. 27-33. Same--Not to be issued to convicted felons.

No certificate of fitness shall be issued by the city manager to any person who has been convicted of a felony.

Sec. 27-34. Same--Issuance.

A certificate of fitness shall be issued by the city manager to any person of good moral character who shall satisfy the city manager that he has the necessary physical faculties and the ability to drive a motor vehicle on the streets of the city in a safe and efficient manner.

Sec. 27-35. Same--Revocation.

Any certificate of fitness may be revoked by the city manager for violation by the holder thereof of any ordinance of the city, or of any state law, or whenever the holder of such certificate shall cease to possess the character and qualifications provided for in this chapter, as requisite to the issuance of such certificate.

Sec. 27-36. Certificate to be carried.

Any person receiving a certificate of fitness as a driver shall carry such certificate while engaged in the operation of any taxicab, and shall exhibit such certificate whenever requested to do so by any passenger or any police officer.

Sec. 27-37. Conduct of driver.

It shall be unlawful for any driver or person in charge of a taxicab to conduct himself in other than a gentlemanly manner while so occupied.

Secs. 27-38--27-43. Reserved.

DIVISION 4.

FARES

Sec. 27-44. Establishing fares, charges; rate variance declared unlawful.

Within thirty (30) days following the effective date of this section, every person, firm or corporation holding a license issued pursuant to this chapter shall file with the city clerk a statement of the fares and charges in effect on the date of enactment of this section for the use of taxicabs for hire. Thereafter, fares and charges may be added, changed or deleted by the licensee by filing with the city clerk, a schedule of such new fares and charges at least ten (10) days before the effective date of any change in fares or charges. It shall be unlawful for any owner or driver to make any different charge than that filed by the licensee with the city clerk and in effect.

(Ord. No. 837, § 1, 7-15-74)

Sec. 27-45. Rates to be posted in cabs; receipts to be furnished.

It shall be the duty of the owner or operator to post a schedule of charges within each taxicab corresponding to the statement of fares and charges filed with the city clerk and in effect so that any passenger or passengers being conveyed may readily read such fares or charges. A driver shall furnish a receipt for fare upon payment of same at the request of any passenger.

(Ord. No. 837, § 2, 7-15-74)

Sec. 27-46. Advertisement of different rates declared unlawful.

It shall be unlawful for any owner or driver of any taxicab to advertise any schedule of rates to the public if such schedule differs from the rates determined by the council.

Sec. 27-47. Receipt to be furnished on demand.

It shall be the duty of all owners or drivers of any taxicabs to furnish a receipt for the amount of the fare upon demand by any passenger.

Sec. 27-48. Taxi meters--Generally.

Each taxicab shall be equipped with an accurate and dependable taxi meter designed or intended to measure the distance traveled, register the time the vehicle is in waiting, and to record the charge or fare therefor. Such taxi meter must be placed as to be readily visible to passengers and should be maintained in good operating condition at all times. The city manager may cause to be examined, inspected, and sealed all taxi meters periodically as he shall deem necessary.

Sec. 27-49. Same--Physical condition of meter.

It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any taxicab to use, or permit its use, until the taxi meter has been examined and sealed by the city manager, or to use such vehicle when the taxi meter has been condemned by the city manager.

Sec. 27-50. Reserved.

Editors Note: Ord. No. 837, § 3, enacted July 15, 1974, repealed § 27-50 pertaining to the establishment of a zone rate system and requiring that taxicabs be equipped with a readily visible zone map.