A. No taxicab shall ply its business or be operated upon the streets of the city without first obtaining a license to do so.
B. Such license shall be issued by the city council and only and after it finds that the public convenience and necessity require the operation thereof.
C. Such license, if issued, shall be for the calendar year and shall be effective for such period of time unless sooner revoked or suspended, as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 464 § 1, 1962).

A master license shall be procured by any firm, corporation, partnership, association or individual managing the operation of any taxicab, or taxicabs, within the city. The fee for such master license shall be as established by resolution of the city council; provided however, in case of licenses issued on or after July 1st of each year, only one-half of the abovementioned fees shall be paid. Such licenses shall not be transferable. (Ord. 1143 § 5, 2004: Ord. 464 § 2, 1962).

Applicants for such master license shall make application therefor through the city council. No master license shall be issued unless the applicant furnishes satisfactory evidence to the city council that the taxicab, or taxicabs, used by such applicant are in a safe and suitable condition for such use, or until such applicant shall furnish proof of compliance to the laws of the state currently enforced or hereinafter enacted relating to motor carrier’s bond or insurance in lieu of such bond. (Ord. 464 § 3, 1962).

A. In addition to the master license heretofore provided for, every person driving a taxicab within the city must be licensed as such.
B. Each applicant for a driver’s license shall:
1. Be and remain of good moral character;
2. Be the age of twenty-one years or over;
3. Be of sound physique, have good eyesight, and not subject to epilepsy, or vertigo, heart trouble, or any other infirmity of body or mind which might render him unfit for the safe operation of the taxicab;
4. Be able to speak, write and understand the English language;
5. Be not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics;
6. Fill out upon a form to be provided by the city clerk-treasurer, a statement giving his full name, residence, age, color, height, color of eyes and hair, place of birth, length of time he has been a resident of the city, whether a citizen of the United States, whether he has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, whether he had previously been licensed as a driver or chauffeur, and if so, when and where, whether his driver’s license has ever been revoked, or suspended, and for what cause, which statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and filed with the city clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 464 § 4, 1962).

Every applicant for a driver’s license under the provisions of this chapter, shall present to the city clerk-treasurer, satisfactory evidence of his fitness to operate a taxicab before a license shall be issued to him, and if, in the opinion of the city clerk-treasurer, he fails to do so, his application shall be referred to the city council for determination and action. (Ord. 464 § 5, 1962).

The license fee for a driver’s license shall be three dollars for the calendar year or any portion thereof. Such license shall not be transferable. (Ord. 464 § 6, 1962).

Upon satisfactory compliance with the foregoing requirements, there shall be issued to the applicant a license which shall be in such form as from time to time prescribed by the city council. Such license may be renewed from year to year by appropriate endorsement thereon by the city clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 464 § 7, 1962)

Every taxicab license under the provisions of this chapter, shall have the name of its owner or firm name plainly painted in letters at least two inches in height in conspicuous place on each side of the vehicle. (Ord. 464 § 8, 1962).

The police chief shall maintain constant vigilance over all taxicabs to see that they are kept in condition of continued fitness for public use and to this end he shall inspect all taxicabs on the complaint of any citizen, or from time to time as he may deem necessary or convenient. (Ord. 464 § 9, 1962).

Every person owning or engaging in the business of operating any taxicab shall keep a record of all trips made, which record shall be opened for inspection at all reasonable times by the city marshal or other duly authorized law enforcement officials. (Ord. 464 § 10, 1962).

Every driver of a taxicab shall have the right to demand payment of a proper fare in advance and may refuse employment unless it is prepaid, but no driver of a taxicab shall otherwise refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or persons upon request anywhere within the city unless previously engaged or unable to do so. No driver of a taxicab shall carry any other person than the passenger first employing the taxicab without the consent of such passenger. (Ord. 464 § 11, 1962).

It is unlawful for any person to cruise, drive or operate an unhired taxicab repeatedly or persistently to and fro upon any public street within the city. (Ord. 464 § 12, 1962).

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked or suspended by resolution of the city council for good cause shown or whenever it shall find that the licensee or owner of any taxicab has willfully violated any of the provisions of this chapter, or permitted the same to be violated. Before such license is suspended, or revoked, the council shall cause notice and the place of hearing thereon to be given to the licensee or taxicab owner at least five days prior to the date of such hearing. At such hearing, the licensee or taxicab owner shall have the right to appear, and if desired, to be represented by counsel. (Ord. 464 § 13, 1962).