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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 1236ORDINANCE NO. 1236 g 1r7 a AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, LICENSING AND RE- GULATING TAXICABS AND FOR HIRE CARS AND DRIVERS THEREOF IN THE CITY OF RENTON, PROVIDING FOR THE REVOCATION OF LICENSES ISSUED AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF, AND REPEALING ORDINANCE #1189. The City Council of the City of Renton do ordain as follows: Section 1: That the licensing and inspection of taxicabs and for hire cars, the examining of the qualifications of applicants for licenses to drive taxicabs -and for hire cars and the licensing of drivers as here- inafter provided, and the enforcing of this ordinance shall be under the supervision and control of the Chief of Police of the City of Renton. Section 2: That no taxicabs shall ply or be operated upon the , streets of tie City of Renton without first obtaining a license so to do, such license, if issued, shall be Por the calendar year and shall be effective for such period of time, unless sooner suspended or re- voked as hereinafter provided. Application for licenses for taxicabs shall be made by the owner thereof upon blank forms to be furnished by the City Clerk, and such application shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the serial number and type of vehicle, together with its passenger carrying capacity and the State registration for each taxicab for which such license is applied. Such application shall be referred by the City Clerk to the Chief of Police, who shall then make such investigation as he deems necessary, -'and after such investigation the Chief of Police shall refer said application to the City Council with his recommendation as to whether the license or licenses therein applied for shall be granted. Upon receipt of the application by the City Council with the Chief of Police's recommendation endors-e- thereon, the Council shall act upon such application and either grant or deny such license. At the time of the issuance -of said license the taxicab zone allocated to such license holder shall be designated in said license. -1- Section 3: That no owner of a taxicab shall allow the same. to be operated by any person other than a driver licensed as a taxicab driver pursuant the provisions of this ordinance. Section 4: That no taxicab or for hire cars shall be licensed un- less the same is in a safe condition for use as such, nor until satis- factory evidence is furnished that the provisions of applicable state laws and this ordinance have been complied with. Section 5: That if upon inspection a taxicab is Pound to be of lawful construction and in proper condition in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, upon the payment of the license fee here- inafter set forth, the same shall be licensed by delivering to the owner a card of such size and Pormeas may be fixed by the City Clerk. Section 6: That the license fee for the first taxicab owned and operated by any individual, partnership or corporation, shall be $150.00 per year, and for each additional taxicab license to the same owner it shall be $30.00 per year. In the case of licenses issued on or after July first of'. each year, one-half only of the above Pee shall be paid. All such licenses shall expire on the 31st day of December of each year and shall not be transferable from ,owner.to owner or car to ear..,_ Section 7: Every individual, partnership or corporation holding a license for the operation of a taxicab or for hire car within the City of Renton shall before beginning operation Pilo with the City Clerk his proposed schedule of rates and charges. It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator to charge any greater or lesser sum than is disclosed X by such filed schedule of rates, and it shall be unlawful to -make any /`discriminatory charges to any person or persons, or to make any rebate or in any manner reduce the charge to any person or persons unless such reduction is in conformity with such schedule or rates unless applied to -2- all passengers alike. Such schedules of rates and charges shall be dis- played in the taxicab in a conspicuous place readily discernable by the passenger. Section 8: There are hereby established the following taxicab zones in the City of Renton, and such zones shall be assignedrby the City Council at the time of the issuing of licenses as provided for hereunder: (a) fain Street, on the east side from a point 126 feet north of the north marginal line of Third Avenue to a point 156 .� feet north of said marginal line. (b) Main Street, on the west side, between Third Avenue and Walla Walla Avenue. (c) Wells Street on the West side from a point 20 feet north of the north marginal line of Third Avenue to a point 40 feet north of said north line. (d) Wells Street on east side from a point 20 feet south of the south marginal line of Third Avenue to a point 40 feet south of the marginal line. Provided, however, that there shall not be more than one taxicab parked in said taxicab zone in any one time. It shall be unlawful for any taxicab to park in any parking meter on Third Avenue except for the purpose of picking up passengers upon call, and the discharging of passengers. r Section 9: Every person desiring to drive, operate or have charge of a taxicab or for hire car within the City of Rent on, shall make written application to the City Clerk for a license so to do. Such application shall be made upon blanks furnished by the City Clerk and shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant before a notary public or some other officer duly authorized to administer oaths. Section 10: Every applicant shall state his name, age, 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, -3- 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. Section 11: Every applicant must possess the following qualifications: He must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle for hire under the laws of the State of Washington, and must submit with his application a certificate from the City Health Officer show- ing that he is free from any infirmities of body or mind which would reAder him unfit for the safe operation of an automobile for the purpose herein stated, and especially free from any taint of or tendency to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble or color blindness. That he has a good knowledge of the laws of the State of Washington and the ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington relating to the driving and operation of motor vehicles. Section 12: Every applicant shall accompany his application with a.certificate of two reputable citizens of Renton, certifying that the applicant is of good moral character and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs; and must further accompany his application with at least two (2) photographs to be taken by the Police Department of the City of Renton without charge to the applicant; such photographs to be of a size that may be easily attached to his license card. Each such applicant shall under the supervision of the Police Department of the City of Renton furnish good and sufficient finger and thumb prints without expense to the applicant. Section 13: Every applicant for such d.riverts license shall be referred by the City Clerk 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 his qualifications so report to the City Council. If a license is issued pursuant hereto the City Clerk shall file one of the photographs referred to in the preceding section in the office of the Chief of Police and attach the other to the license card. so that it cannot be removed therefrom and another substituted with- out detection. The City Council of said City shall determine whether or not said applicant is entitled to such license and if it determines that such applicant is entitled to such license it shall notify the City Clerk and. she shall issue such license. Said license when issued shall be displayed in a prominent place while driving, operating or in charge of a taxicab or forthire car covered by this ordinance, such display to make license visible to occupants of the vehicle. Section 14: Each applicant shall pay to the City Health Officer a fee of $2.50 for medical examination, which fee shall be retained by the examining officer as full compensation of the examination; provided, however, that if laboratory fees are incurred in necessary analysis in connection with the examination such fee shall not be borne by the applicant. Section 15: Each applicant shall also accompany his application with a certified check or cashierys check made payable to the City Treasurer, or cash in the sum of 5.00 which check or cash shall be returned to the applicant if no license shall be issued hereunder, otherwise paid. to the City 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 revokation with or without cause being expressly reserved to the City Council as hereinafter provided. Section 16: 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 ordinance of the City of Renton, and that such con- vipction establishes that such licensee is no longer of good, moral character and reputation, or is not 2 careful and experienced driver, then the Chief of Police shall make a written report of the circum- stances surrounding such matter to the City Council of the City of Renton and shall make recommendations to the City Council regarding the suspension or revocation of the license of such person. After considering the said report and before revoking or suspending any such license, the City Council shall order a hearing and in such case shall notify the licensee of the date of said. hearing and of the contents of the report of the Chief of Police, which said hearing shall be held on a. day certain but shall be not less than ten (10) days from and after -5- toe 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 City Council a majority of the.City Council shall find that the license of the said licensee should be.suspended or re- voked, it shall be'so ordered. An appeal from such order, suspension or revocation, may be made to the Superior Court for King County, in the manner provided for under the general laws of the State of Washington. In case of the revocation of license, the same shall be taken up by the Chief of Police and cancelled by the City Clerk, and in case of the suspension of a license the same shall be surrendered to the City Clerk and shall be returned to the licensee at the term- ination of the period of suspension. Section 17: It shall be unlawful for any person to cruise, drive or operate a taxicab or for hire car repeatedly or persistently to and fro upon any public street, and it shall also be unlawful for any one to be allowed in the front seat except the driver. Section 18: Any licensee hereunder making application for the - issuance of subsequent license shall not be required to accompany the same with the certificate of the City Health Officer unless required so to do by the Chief of Police and the Chief of Police is hereby ex- pressly authorized and empowered to order to requ ire any applicant or licensee to furnish such certificate or certificates relative to his physical or mental condition at any time he may deem advisable and the Chief of Police shall report the result of such examination to the City Council of Renton. Section 19: That every license issued under the provisions of this ordinance shall state in substance that such license is issued in con- sideration of the fees paid therefore and the right of the City Council to revoke or suspend such license pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance. Upon the revocation of any license for cause the unearned portion of the license fee shall be returned to the licensee. Section 20: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance and every person con- -5- i toe 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 City Council a majority of the.City Council shall find that the license of the said licensee should be.suspended or re- voked, it shall be'so ordered. An appeal from such order, suspension or revocation, may be made to the Superior Court for King County, in the manner provided for under the general laws of the State of Washington. In case of the revocation of license, the same shall be taken up by the Chief of Police and cancelled by the City Clerk, and in case of the suspension of a license the same shall be surrendered to the City Clerk and shall be returned to the licensee at the term- ination of the period of suspension. Section 17: It shall be unlawful for any person to cruise, drive or operate a taxicab or for hire car repeatedly or persistently to and fro upon any public street, and it shall also be unlawful for any one to be allowed in the front seat except the driver. Section 18: Any licensee hereunder making application for the - issuance of subsequent license shall not be required to accompany the same with the certificate of the City Health Officer unless required so to do by the Chief of Police and the Chief of Police is hereby ex- pressly authorized and empowered to order to requ ire any applicant or licensee to furnish such certificate or certificates relative to his physical or mental condition at any time he may deem advisable and the Chief of Police shall report the result of such examination to the City Council of Renton. Section 19: That every license issued under the provisions of this ordinance shall state in substance that such license is issued in con- sideration of the fees paid therefore and the right of the City Council to revoke or suspend such license pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance. Upon the revocation of any license for cause the unearned portion of the license fee shall be returned to the licensee. Section 20: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance and every person con- -5- victed of a misdemeanor for the violation (f any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the City Jail for a period not exceeding ninety days or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the license of such person may be suspended or revoked. Section 21: That if any section or provision or part thereof in this ordinance shall be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ordinance, as a whole or any section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged in- valid or unconstltUtIbnal. Section 22: That Ordinanbe No. 1189,.be and the same.hereby is repealed. Section 23: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect on and after January 1, 1946 after its passage, approval and legal publication as provided by law. Approved by the City Council of the City of Renton, this 18th day of December, 1945. Passed this 18th day of December, 1945 Ap roved 2s to form: City Attorney - 7- ��r MI&yo r 'fir tClerk U