Source: http://www.ecode360.com/27096256
Timestamp: 2017-09-25 09:58:43
Document Index: 525910409

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 18', '§ 6', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 1']

§ 18-8 Taxicab driver's licenses not transferable; fees not prorated.
§ 18-32 Penalties for offenses.
§ 18-33 Public emergency; police powers.
§ 18-34 Severability; when effective.
Chapter 18: Taxicabs
Loading and unloading of vehicles for hire — See Code of Ordinances Section 13-132 et seq.
Chapter 18 : Taxicabs
Section 18-1 Definitions.
Section 18-8 Taxicab driver's licenses not transferable; fees not prorated.
Section 18-32 Penalties for offenses.
Section 18-33 Public emergency; police powers.
Section 18-34 Severability; when effective.
[Ord. No. O-11-02, 1-18-2011]
The Chief of Police of the City of Poughkeepsie, or the officer designated by him to perform the duties and carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Chief of Police hereunder, unless otherwise specified.
The City of Poughkeepsie, New York, unless otherwise specified.
Either a customer or passenger paying or for whom a charge has been paid to hire a lawfully licensed taxicab for transportation services under this chapter or the charge so levied and lawfully incurred by such passenger, according to the sense thereof as used herein.
Any person owning or having control of the use of one or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets of the City or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab or a taxicab company in the City of Poughkeepsie.
A taxicab, except that such private livery cab shall possess within the vehicle for inspection upon request by any police officer a valid contract for hire executed by all parties and be registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles as a "livery" and shall bear a livery license plate. A private livery cab shall not:
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 1]
Have a dome light or external markings for taxicab prescribed by this chapter;
Be allowed to use taxicab stands prescribed in this chapter; and
Be used in the City for hire except upon a unit of time for hire by the hour, day or week, which unit may exceed that prescribed for taxicabs in this chapter.
A card on which is printed the tariff rates or fares charged for taxicab service in the City, as provided by this chapter.
Equipment attached to the roof of a vehicle, or extending above the roofline of a vehicle, and containing the word "taxi," "taxicab" or "cab."
Includes any street, alley, avenue, thoroughfare, court, bridge, lane or similar public place in the City.
A motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying persons for hire, whether the same is operated from a street stand or subject to calls from a garage or otherwise operated for hire, except vehicles subject to the provisions of the Transportation Law, private livery cabs, and vehicles used by funeral homes or undertakers in carrying on their business.
A license granted by the City to any otherwise-qualified person to drive any licensed taxicab for hire or under hire upon the streets of the City.
A mechanical instrument or device, approved by the Police Chief, by which the charge for hire of a taxicab is mechanically calculated and on which said charge is plainly indicated.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate, offer or keep for hire or charge within the limits of the City any taxicab or other motor vehicle providing transportation service for a charge or fee without first having obtained and paid for a taxi driver's license and a taxicab vehicle license and all other licenses and permits required by law, and causing the same to be and remain in force and effect at all times under the provisions of this chapter.
No person shall drive a taxicab and no person shall permit anyone to drive a taxicab within the limits of the City without such driver having first obtained and paid for, and having in force and effect at all times, both a valid New York State driver's license of the appropriate class and certification, including but not limited to a chauffeur's license, and a taxicab driver's license issued under the provisions of this chapter. Any taxicab company, taxicab owner or taxicab operator who allows any driver to operate a taxicab or livery without said licenses as required by this section shall be in violation of this section and subject to prosecution separate and aside from any driver who operates a taxicab in violation of this section. It shall be the duty of every taxicab company, taxicab owner or operator to ensure all drivers permitted to operate a taxicab possess the required licenses under this section.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 2]
Violations 1-3 = $100 per violation.
Violations 4-6 = $250 per violation.
Violations 7+ = $500 per violation.
He/she must first have obtained all required state licenses, including a state chauffeur's license, if applicable. The full residence address of the applicant must be entered on the Department of Motor Vehicles driver's license. P.O. box numbers are not acceptable.
The results of a drug screening test performed within 10 days of the date of the applicant's submission, from a laboratory certified to perform toxicology tests and certify the results thereof by the New York State Department of Health and which performs drug abuse testing, indicating the applicant does not use amphetamines, barbituates, benzodiazepines, benzoylecgonine, ethanol, fentanyl, methadone, opiates, phencyclidine, propoxyphene, THC-cannabinoids, and tricyclic antidepressants, unless prescribed by a licensed health care provider who attests, in writing, that such drug, when consumed by the applicant, in no way impairs the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle. The applicant shall be responsible for all costs associated with the test required for application and renewal, including but not limited to all costs associated with such testing, as may be required by the Chief of Police.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 3]
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license shall file with his application clear images, inked prints or other impressions of the fingers of his right and left hands, to the satisfaction of the Chief of Police. Such impressions shall be placed upon forms furnished by the City Police Department, the impressions to be taken under the supervision of the Chief of Police or someone designated by him, at such place or places as may be designated by such licensing official. Each applicant shall also file two unmounted, unretouched photographs of himself, size 2 1/4 inches by 2 1/4 inches, taken within 30 days preceding the filing of the application. The filing required by this section shall be accompanied by a yearly application fee of $10 and a triannual nonrefundable administrative fee of $200, which includes the cost of a triannual fingerprinting fee. The Police Department is hereby authorized to submit such fingerprints to any agency of the State of New York or subdivision thereof for the purpose of conducting a criminal history and background check for such applicant, which shall be used to evaluate and determine the qualifications and fitness of such applicant to be issued a license hereunder.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 4]
Applications, with photographs, fingerprint images and/or impressions and drug tests attached, shall forthwith be sent to the Chief of Police, and no license shall be issued under the provisions of this chapter until the approval of the issuance of such license(s) in writing from the Chief of Police has been received by the City Clerk. The Police Department shall conduct an investigation of each applicant for a taxicab driver's license, and the report of this investigation and a copy of the traffic and police record, if any, shall be attached to the application and filed with the City Clerk. The Chief of Police shall refuse to issue or renew a driver's license if the driver:
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013 § 4]
Any offense involving the sale of a narcotic, controlled substance or marijuana; or
Any penal law offense committed during the course of, or in the furtherance of, employment, management or ownership of a taxicab or a taxicab company; or
The Chief of Police shall notify the applicant in writing of any refusal to approve any application and the reason therefor. Any applicant whose application is not approved pursuant to this section shall have 60 days from the date of denial as indicated in the Chief of Police's notification to correct any deficiency. Upon the first reapplication within said sixty-day period, any fingerprinting fees associated with the application process are waived.
Issuance and form. Upon satisfactory fulfillment of the foregoing requirements and upon the payment of a nonrefundable driver's license fee of $15, the City Clerk shall issue to the applicant a license, which shall be in such form as to contain a photograph and signature of the licensee and blank spaces upon which a record may be made of any arrest of or such complaint(s) against him as may be required by the Chief of Police. Each license shall be stamped by the Seal of the City upon at least a portion of the photograph. All licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued and shall contain the driver's name and expiration date of the license.
Duration. Taxicab driver's licenses shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of issue and shall remain valid, unless otherwise revoked or suspended, for the next succeeding calendar year up to the anniversary of the date of issue.
Display. Each such license shall be placed in a transparent plaque or frame the size of 4 x 6 inches and shall at all times, when the driver is operating the cab for hire, be attached inside the taxicab on the rear of the right or passenger-side seat thereof in a position readily visible to the passengers of said taxi and to persons looking in or through the window of the rear passenger door on the right or passenger side thereof.
When applying for a renewal of a taxicab driver's license, every applicant shall make such application at least 30 days prior to its expiration upon a form to be furnished by the City Clerk, entitled "application for renewal of taxicab driver's license," which shall be filled out with the full name and address of the applicant, together with a statement of the date upon which the original license was granted and the number thereof and such other information as the Chief of Police and other City licensing official may deem necessary. Such application for renewal shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $10 and a background check fee of $125. The driver shall submit with such application the results of a drug screening test performed within 10 days of the date of the application's submission in accordance with the requirements of Section 18-4(a)(3) above.
Provided that the applicant for renewal submits an application more than 30 days prior to the date of his/her taxicab license is set to expire, he/she may apply to the City Clerk for a temporary license, which shall remain in full force and affect until a determination is made on his/her application for renewal. If such application for renewal is denied, the applicant shall surrender such temporary license immediately to the City Clerk.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate or permit to be operated a taxicab upon the streets of the City or to solicit or pick up taxicab passengers within the City without first having paid a nonrefundable fee as provided for herein for each such vehicle so licensed and without first having obtained for each such vehicle a taxicab vehicle license under the provisions of this chapter from the City Clerk. Such license shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of issue and shall expire on the anniversary of the date of issue of the next-succeeding calendar year, unless sooner suspended or revoked. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate or keep for hire or pay within the limits of the City any taxicabs not equipped as required by Section 18-15 or which have not been inspected as required by Section 18-15 or which do not display the inspection sticker as required by Section 18-15. The fee for each vehicle so licensed shall be $250, until further amended by the City Council.
For each vehicle licensed as a taxicab hereunder, the City Clerk shall issue two stickers of uniform design. Each sticker shall display a unique number as provided in this section and shall show the expiration date of said taxicab vehicle license. Such stickers shall be affixed to the bumper and side of the vehicle for which same shall have been issued, so as to be clearly visible. Each taxi company shall be assigned a unique number, and each vehicle operated by each such company shall be assigned a unique number with said company; thus each vehicle shall have a unique number in the form AB-CD, where AB is the number assigned to the company and CD is the number assigned to each vehicle operated by each such company.
There shall be a statement from the Building Inspector or a certificate of occupancy for the location in which the taxicab operator is located and vehicles are to be stored that said location(s) and premises are in compliance with the municipality's Building and Zoning Ordinance and that such location is of sufficient size to accommodate the operator's vehicle fleet.
One application for each taxicab vehicle license shall be made by the owner or other person with legal authority over same upon forms furnished by the City Clerk. Such application shall contain:
A copy of the New York State vehicle registration and the expiration date of the current New York State motor vehicle inspection and the sticker number. The full address of the registered owner must be on the Department of Motor Vehicles registration. P.O. box numbers are not acceptable.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 5]
Ten or more times in the 24 months prior to the date of application when the taxicab company owns or operates no more than six taxicabs;
Fifteen or more times in the 24 months prior to the date of application when the taxicab company owns or operates seven to 12 taxicabs;
Twenty or more times in the 24 months prior to the date of application when the taxicab company owns or operates 13 or more taxicabs.
For the first violation: $1,000.
For the second violation: $1,500.
For the three or more violations: $2,000.
Notice. Any suspension, cancellation or refusal to issue a license or to renew a license made hereunder shall be by written notice issued by the Police Chief, or his designee, to the applicant or licensee, with a copy to the Clerk of the Town of Poughkeepsie and a copy to the Chief of Police of the Town of Poughkeepsie. Said notice shall include a statement that the applicant or licensee is entitled to demand a hearing, provided that such demand is made in writing to the Police Chief, and such hearing shall be conducted within seven business days after the applicant or licensee's request for a hearing is received by the Chief of Police or his designee.
Demand for hearing. Any demand for a hearing must be made within 30 days after mailing of the notice of the suspension, revocation or refusal to issue a license.
No vehicle shall be licensed as a taxicab pursuant to this chapter until it has been inspected and examined and found to be in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers, clean, fit, of good appearance, well painted in accordance with this chapter, and in complete compliance with all requirements of the Code of the City of Poughkeepsie and with all other applicable laws, codes and regulations, including that each such vehicle shall bear "taxi" or "livery" license plates issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
The inspection of the taxi shall include but not be limited to a review of those conditions set for in § 18-16 below.
Upon passing inspection, the City of Poughkeepsie central garage or other inspection facility designated by the Police Chief shall notify the City Clerk, who shall provide a sticker to be placed on the rear of the taxicab, and shall notify the City Clerk in writing that such taxicab has passed inspection.
Taxicabs shall each be numbered, with a unique four-digit number. Companies will be assigned a two-digit number (for example, Company A = 20, Company B = 30, etc.). Each taxicab vehicle will be assigned a two-digit number within each company. Thus each vehicle shall have a unique four-digit number, the first two indicating the company and the second two indicating the vehicle within the company fleet. Numerical assignments are to be approved by the Chief of Police or his designee.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 6]
No vehicle shall be licensed as a taxi for the first time if it was manufactured 10 years or more prior to the date of registration or has more than 200,000 miles.
Under no circumstances shall any two-door vehicle be licensed as a taxicab. Vans may be licensed and approved for use as taxicab vehicles only if each such van provides a seat and a seat belt for each passenger and carries no more than 10 passengers at any given time.
Shades, window tinting of any degree or curtains are prohibited on any taxicab. Window tinting shall be permitted on cabs licensed at the time of the enactment of this chapter provided that the tinting was installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Each taxicab vehicle shall display upon the inside of both the right and left passenger doors a sticker stating the following in both the English and Spanish language in no smaller than 18 point type in capital letters:
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 8]
Must report in writing changes of address of the owner, operator or driver of a taxicab to the City Clerk within three days of said change.
Must maintain proper vehicle insurance for all owned or operated taxis in accordance with New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law or other laws, rules or regulations and report a revocation or cancellation of insurance immediately to the City Clerk. Proof that the vehicle is covered by a current liability insurance policy shall be attached to the application in the form of a certificate of insurance.
Shall not be permitted to carry more than five passengers, including children, in a four-door sedan vehicle and shall not be permitted to carry more than 10 passengers, including children, in a station wagon or van.
Taxicab vehicle and/or driver's licenses may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause after a hearing by the Chief of Police. Cause includes but is not limited to: violation of any sections of this chapter; conviction of a violation, misdemeanor or felony pursuant to the laws of the State of New York; transporting, soliciting or procuring any person to ride in a licensed taxicab for the purpose of commission of a crime. Licenses shall be revoked if the vehicle shall be used for immoral or illegal purposes. Licenses and permits may be suspended or revoked for failing to be and remain in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. When the license is suspended or revoked, the taxicab driver's and/or vehicle license card hereinbefore provided for shall be retained by the Chief of Police and shall be returned only after the expiration of the suspension period, with suitable entry being made thereon by the Chief of Police or his authorized designee as to the reason for and duration of the suspension. The Chief of Police, upon determination to revoke or suspend a license, shall notify the holder of his decision in writing by certified mail and state the reasons for his action.
No taxicab, while awaiting employment, shall stand or travel on any public street except stopped at a stand designated in accordance with this chapter. No person shall solicit passengers from any point other than immediately adjacent to his taxicab. Taxicabs shall not cruise or operate on the streets of the City of Poughkeepsie, without a fare under hire, for the purpose of soliciting business. No taxicab owner, operator or driver shall employ radios, telephones, or other methods or means of remote communicating in order or so as to preempt, intercept, precede or otherwise interfere with any other driver or operator of a taxicab which has lawfully been called, appointed or retained to serve a fare.
Except as provided in Subsection(b) of this section, the rate of fare for the transport of passengers and/or baggage to and from destinations within the City of Poughkeepsie shall be no more than $5 for the first four miles and $2 for each additional mile. A fee of no more than $2 may be charged for each additional passenger who originates and terminates at the same location.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 9]
Disputed fares. All complaints as to fares shall be submitted in writing to the City Clerk on a form provided by the City. The complaint shall provide a brief description of the nature of the facts, the date, time and place of the incident, the name of the taxicab company and operator if known, and the name, address and telephone number of the person making the complaint. The same will be forwarded to the Chief of Police or his designee for review and investigation. The taxicab owner or operator shall have an affirmative obligation to provide the relevant trip sheet to the Chief of Police or his designee in furtherance of his investigation. Failure to provide said trip sheet to the Chief of Police or his designee shall result in an automatic finding in favor of the complainant. Within 30 days from the date the complaint form is submitted to the City Clerk, the Chief of Police or his designee shall issue a written finding, which shall be provided to the complainant and taxicab company and/or operator.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 10]
[Added by Ord. No. O-13-02, 4-3-2013, § 10]
Every driver of a taxicab shall at all times comply with the ordinances of the City of Poughkeepsie, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations, prohibiting loud or unnecessary noise in disturbance of peace and quiet. At no time shall a taxicab driver sound the horn or otherwise make noise to notify another person of his presence or to notify, attract or solicit a customer or passenger. Taxicab drivers violating this section are subject to any and all penalties provided for violations of this chapter, including but not limited to suspension and/or revocation of said driver's taxicab driver's license and/or the taxicab vehicle permit or license issued to such vehicle. This shall be in addition to and not instead of subjecting such offender to other penalties prescribed by the City Code and any other law for violating such other laws or ordinances prohibiting loud or unnecessary noise and/or cruising.
No person owning, operating or driving a taxicab shall deceive or misinform any customer or passenger who may pay for taxicab service, or who may ride or desire to ride in any such vehicle, as to the shortest route to a destination or as to the lawful fare to be charged. No person owning operating or driving a taxicab shall deceive or misinform any customer or passenger as to the location or distance of the destination requested, nor shall any passenger be transported to any destination other than the one specified and/or by any route directed or requested by such person.
[Ord. No. O-11-02, 1-18-2011; Ord. No. O-12-05, 5-21-2012, § 1]
Whenever a state of emergency is declared by the City Council, City Administrator or other public official with such authority, or whenever the Chief of Police, or, if there be none, the highest ranking officer in command of the Police Department determines that protection of public safety so requires, the City Administrator and/or the Chief of Police may suspend the provisions of this chapter, in whole or in part, for part or all of the period during which such emergency conditions may prevail. Such power shall include but not be limited to the suspension of the requirement that fares be paid by passengers and/or other requirements of this chapter. Under such circumstances, all drivers and operators shall endeavor to keep and maintain accurate records showing the trips provided and the details of same during such period, similar to such records as would be required to be kept by this chapter if such period of emergency had not existed.
This chapter shall take effect 30 days from the date of its adoption by the Common Council, as provided under the terms of the Municipal Home Rule Law and other applicable laws.