As used in this article the words and phrases herein defined shall have the following meaning unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)   Person: Shall include individuals, firms, partnerships, corporations, associations, and all other entities.

(b)   Taxicab: Shall mean and include any motor vehicle operated within the corporate limits of the city for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire, over the streets of the city, irrespective of whether the operations of such motor vehicle extend beyond the limits of the city and the term shall also include motor vehicles with or without a taximeter and hired or rented where rates are charged on the time basis or otherwise. The term shall not apply to motor buses operated within the city under a franchise from said city over a fixed or definite route, nor shall said term apply to motor buses regularly operated in the city to or from points outside of the incorporated limits of the city;

(c)   Street: Shall mean and include the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for purposes of vehicular traffic, whether such way or place is known as a street, alley, avenue, boulevard, drive or highway within the incorporated limits of the city;

(d)   Place of Business: Shall mean the terminus or headquarters where taxicabs are operated from and will be stationed and found when not engaged in the business of transporting passengers.

(Code 1971, Sec. 5-301; Code 2003)

No person shall drive or operate or cause to be driven or operated, any taxicab upon or over any street in the city without having first obtained a license from the governing body under the provisions of this article.

(Code 1971, Sec. 5-302)

There are hereby established the following license fees as set out in Chapter 17. The full amount of the license fees shall be required regardless of the time of the year in which the application is made. The taxicab shall only be authorized to operate under the license for the remainder of the calendar year in which the license is issued.

(Code 1971, Sec. 5-303; Code 2003; Code 2007)

Any person desiring a license to operate a taxicab or taxicabs within the city shall make an application to the city clerk and accompany the application with the required license fees. The application shall be signed by the person applying therefor, and upon a form setting for the following information:

(a)   The name and residence of the applicant and how long he or she has resided within the city;

(b)   The address of place of business;

(c)   The trade name under which the applicant does or proposes to do business;

(d)   The number of vehicles the applicant desires to operate and the type, make, seating capacity, design and color scheme of each proposed taxicab, and the lettering and markings to be used thereon;

(e)   The nature and character of the taxi service that the applicant proposes to render and facts showing the demand for such service.

No license shall be issued for the operation of taxicabs to any person under the age of 21 years.

(Code 1971, Sec. 5-304; Code 2003)

The city clerk shall make or cause to be made such investigations as the clerk may consider necessary as to the qualifications of the applicant to operate a satisfactory taxi service and whether the public convenience and necessity requires the operation of such taxicab or taxicabs, and may consider all other matters pertinent to the application. After review and recommendation by the city clerk, the city clerk shall cause the application to be placed on the agenda for governing body approval and in the event that the governing body determines that a license should be issued, the governing body shall direct the city clerk to issue such license at such time as the applicant provides to the city clerk proof of liability insurance hereinafter provided. Once issued, such license shall not be transferable.

       (Code 1971, Sec. 5-305; Code 2003)

Before any taxicab license shall be issued hereunder, any person or entity whose license application has been approved by the governing body shall procure a liability insurance policy or policies issued by an insurance company or association authorized to transact business in the state of Kansas, establishing liability coverage for each taxicab to be so licensed of not less than $25,000 for injury or death of any one person, and $50,000 for injury or death of any number of persons in any one accident, and with coverage at least $10,000 for property damage in any one accident, which liability insurance policy shall bind the obligors there under to pay compensation for injuries to persons or damage to property resulting from the operation of taxicabs. Such policy or policies of insurance shall include all other conditions and terms as may be required by all applicable laws.

The insurance policy or policies required by this section shall further provide that no insured may cancel such insurance until it provides at least ten (10) days advance written notice of such cancellation to the city clerk and such advance notice period thereafter expires.

A copy of the policy or policies procured by each insured hereunder shall be delivered to and maintained by the city clerk before any taxicab license issues to such insured.

Any taxicab license issued hereunder shall automatically terminate in the event any policy or policies of insurance required hereunder shall be cancelable or terminate, unless another policy or policies complying with this section shall be procured by the licensee and proof thereof be delivered to the city clerk.

No person or entity licensed by this chapter to operate taxicabs with the city shall permit any person to drive or operate a taxicab who is not the holder of a valid driver’s license issued by the state of Kansas and applicable for the operation of such vehicles.

(Ord. 643, Sec. 1; Code 2003)

All operators of taxicabs shall display at all times so as to be visible to any and all passengers, a photograph of such driver or operator which display shall also contain the driver’s name, age, address and social security number. The chief of police shall be and is hereby directed to make or cause to be made, inspection of all licensed taxicabs from time to time, and if, upon inspection of any taxicab, it shall be found unsatisfactory or unsafe for operation upon the streets of the city, notice in writing shall be given to the owner of such taxicab service of such fact and such person or service shall not operate said taxicab thereafter until the same has been put in a safe and fit condition and inspected by the police department.

(Ord. 643, Sec. 2)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in accordance with the general penalty provisions set out in section 1-121 of this code. Each violation thereof shall be and is hereby declared to be a distinct and separate offense and punishable as such.

(Code 1971, Sec. 5-308; Code 2003)