CHAPTER 11. BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONSCHAPTER 11. BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS\Article III. Taxicabs

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Taxicab- means any motor-driven passenger vehicle used for the purpose of transporting passengers for hire.

(Code 1982; see also 1-101, 1-102)

A.    Each person, firm or corporation desiring to operate any taxicab upon the streets of the City shall first make written application in the Office of the City Clerk, upon forms furnished for that purpose, setting forth the name, model, motor number, serial number, state license number and passenger capacity of each vehicle for which license is sought, designating the proposed operator

B.    Taxicab licenses shall be renewed annually on or before January 15th of each year by meeting all the requirements set forth in subsection (A) for a license application.  No person shall operate any taxicab in the City unless a valid, current City license has been issued for such operation.

C.    All such applications must be accompanied by an application fee of ($25.00), proof of safety inspection approval for each vehicle for which license is sought, and proof of required insurance coverage for each vehicle for which license is sought.

(K.S.A. 66-1302 et seq.; K.S.A. 8-235(b); Code 1982; see also Ch. 13; Code 2015)

Each person who shall make application for a license under this article shall be responsible for the drivers placed in charge of the taxicabs operated by him, and the application shall contain, as a part thereof, a statement on the part of the applicant acknowledging such responsibility.

(Code 1982)

No person shall be allowed to drive or operate a taxicab within the City unless such person shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older and the holder of a valid Class C driver’s license as defined by Kansas Statutes Annotated and the Division of Vehicles of the State Department of Revenue.

(Code 1982; K.S.A. 8-2346)

Any person or firm intending to operate a motor vehicle as a taxicab must first provide the City Clerk with a copy of the official certificate of approval of such vehicle from an official motor vehicle inspection station licensed by the State of Kansas pursuant to law.  All taxicabs operating within the City of Ottawa must be approved by an official inspection station annually and proof of such approval must be supplied to the City Clerk and must be conspicuously displayed in such taxicabs at all times.

(Code 1982)

It shall be unlawful to operate a taxicab or permit the same to be operated in the City and no license for the operation thereof shall be granted until the applicant for a license shall provide the City Clerk a policy of liability insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Kansas and issued to and covering such applicant and each and every taxicab described in the application.  Such policy shall provide liability coverage of not less than ($300,000) for injury to or death of one person and not less than ($300,000) for injury to or death in any one accident and not less than ($50,000) for damage to property in any one accident.  The insurance coverage shall be effective whether the taxicab is driven by the owner, his or her agent, employee, lessee or licensee.  The policy of insurance shall further provide that it cannot be canceled until twenty (20) days’ written notice of such cancellation has been filed with the City Clerk of this City.  The cancellation or other termination of any insurance policy issued for or in compliance with the provisions hereof shall be in full force and effect at the time of such cancellation, or becomes effective.  Failure to maintain insurance coverage as provided in this article shall be cause for immediate revocation of licenses issued pursuant to this article.  Persons in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 11-310.

(Code 2015)

No license shall be transferable from one owner to another, and no refund will be made of any license fee, or part thereof, paid to the City under the provisions of this article; provided, that if the owner of any motor-driven passenger vehicle, licensed as in this article provided for, shall permanently discontinue the use of such vehicle as a taxicab in the City, and shall replace the vehicle with another motor-driven passenger vehicle, immediate application shall be made by the owner to the City Clerk for the transfer of such license to the motor-driven passenger vehicle being placed in the taxi service within the City, and such transfer for the unexpired portion of the term shall be made without additional cost or expense to the licensee.

(Code 1982)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to motor vehicles operating upon a fixed schedule between fixed points within the City, nor between points without the City and points within the City, nor between points without the City whose route lies in or through the City.

(Code 1982)

If complaint is made to the Board of Commissioners that any licensee to whom a license has been issued under this article, or any taxicab driver employed by such license, is, or has been, violating any of the provisions of this article, or any ordinance of the City, or the statutes of the State, then the Board of Commissioners may hold a hearing, of which the licensee shall have notice, and if upon such hearing, the Board of Commissioners is satisfied that such complaint is true, the license may be revoked.  Once revoked, no license shall thereafter be issued to such former licensee.

(Code 1982)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.  For each day that any person shall violate any of the provisions of this article, such violation shall be deemed a separate offense.

(Code 1982)