HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 10-MZX17 V11.L 114111VV.1U
All ORDINANCE REGULATING THE OPERATION AND USE OF TAXICABS Oil THE
PUBLIC STREETS OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, PROVIDING FOR LICENSING
OF CHAUFFEURS, PROVIDING FOR BONDING OF TAXICABS, REPEALING CER-
TAIN ORDINANCES, AND PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY•
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COT81ISSION OF THE CITY OF BEAU1,IONT:
SECTION 1.
Definitions.
(a) The term '"City" or "said City", as used in this orao
dinance, shall mean the City of Beaumont, Texas.
(b) The term "street" or "streets", as used in this or-
dinance, shall mean and include any street, alley, avenue, boule.
vard, drive or highway commonly used for the purpose of public
travel within the incorporated limits of the City of Beaumont.
(c) The term "taxicab", as used in this ordinance, shall
mean every automobile or.motor-propelled vehicle used for the trans-
portation of passengers for hire over the public streets of the City
of Beaumont and not over a defined or fixed route, and irrespective
of whether or not the operations extend beyond the city limits of
said city, at rates for distance travel, or for exact time, or at a
specified price, or for both, or at rates. per hour, per week, or per
month, and such vehicle is routed under the directions of such pase-
senger or passengers or such person or persons hiring the same.
(d) The term "person", shall include both singular and
plural, end shall mean and embrace any individual, firm, corporation,
association, partnership or society.
(e) The term "cruise" or "cruising" as used in this or-
dinance, shall mean the movement of unoccupied taxicabs over the
public streets of the City of Beaumont in search of or soliciting
prospective passengers for hire; except, however, unoccupied taxi-
cabs proceeding to answer a telephone call for taxicab service from
an intended passenger, or taxicabs returning by the most direct
route after having discharged a passenger or passengers, to the gar-
age where such taxicab is housed or to the unoccupied stand nearest
to the place of discharge of the passenger or passengers, shall not
be considered to be cruising.
SECTION 2.
Taxicab .License.
(a) It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person to
operate a taxicab within the corporate limits of the City of Beau-
mont unless and until a license therefor has been issued by said
City, and no license certificate therefor shall be issued by the
City until the onner or person in charge or control of such taxi-
cab shall make application in writing to the City Commission of
the City of Beaumont for such license, stating in such application
the name of the owner or person by whom such license is desired,
street address, type of motor vehicle to be used as a taxicab, the
horse power thereof, factory number, seating capacity, according
to its trade rating, the owner of said vehicle and the length of
time for which said license is desired. Such application shall be
sworn to by the applicant#
(b) That if the applicant for a license be a c'orpora4 r
tior�,. a.s'sociation or partnership-, such application shall be made
by some: duly authorized officer of the corporation, association,
N 9 _ _
and whether such company is a domestic or foreign corporation. If
the applicant be a person operating under a trade name or a partner-
ship, then such application shat state said trade name wider which
the business is to be operated, together with its owners and their
addresses, or the partnership name, together with the names of the
partners and their addresses, A. separate application shall be made
for a license for each taxicab that such corporation' association or
partnership may desire to licensed
(c) That when such application is filed with the City Com-
mission, the applicant may be given a hearing as to whether .or not
the license shall be granted, but no taxicab shall be licensed un-
less the City Commission shall first declare by resolution that pub-
lic convenience and necessity require the`operation of the proposed
taxicab for which the application is made.
(d) In determining whether public convenience and neces-
sity require the licensing of such taxicabs for which application may
be made, the City Commission shall take into consideration whether
or not the demands of public convenience and necessity require such
proposed or such additional taxicab service within the City of Beau-
mont; the financial responsibility of the applicant; the number,
kind, type of equipments, and the color scheme to be used by the ap«
plicant; the increased traffic congestion on the streets of the City
which may result, end whether the safe use of the streets by the pub-
lic, both vehicular and pedestrian, will be preserved by the granting
of such additional license, and such other relevant facts as the City
Commission may deem advisable or necessary.
(e) If the City Commission finds upon investigation and/or
hearing that the public convenience and necessity will not be sub -
served by the operation of the taxicab for Which the license is de.
sired, such application will be denied and the City Clerk of the City
of Beaumont shall give notice immediately to such applicant of the
official action of the City Commission on said application*
(f) If the City Commission finds upon investigation and/or
hearing that the public convenience and necessity will be subserved
by the operation of the taxicab for which the license is desired,
such application shall be granted by resolution as provided in Sec-
tion 2, paragraph (c) hereof, a certified copy of which shall forth"q
with be delivered to the Tax Assessor and Collector of the City of
Beaumont by the City Clerk, together with a copy of the application
for such license.
(g) If the Chief of Police has issued his certificate to
the City Assessor and Collector of Taxes as provided for in paragraph
(c) of Section 4 of this ordinance, and b efore any license or renewal
of license to operate a taxicab shall be issued, the Assessor and Col-
lector of Taxes shall examine the tax records and ascertain whether
or not the ad valorem taxes assessed by the City of Beatiunont against
the vehicle or vehicles and other equipment to be used in the busi-
ness of .the applicant, have been fully paid. If said ad valorem
taxes have not been paid, the Assessor and Collector of Taxes shall
refuse to issue to the applicant such license or renewal thereof
until all of said ad valorem taxes have been paid. If said ad
valorem taxes have been paid, said Assessor and Collector of Taxes
shall issue to said applicant for license, a license or renewal
thereof for each and every vehicle as shown by the resolution of
the City Commission .hereinabove referred tog and the certificate
of the Chief of Police covering said vehicle or vehicles upon pay-
ment
ayment by said applicant of the license and inspection fees hereinw,
after provided for. In no event shall a license certificate or
metal tag be issued without the approval of the City Commission by
resolution duly passed as hereinabove described, and if any license
is issued without such action of the City Commission, said license
shall be void and of no effect..
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make of said vehicle, the engine number . of said -vehicle, and the
motor license number of said vehicle, and shall state the amount of
license tax paid for the operation of said vehicle, and shall further
state that the owner or operator of said vehicle has deposited with
the City of Beaumont an insurance policy, surety bond or securities
for the protection of the passengers thereof, and of the general pub-
lic as provided for in this ordinance, and said license shall be
signed by the Assessor and Collector of Taxes and countersigned by
the Mayor of the City of Beaumont.
(i) Said :Assessor and Collector of Taxes shall also issue
to said applicant a metal tag upon which shall be stamped the word
11taxicab11 and shall also have stamped upon it the words "City of
Beaumont, Texas", and the number of said license and the year for
which same is issued.
,U) It shall be the . duty of every owner of every taxicab
N erated within the City of Beaumont, to render for ad valorem taxes
the City of Beaumont all vehicles or other equipment used in such
ah
and a failure to render for and to pay such ad valorem
taxy to the City of Beaumont before they become delinquent, shall
opera,e as a revocation of any license or permit authorizing the
operat,-on over the public streets, alleys and ways in the City of
Beaumont, of any such taxicab*
(k) No permit or license or renewal thereof, authorizing
the operation of taxicabs on the streets, alleys and ways of the
City of Beaumont, shall ever b e issued if any delinquent taxes are
due the City of Beaumont. upon any taxicab on which said permit or
license or rorx®wai thereon is 'sought, or if the owner thereof has
failed to render same for ad valorem taxation*.
(1) That if at any time any taxicab has been regularly
licensed under the provisions of this ordinance, is to be withdrawn
or replaced by another and different motor vehicle, the same may be
done after making application to the City Commission subject to such
rules and regulations as it may impose, and said City Commission' if
it deems it wise and expedient, shall approve the withdrawal and sub—
stitution of a neva machine and shall do so provided that the City
Clerk and other officers have a complete record of such substitution
and in order that a complete record may be secured regarding such
substitutions, the City Commission is hereby authorized to -impose
rules and regulations not inconsistent with this ordinance*.
SECTIOiv 3.
Taxicab License Feee
(a) In order to defray part of the expense necessary to
provide surveillance fees and inspection of taxicabs required under
the terms and provisions of this ordinance and other ordinances of
the City of Beaumont regulatory thereof there is hereby levied a
license and inspection fee of Fifteen (4115.00) Dollars per annum
for each taxicab so operated, which fee shall be collected from
every person, firm or corporation operating taxicabs on the streets
of the City of Beaumont by the Assessor and Collector of Taxes of
said City before said license or renewal thereof is issued to said
person, firm or corporation to so operate said taxi cabs® The first
fee to be paid under this ordinance shall be payable on an annual
basis and shall be due and payable for any year not later than the
tenth day of January of any year, such fee to cover the calendar
year. If a license to operate any taxicab is granted during a cur..
rent year, the fee shall be paid pro rata for the balance of the
calendar year*
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by another vehicle, as provided for in Section 2, paragraph (1),
the operator thereof, upon the payment of an additional Three (4p3.00)
Dollars transfer fee shall have the right to replace said taxicab
with another, and upon written application to the City Commission
the license fee theretofore paid on said taxicab so sold, wrecked
or destroyed, or upon the taxicab desired to be withdrawn or re-
placed, shall be applicable to the vehicle designated to replace
such taxicab so sold, wrecked, destroyed or replaced, and the li-
censee shall surrender the license certificate and the metal tag
of the vehicle so sold, wrecked, destroyed or replaced before re-
ceiving a new license certificate and metal tag, There shall not
in any event be any refund of license fees paid under this ordinance.
All fees hereinabove set out shall be paid to the Assessor and Col-
lector of Taxes of the City of Beaumont, who shall issue a receipt
therefor on a form to be prepared by him for that purpose,
SECTION 4,
INSPECTION OF TAXICABS
(a) It shall hereafter be the duty of the Chief of Police
to inspect every licensed taxicab licensed under the provisions of
this ordinance, at least once a month, for the purpose of determin-
ing whether said vehicle is in a safe condition to 'be operated as: a
taxicab, and upon notifying the ovn er or operator of such taxicab or
automobile for hire, said owner. of such vehicle shall submit said
vehicle to the Chief of Police or to a person designated by the Chief
of Police to inspect said vehicle at the time and place specified by
the Chief of Police. If said officer, or person appointed by him'
finds it to be in a safe condition, he shall paste a paper seal -of a
type and design adopted by said Chief of Police on some portion of
said vehicle, stating�the date said vehicle was inspected, and that
said vehicle was approved by said officer. No taxicab shall be
operated in the City of Beaumont without the approval seal of the
Chief of Police or his inspector, being attached thereto. If said
Chief of Police, or inspector appointed by him, finds that said taxi-
cab is in a defective condition and it is unsafe to be used as a taxi-
cab, he shall order said vehicle not to be used until said defect
is remedied. After the owner of said vehicle has remedied said de-
fect, he shall again offer same for inspection and if the said Chief
of Police, or his inspector, shall find said vehicle to be safe for
public use, he shall approve same as hereinbefore provided. If said
vehicle is still in a defective condition, he shall order same to be
not used until same passes the inspection of said officer or his in-
spector. No taxicab found to be unsafe by the Chief of Police or
his inspector shall be operated over the streets of the City of Beau-
mont. Nothing herein, however, shall prevent the said Chief of
Police from inspecting any taxicab at any time that he sees fit, and
upon finding it to be in a defective condition, shall order its use
as a taxicab discontinued until same is approved.
(b) Should the Chief of Police or the inspector appointed
by him, find any taxicab to be in a defective condition and order
its use as a taxicab discontinued, the owner of such taxicab shall
have the right to appeal to the City Commission of the City of Beau-
mont within ten (10) days from the date of said finding and order'
and said appeal shall be perfected by letter addressed to the Mayor
and City Commission of the City of Beaumont, stating that an appeal
from the ruling and order of the Chief of Police, or inspector ap-
pointed by him, is desired. If any appealfrom such a decision of
the Chief of Police is perfected as herein provided, the said de-
cision of said officer shall not be suspended until passed upon by
the City Commission. Upon receiving said appeal the City Commis-
sion,, as soon as practicable thereafter shall hear such appeal and
shall either sustain, modify or reverse the decision of the Chief
of Police or -the inspector appointed by him; and shall forthwith,
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cab for observance. If no appeal -r -is talten Brom sa2_cL aecas:Lon o.L
the Chief of Police or inspector -appointed by him at the time, as
provided herein$ the said decision of the Chief of Police shall be
final®.
(c) Whenever the City Commission by resolution passed$ as
outlined in Section 29 paragraphs (c) and (f), has granted permission
to any applicant for a taxicab license to place in service a new
taxicab or to substitute a taxicab for one already in service, such.
taxicab to be placed in service shall immediately be presented to
the Chief of Police, or an inspector appointed by him$ for inspec-
tion of the same, After said inspection if the Chief of Police or
the officer appointed by him, shall find said vehicle to be in a
safe condition for use as a taxicab, he shall immediately issue his,-
certificate
is`certificate to that effect to the Assessor and Collector of Taxes of
the City of Beaumont.
(d) Should the Chief of Police or the inspector appointed
by him, find any taxicab to be in a defective condition upon inspec-
tion as outlined in the above and foregoing paragraph (c) of this
section, he shall refuse to issue his certificate as provided in
said paragraph (c) and shall order said vehicle not to be used until
said defect .is remedied. After the owner of said taxicab shall rem«
edy said defect, he shall again offer same for inspection and if the
said Chief of Police or his inspector, shall find said vehicle to be
safe for public use, he shall then issue his certificate to the As-
sessor and Collector of Taxes, as hereinabove provided. If said
vehicle is still in a defective condition, he shall order same to be
not used until same passes the inspection of said officer or his in-
spector. In the event the Chief of Police refuses to issue his cer-
tificate., as hereinabove provided on any taxicab presented to him
for inspection$ the owner thereof shall have the right of appeal to
the City Commission of the City of Beaumont under the same terms and
procedure as set out in Section 4, paragraph (b) of this ordinance®
SECTION 5.
Public LiabilitZ surance or Bond
or Deposit Securities..
(a) Before any license shall b e issued to any owner or
operator of a, taxicab hereinbefore defined, or before any renewal
of said licenses shall be granted, the owner or operator shall be
required to file with the City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, and
thereafter keep in full force and effect, a policy of public liw
ability insurance executed by an ,insurance company duly authorized
to do business in the State of Texas, and performable in Jefferson
County, Texas, insuring the public against any loss or damage that
may result to any person or property from the operation of such
vehicle or vehicles provided the maximum amount of recovery in such
policy of insurance specified shall not be less than the following
sums.:
For the injury to any one person or the death of
any one person in any one accident, $2$500.009
For the injury to two or more persons or the
death of two or more persons in any one accidents
#59000.00
For the injury or destruction of property in any
one accident, $1$000.00.
(b) Provided, however, that such owner or operator of
said taxicab, may in lieu of the aforesaid policy of liability
insurance, file with the said City Clerk of the City of Beaumont
a surety bonds performable in Jefferson Countys Texas$ payable to
the Mayor of the City of Beaumont and his successors in office,
wnlcn may be rendered against any person, firm or corporation for
damages on account of death or injuries to property or person, in-
cluding both passengers and the public occasioned by the operation
of any such taxicab as hereinabove defined, and which bond shall be
in an amount graduated according to the following scale:
Where such person, firm or corporation owns or
offers for hire only one such motor vehicle, such
bond shall be in the sum of $6,000.00.
Where such person, firm or corporation owns or
offers for hire more than, one, but less than six
such motor vehicles, such bond shall be in the
sum of $12,500.00.
Where such person, firm or corporation owns or
offers for hire more than five, but less than
twenty-one such motor vehicles, said bond shall
be in the sum of $25,000.00.
Where such person, firm or corporation owns or
offers for hire more than twenty, but less than
sixty-one such motor vehicles., said bond shall
be in the sum of $37,500,00
Said bond of indemnity shall provide that the maximum
amount of recovery on each vehicle named in said bond shall not
be less than the following sums, i.e.:
For the injury to any one person or the death of
any one person in any one accident, .$2,500.00.
For the injury to two or more persons or the
death of two or more persons in any one accident,
Tj;55000.00.
For the injury or destruction of property in any
one accident, $1,000.00.
(c) Provided, however, that such person, firm or corm
$oration may, in lieu of the aforesaid policy of liability incur.
ante or the aforesaid bond as provided for by this ordinance, file
with the City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, United States Govern-
ment Bonds or United States Treasury Certificates, or bonds issued
by the City of Beaumont, in the same principal amount as the surety
bond provided for by this ordinance, and upon receipt of such
security it shall be the duty of the City Clerk to issue a receipt
therefor, a copy of which shall be furnished to the depositor and
another to the City Commission of the City of Beaumont.
(d) The above described public liability insurance,
surety bonds and securities shall be for the protection of the
passengers of said vehicles and for the public, but shall not
cover personal injuries sustained by the servants, agents or em-
ployees of the persons, firms or corporations so filing the same.
The above described public liability insura-ice or surety
bonds shall provide that suit may be brought thereon directly, and
no person, firm or corporation having claim arising under such in-
surance policies or indemnity bonds shall ever be required to pro-
ceed against the owner of a taxicab, but in the first instance may
sue such public liability insurance company or surety bonding com-
pany by joining the owner of such taxicab.
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(f) In the event of the return unsatisfied of any execu-
tion issued on any final judgment , or on any judgment from which an
appeal may be taken without bond, rendered against any such person,
firm or corporation in any suit for damages on account of injury to
person or property occasioned by the operation of any such motor
vehicle, such person, firm or corporation, within ten days after the
return of such execution unsatisfied, provided said judgment is still
unpaid., shall increase the amount of bond by the amount of such judg-
ment, and failing so to do shall forthwith cease the operation of
motor vehicles in the City of Beaumont until such additional bond is
deposited or such judgment - is paid.
(g) In the event that the City Commission of the City of
Beaumont shall determine, after a hearing duly had after three days'
notice given a licensee, that any assurance given by any licensee
has become impaired so as to afford less protection to the public
than when originally filed, it may require a new or additional bond
or public liability policy or additional securities so as to bring
the protection of said assurance to its original amount, and the
licensee or the person owning or operating any such motor vehicle
shall within five (5) days after receiving written notice of such
requirement provide the required new or additional bond, public li-
ability policy or additional securities; failing which.. the license
of said licensee shall automatically terminate. In the event that
any surety or insurer may desire to be released from any insurance
policy or surety bond, he may give written notice of such desire to
the City Commission at least ten (10) days before he desires his
liability released, and the City Commission of the City of Beaumont
shall thereupon give mitten notice by personal delivery or by mail
to any such licensee, and demand that said licensee furnish new as-
surance by the expiration of the ten-day period above provided for,
and shall discharge such first surety or insurer from any liability
which shall accrue after the time of approval of such new bond or
policy that said licensee may file or shall discharge such first
surety or insurer after the expiration of said ten-day period; and
provided further, in thew�ent any bond or policy be so cancelled
upon the request of the surety or insurer and no new bond or insur-
ance policy is filed by said licensee before the cancellation of
said original assurance, then the license to operate taxicabs granted
to said licensee shall be automatically revolved; and providing
further neither said City nor any officer thereof shall b e held
liable for the pecuniary responsibility_ of solvency of any such
surety or insurer, or in any manner become liable for any sum on
account of any such claim or act or omission relating to any such
motor vehicle, nor -shall the liability of any person owning or
operating any such motor vehicle be in any manner limited or changed
in connection with this ordinance or such license or assurance,
but the judgment creditors having causes of action secured thereby
shall be authorized to sue directly on such bond or policy of in.
surance without impleading the City of Beaumont; and all persons
known_ to any surety or insurer to have been injured or damaged in
the same accident and claim damages thereunder.. may be made parties
without priority of claim on payment in any suit had or instituted
on account of such matters,
SEC T I Oil 6,
Chauffeur's License.
(a) From and after the passage of this ordinance, it
shall be unlawful for any person to drive or act as a chauffeur
of a taxicab within the City of Beaumont, Texas' without having
secured a chauffeur's license duly issued to said person by the
Chief of Police of the City of Beaumont, Texas.
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one (21) years or age, ana Sna1s oe a resladni, u -L. uiic v.Lv —
Beaumont., Texas, and shall have operated a motor vehicle in and
upon the streets of the City of Beaumont, Texas., for at least two
(2) years prior to the filing of his application for a chauffeur's
licensees
i (c) Any person desiring to drive or act as chauffeur of
taxicab in the City of Beaumont., Texas, shall file application for
a chauffeur's license with the Chief of police of the City of Beau-
mont., at the Police Station in said city' on application forms to be
furnished by the Chief of Police. Said forms shall provide for the
applicant's name, ages present addresso last address, last place of
employment, whether the applicant has been convicted of a violation
of a motor vehicle traffic or criminal law of the City of Beaumont
or the State of Texas$ with a space sufficient for particulars con-
cerning such violation or violations, if any, and the length of time
the applicant has driven a motor vehicle.
(d) After filling in the above described forms the ap-
plicant shall sign same and shall swear to the truthfulness of the
answers made in said application before .a notary public. After said
application has been duly sworn too the applicant shall present said
application to the Chief of Police at the Police Stations together
with an affidavit from two reputable citizens of the City of Beaumont.,
Texas, stating the applicant to be a trustworthy, sober and reliable
person, of good moral character and that said applicant is competent
to operate a taxicab; and said application shall also be accompanied
by a certificate from a reputable physician of the City of Beaumont.,
showing that said physician has examined said applicant and that said
applicant is not disabled by reason of defective sight or hearings
and that said applicant is not crippled in any of his limbs and that
he has no ailment which would prevent said applicant from safely
operating a taxicab®
(e) Upon receipt of any application for a chauffeur's
license, the Chief of Police shall satisfy himself that said appli-
cant is qualified to operate a taxicab in the City of Beaumont.
After said Chief of Police has examined the application and affi-
davits and doctor's certificate accompanying said application and
has investigated the applicant for his ability to properly operate
a taxicab within the City of Beaumont., Texas, he shall either grant
said application or refuse same® If said Chief of Police refuses
any application, he shall immediately notify in writing the appli-
cant at the last address given in said application. The applicaht.
may appeal from the decision of the Chief of Police by giving notice
in writing to the City Commission within five (5) days after the
post -mark date of said letter denying his application. In the event
said applicant appeals to the City Commission for a licenses the
City Commission shall notify the applicant of the date the hearing
on his application will be heard, and shall hear the application of
said applicant for a chauffeur's license® After the City Commission
has heard the application and the evidence in connection therewith,
it shall either refuse or approve said application. In the event
the City Commission approves the application, it shall order the
Chief of Police to issue a license to said applicant.
(f) If the application of a person is granted either by
the Chief of Police or by the City Cormdssion, the Chief of Police
shall irpmediately notify said applicant by a letter in writings ad-
dressed to said applicant at the last address shown on the applica-
tion. Within three (3) days after the post mark date of said letter,
said applicant shall furnish to the Chief of Police two recent, true
photographs of said applicant, said photographs to -be not less than
one and one-half by one and one-half (lift x 1111) inches, nor greater
than two by two (2 x 2t1) incises in sizes one of which photographs
—8"
sJ-URL1. rye r1rmly affixed to the license to be -l
issued to sai.d
applicanto The license issued to said person shall be numbered,
shall have near the top of said license the words ""City of Beaumont
Chauffeur's License"S, and shall state the year for-which said license
is issued. Said license shall further state the name, address, age,
height, weight and color of eyes and hair, and state that the party
named on said license, whose picture is shown on the face thereof,
is a duly licensed driver of a motor vehicle in the City of Beaumont,
Texas, and said license shall further provide a space for the sig-
nature of the said licensee which signature shall be affixed on said
license in the presence of the Chief of Police at the time said li-
cense is delivered to said licensee. All licenses shall be signed
by the Chief of Police of the City of Beaumont,
(g) Said license shall be kept by the licensee under a
celluloid cover and while said licensee is driving or acting as a
chauffeur of a taxicab, said license shall be so displayed in the
taxicab which he is driving so as to be easily seen by any and all
passengers in said vehicle.
(h) It shall be a violation of this ordinance for an per-
son holding a chauffeur's license hereunder to fail to have same is -
played in the manner stated in Paragraph (g) of Section 6 hereof at
all times in the motor vehicle which he is driving and which he is
acting as chauffeur thereof®
(i) It shall be a violation of this cense disn
pired. or for a person
to drive a taxicab with a chauffeur's license which has son
(j) All licenses issued by the Chief of Police under this
ordinance shall expire on December 31st of the year in which same are
issued.
(k) ,Any chauffeurss license issued by the City of Beaumont
under the terms of this ordinance may be either revoked or suspended
by the Chief of Police for a violation of the ordinances of the City
of Beaumont or the traffic laws of the State of Texgs by the holder
of said license, and said license may also be revoked or suspended
if the holder thereof is negligent or careless in the operation of a
taxicab. Upon revoking or suspending any license the Chief of Police
shall notify in writing the licensee whose license is revoked or sus-
pended, and said Chief of Police shall immediately take up said li-
cense so revoked or suspended. Within five (5) days after revocation
or suspension of the license, the party whose license has been revoked
or suspended may appeal to the City Commission of the City of Beaumont
for reinstatement. The City Commission shall give the part so a .
pealing a hearing, and after a hearing, shall either sustain or re-
verse the actions of the Chief of Police in revoking or suspending
said license. If the action of the Chief of Police is sustained by
the City Commission, the revocation or suspension of said license
shall stand. If the action of the Chief of Police is reversed, the
license shall be returned to said licensee immediately.
(1) It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any per.
son, firm or corporation or any agent thereof, to employ or permit a
person to drive a taxicab owned by such person, firm or corporation,
who does not have a valid and subsisting chauffeur"s license issued
by the Chief of Police of said City for the current year, and said per.
son, firm or corporation operating a taxicab or any agent thereof,
upon employing any driver of such a vehicle shall require said driver
to produce a chauffeur"s license issued by the City of Beaumont for
the current year. Upon employing a driver for a taxicab the person'
firm or corporation owning such vehicle or the agent or agents there•
of so employing, shall immediately notify the Chief of Police of the
name of said driver and the license number of the license which said
dr -fiver holds. If a driver of a taxicab is discharged by a person,
yg"
ing une cniei vi rus Lc,o L U"� --
state the reason or reasons for said discharge* Upon receipt of
a notice of the discharge of the driver of the taxicab, the Chief
of Police shall investigate the reasons for such dismissal., and
after completing said investigation may, if he deems it advisable,
revoke or suspend the license of the driver so dismissede Said
licensee may appeal from the action of the Chief of Police to the
City Commission who shall either sustain or reverse the action of
the Chief of Police.
(m) It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any
person, firm or corporation owning one or more taxicabs to con-
tinue in its employment for the driving of such vehicle or vehicles
any person whose license issued by the City of Beaumont has been
either revoked or suspended.
(n) A licensee may renew his license upon expiration
thereof by filing with the Chief of Police an application for re-
newal upon forms to be furnished by said Chief of Police, and shall
furnish two recent photographs of himself of the dimensions here-
tofore set out in Paragraph (f) of this Section, and shall furnish
a certificate from a physician of the City of Beaumont showing
that he is physically capable to safely operate a motor vehicle
for hire.
(o) No fee shall be charged for the issuance of any
chauffeur's license or a renewal thereof by the City of Beaumont*
SECTION 7.
(a) All taxicab fare charges must be based on and con-
form to rates adopted by the City Commission of the City of Beau-
mont and posted by said Commission with the Clerk of the City of
Beaumont. Said City Commission may change said rates after ten
(10) days notice in writing to all owners of licensed taxicabs
within said City of Beaumont.
(b) There shall be posted in a conspicuous place in a
frame with a transparent cover ontheinside-of each licensed
taxicab, in addition to the license required by this ordinance, a
card showing the rates charged by said taxicab.
(c) No taxicab for which a license shall have been is-
sued, shall be operated by anyone except the licensee thereof or
an employee of the licensee.
(d) No license issued under the terms of this ordinance
shall be transferred to any other person, nor shall such license
be used for the operation of any other vehicle except for the
vehicle for which said license is issued.
(e) The license issued for the operation of a taxicab
under the terms of this ordinance shall be posted within said
taxicab in a conspicuous place and it shall be a violation of
this ordinance for a failure to do so.
(f) The metal tag issued by the Assessor and Collector
of Taxes shall be securely affixed to the front of the radiator
of said taxicab in a conspicuous place, and it shall be a viola-
tion of this ordinance for a failure to do so.
(g) Every taxicab shall have painted on the door of
said cab the name of the owner, or the fictitious name under, which
the owner operated, together with the companyts telephone number
and the city license number of said taxicab, and further provided
that said number of the cab and telephone number of the owner shall
be painted upon the rear of any such vehicle. All of the lettering
.L11 V" - . . vsa v ✓ -
(h) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay
the legal fare of any of the vehicles mentioned in this ordinance
after having hired the same, and any person who shall hire any
vehicle herein defined with the intention to defraud the person,
from whom it is hired, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor*
(i) All drivers of taxicabs shall promptly deliver to the
Police Department all property left in such vehicles by passengers.
Whoever violates. the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of
a misdemeanors
(j) When articles left in taxicabs have been delivered
to the office of the Chief of Police, he shall make an entry of
the fact in a book provided for that purpose, and shall keep all
such articles until claimed by the owner, or as the City Commission
may authorizes
(k) No driver shall cruise in search of passengers at any
time and whenever a taxicab is unoccupied, the driver shall proceed
at once by the most direct route to the garage where the vehicle is
housed, or to the nearest stands
(1) It shall be unlawful for any driver or operator &
any taxicab or for any other person to seek or solicit patrons or
passengers for any such taxicab by word or by sign, directly or in --
directly, Yrhile driving any such taxicab over, through, or on any
public street or public place of the City ,of Beaumont or while same
is parked on any public street or alley of the City of Beaumont,
Texas, or to repeatedly or persistently drive any taxicab thro-ash,
over or on any public street or place of the City of Beaumont, Texas'
except in response to calls by patrons for said taxicab while actually
transporting passengers therein,
(m) All drivers of taxicabs shall be duly licensed chauffeurs
under the general laws of the State of Texas, and shall also be li-
censed by the City of Beaumont, as hereinbefore provided*
(n) If any owner, driver, licensee, or operator of any
taxicab shall refuse to convey a passenger at the rate specified
on the rate card displayed in said taxicabs or shall demand or
receive an amount in excess of the rates displayed on said card,
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
(o) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons in
any passenger depot, or upon any passenger depot platform, or upon
any sidewalk or street in front of any depot of any railway com-
pany within the City of Beaumont, Texas, to solicit or cry out for
passengers for any hotel or other place or to solicit or call to or
request any person or persons to become passengers for or to any
hotel, railroad depot or any other place within or without said
City.
(p) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to
speak or to call out in a loud manner; "taxicab", "automobile for
hire", "hack", "carriage", 'bus", "baggage" or a°hotel", or in any
other manner.attempt to solicit.passengers.at any passenger depot
or upon any passenger depot platform, grounds or premises of any
railroad company, or upon any sidewalk or street in front of any
passenger depot of any railroad company within the City of Beaumont*
(q) -(l) When any licensed taxicab is at any depot within
the City of "Beaumont, it shall be unlawful for the driver or person
in charge thereof to leave the same and enter the depot or go upon
the sidewalk or private property of any railroad company for the
purpose of 4oliciting the transportation of any passenger or pas-
sengers arriving on the trains at said depot*
leave their vehicles when actually n.ecu50a
to enter or leave same, or in case of any accident, necessity or
emergency beyond the control of such driver or chauffeur.
(r) No driver or owner of any taxicab licensed under
the provisions of this ordinance shall permit or allow, more persons
to ride in said vehicle than is provided for by
itsnormalo� eats g
capacity; nor shall any such driver or owner permit
person to ride in the front seat of any taxicabeforehire., at any;
while engaged in the business of carrying persons
time when there is unoccupied and available any seatithe rear
of
such vehicle, and in no event shall more than one person
tion to the driver, be permitted in the front seat of said taxicabo
(s) It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any
person Licensed as a chauffeur hereunder to remain on duty as a
chauffeur or operator for more than twelve (12) hours per days
SECTION 8.,
Exemptions from Penalties,
(a) any persons firm or corporation operating taxicabs
in the City of Beaumont as herein defined, and prior to the pas-
sage and approval of this ordinance, shall aslhereinlpro�
1939 within which to make application for permits
videds and to otherwise comply with the requirements of this or-
dinance, and no fines or other penalties shall be assessed against
orporations, associations or partnerships
such persons, firms; c
until from and after June lst, 1939.
(b) Any person driving a taxicab as herein defined' and
prior to the passage and approval of this ordinance; shall have un-
til June 1st, 1939 within which to make application for a chauf-
feur°s license as herein provided, and to otherwise comply with
the provisions of this ordinance, and no fines or other penalties
shall be assessed against such persons until from and after the
first day of Junes 19390
SECTION 9.
Penalty.
Any person' firm, corporations association; partnership
or society violating any provision of this ordinance shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall
be punished by a fine of not less than Five (t5,00) Dollarss, nor
more than Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, and each day such viola-
tion continues shall constitute a separate offense•
SECTION 10.
Saving Clause.
If any section, or provision of any section of this or-
dinance shall be held to be,void, ineffective or unconstitutionals
the holding of such section or provision of any such section to be
constitutional for any cause whatever, shall
void, ineffective or un
not affect the validity of the remaining sections and provisions
of this ordinance.
SECTION 11.
Ordinances Re ems.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict here-
with shall be, and hereby are expressly repealed.
a.124
( UI31u.La-ulve.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, and of all lams of the State of Texas.
PASSED and approved this the ,day of
A.D. 1939.
• MAYOR