HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929 OR DINANCE NO. 1929
AN ORDINANCE relating to and regulating the conveyance of passengers for
hire in the City of Bremerton and the granting and use of designated stands
and repealing Ordinances 670, 688, VVO, 1532, 1631, 1661 and 1783 and all othe
ordinances and parts oI' ordinances in' coni'lict herewith.
THE CITY OF ~BREt~ERTON DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1. Definitions. (~a) The term "person" wherever used in 'this
ordinance shall be held and construed to mean and include natural persons of
either sexj rirmsj corpora~lon~, ¢opar~ner~hips, associations, whether acting
by themselves, by servant, agent or employee. The singular number shall in-
clude the plural and ~he masculine ~ronoun shall include the feminine and the
neuter.
(b) The term "taxicab" wherever used in this
ordinance shall be held and construed to mean and include every motor vehicle
having a seating capacity oi' seven passengers or less, as per manufacturer's
rating, used for the transportation of passengers for hire, and not operated
exclusively over a fixed and defined route.
(c) The term "i'or hire car". wherever used in
this ordinance~ shall be held and construed to mean and include every motor
vehicle having a seating capacity of seven passengers or more, as per manu-
facturer's rating, used for the transportation oi' passengers for hire, and
not operated over a fixed and defined route exclusively.
(d) The term "sight-seeing car" wherever used
in this ordinance shall be held and construed to mean and include every motor
vehicle having a seatin~ capaclty of seven or more passengers, used exclusive-
ly for sight-seeing purposes, over a fixed or defined route of gravel, and
charging a sum certain t'or each trip.
(e) The term "motor vehicle" wherever used in
this ordinance shall Ce held and construed ~o mean and include every self-pro-
pelled vehicle oy or upon which any person may be transported or carried upon
any public highway, street, or alley, excepting vehicles used exclusively up-
on stationary rails or tracks.
~ Sec~on 2. k.Permit ReqUired, ~t shal± ~unlaWfu~o enga~in the Dusi-
neks of o~ratin~an~" taxica~ rOr-h~re car orksight-seeih~car wi~out first
o0taining a\permit\z'rom ~eC~C ty Clerer~ to do sox
Section 3. Application. An application i'or a permit shall be required
on which '~he person applying shall s~ate his name, the name and ~he color
scheme or distinguishing design or dress under which the motor veaicles are to
be operated, the number oI' vehicles for which he has previously been granted
a permit under the ordinances or this city during the license year, full in-
.formation relative t o the make, model and number of the vehicle or vehicles
and such other inz'ormation as the City ClerX may require as necessary to aid
in ohe enforcement or this ordinance.
Section 4. Handlin~ Application. The City Clerk shall rel'er all appli-
cations hereunder to the Chief of' P°%ice who, with the assistance of any offi-
cer he may choose, shall ma~e a full investigation into all matters relating
to the application including the character and record of the applicant. Based
on his investigation and ~aking in~o account the consideration of the ratio of
such vehicles already holding permits, ~o tae population of the city, the
traffic and parking situation within thee city, the apparent reiiaOility and
responsibility or the applicant, the Chiex' o~' Police s~all maXe a recommend-
ation to tae City Council within fourteen (l~) days oI' the receipt or ~he ap-
plication relative to the granting or ~he permit' '~'he. City Council shall then
by motion either grant or deny the application or refer it 0ack to the Chief
oi' Police for i'urther investigation setting the time within which it shall be
re su~mi tted.
Section 5. Procedure II' Permit Denied. Ii' the application is denied,
the applicant shal% 'be promptly not{i'ied' o'f such denial and the reason there-
for. The applicant may, within 'ten (lC) days file an o0jection to the action
of the Council with the City Clerk. T~e City Council shall promptly fix a day
for the hearing oI' such ooJe~ction, which hearing shall be set for a day not
more than twenty (20) nor less than ten (lC) days after the filing oI' the ob-
jection. At such a hearing the City Council shall re-examine the report of th.
Chief of Police and hear any and all evidence relating to the facts an~ circus.
stances surrounding said application. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the
City Council shall oy resolution either grant or deny the application and the
prior mo~lon shall thereby De deemed either afl'irmed or rescinded.
Section 6. Permit - Form. Ir 5he application be approved, the City Clerk
shall promptly issue a permit to the applicant setoing forth thereon such in-
Ordinance No. 1929 (Con't)
formation as shall 'be deemed necessary including the name of the applicant,
name under which the vehicles will be operated and the number and descriptior.
of said vehicles. The City Clerk shall also issue a metal license plate of
a si~e and color to be established by him for each vehicle for which a per-
mit has been granted, which license shall be prominently displayed with the
rear license plate of the vehicle for which issued; the permit shall be dis-
played at the place of business or office of the applicant.
Section 7. Fee - Translier of Permit. The fee for the permit shall
be One Hundred ($10~'~00) Dollars per year per vehicle and shall accompany
the application for permit. The permit and licenseissued hereunder shall not
be transi'erred from one vehicle to another. A permit holder may surrender a
permit an(i~ license already issued and receive a new permit and license for
a different vehicle on payment of a Five (~5.00) Dollar transfer fee and pro-
vided that the permit holder applies to the City Clerk t4or the change and
s~rrenders his general permit and license for alteration in accordancewith
the change. The fee year hereunder shall be from July I to June 30, provid-
ed that fees with applications received after July 31st shall be prorated as
of the time of application.
Section 8. TransI~er of Permits and Temporar. y Transfer. The permits
issued hereunder may be transferred onlQy' in the case of a Oona fide sale of
the business oL Dhe owner or opera~or s~d only with the approval of 5he City
Council. cApplication i'or ~ransfer oi' a permit shall Oe accompanied Oy a
transfer~Gf $5.00 for each vehicle but no transfer £ee shall be required up-
on an application I'or transfer oi' permit for a designated stand. The trans-
fer fee shall be held in trust by the City Treasurer and returned to the ap-
plicant if the transfer is not appoved, and if approved, shall De deposited
in the General Fund. If the application for transfer is made by an owner or
operator already holding a permit issued hereunder, he shall set forth on
the application whether the color scheme and designation of the vehicles op-
erated under his existing permit shall De used by him or iL he desires to
use the color scheme and designation of the permit being transferred. Upon
approval oi' the application l'or transfer by such an applicant, he shall
paint all vehicles then licensed hereunder with the single color scheme or
designation so selected.
The Chief of Police~may, on being sa~tisfied that a vehicle for which
a permit and license have been issued is undergoing repairs, issue a perm~it
w~thout charge for a period not exceeding ~en (10) days permitting another
vehicle, the description of which shall be placed on said permit, to be used
during the time a regular vehicle is out oi~ us~. The substitute vehicle shall
display said temporary trs~]sfer permit.
Section 9. Application Only by True Owner - Onl~ One Designation. No
one but the person who actually owns or operates ~he venic~e~ fo~ which per-
mits are sought shall ma~e application for or be granted a permit hereunder.
Permits shall not be granted to one applicant for the operation oi' vehicles
under more than one business name, color scheme or insignia.
Section 10. Present Designation on Vehicles. Vehicles presently
painted or otherwise designated under a business name and color scheme may
continue under the same until put out of use, except that permits shall be
issued to ~he owners under the o~e designation applied for under the pro-
visions of the preceding section.
Section ll. Desisnated Stand. Whenever an applicant desires to have
a stand, I'rom which to operate vehicles, he shall be required to apply
a designated stand, and shall provide such ini'ormation as the City Clerk may
require on the application Lorm, including the exact location of the stand
applied for. Investigation, hearing and granting or denying such applica-
tions shall be made in the same manner as provided for the application for
permits to operate vehicles, except ~hat in investigating such application
the Chief oL Police shall report the kinds of businesses located near the
stand applied for, their owne~'~s,~ and shall indicate the possible harm or
advantage to such ~usinesses which would result from designating the stand
applied for.
Section 12. Permit for Desisnated Stand. The permit for a designat-
ed stand shall be a part o£ whatever permit is granted for the operation of
vehicles hereunder unless such permits are granted at different times, in
which case a separate permit shall be given covering the stand granted. All
permits for a designated stand shall state thereon the exact location of the
stand, the times during which it may be used, nlimber oi' vehicles which may
be parked there, and such other inZ'ormation as the City Clerk may deem appro-
priate.
Ordinance No. 19~9 (Con't)
Section 13. Expiration - Reissue os' Permits. All permits issued under
this ordinance shall expire the 30th 'day oI' June oI' each year. V~here the
same permit holder reapplies for permits I'or a vehicle for which a permit has
previously been issued, or for a previously permitted designated stand, then
such permits may be renewed for the same number of vehicles and same designa-
ted stand by payment of the permit fee, unless the Chief or Police or City
Council specifically requires reinvestigatio~n, rehearing or other procedure.
Section 14. Revocation of Permits. The permit of any person to operate
taxicabs or other ~hicles or any designated stand granted under this ordinanc
may be revoked by the City Council by resolution at any time for cause, Out
rote such revocation is made, a public hearing shall be held Sefore ~he City
Council, o~' which hearing ~he permit holde~ shall be given at least seven days
notice. At said hearing the Oouncil shall hear and consider all evidence pro-
duced by any person or persons desiring zo be heard and ii' said permit is re-
voked, the resolution revoking the same shall clearly set forth the findings
of the Council upon which revocation is based. ~ermit fees shall ~e returned
on a p~o-rata basis in the event of revocation.
Section 18. Cruising and Hawking Disallowed - Hawking. It shall be un-
lawful ~'or any person to operate a taxicab from any place other than a desig-
nated stand, or to cruise the streets for passengers; provided, however, that
passengers may be loaded en route while going from or returning to the desig-
nated stand by a direct, usual and customary route, on a oona z'ide trip. It
shall Oe unlawful I'or drivers or owners of for-hire cars to solicit passengers
in i~erson in any manner. This prohibition shall include but not be limited to
loud calling, going amongst a crowd or seeking passengers or entering places
of' business or dwellings to get passengers without a speciI'ic request from a
prospective passenger.
Section 16. Other Taxi Stands. The City Council by resolution may desig.
nate certain areas as exclusive taxi stands in close proximity to transporta-
tion terminals, athletic fields, or public ouildings, which may 0e occupled
jointly ~y taxicab operators. 'the time and manner that stands may 0 e used
shall 0e determined and i'ixed by the Chief o2' Police.
Section 17. _No Park.i. ng ~n 'Designated Stand. It shall be unlawful
anyone other ohan the permit holder to park or stand any motor vehicle in the
location designated in his permit during the hours fixed therein.
Section 18. Marking Designated Stand. All designated stands on the
streets of Bremerton perraitted hereunder s]aall oe mar~ed by the Chief of Polic.
by a post at thefront end thereoi' carrying a sign of standard color and size,
printed in standard color and size, "TAXIS ONLY". I~' a designated stand allow~
space for more than one vehicle to park, then the location shall ~e marXed by
painting the curb for its whole length or posting a sign at each end o2' the
stand.
Section l~. Maximum Rates, Posting, Picture of ~river. Every person
holding a permit to operate taxicabs in the C'~ty o~' BremertOn, shall, 0efore
commencing to operate said cabs upon the pu01ic streets, file with the City
Clerk on a form provided by him a schedule of taxicab fares to be charged to
all districts within the City of Bremerton antic ertified by the permit holder;
which may 0e amended or changed f rom time to time by the permit holder. It
shall be unlawful for the operator o2' any taxicab to charge in excess of the
schedule of Z'ares on I'ile in the office oZ' the City Clerk. Every taxicab op-
erated upon the streets oI' the City of Bremerton shall have displayed therein,
in plain view oI' the passengers riding in said cab, the schedule or fares,
the same to be in large letters and clearly visi01e; said taxlca0s shall also
have displayed therein, clearly visible, a picture oi' 'the driver, which shall
not be smaller than 2~ x 2~ inches in size, together wiOh the driver's name,
driver's permit number and the taxica0 permit numoer, clearly printed there-
under,
Section 20. Unlawful to Re~use Service~ That nhe taxicab ~usiness is a
business in the public interest and ~r the pUOlic good, and it shall 0e unlaw-
ful for any owner, operator, or driver of any taxicab, to rei'use to transport
any bona i'ide, orderly prospective passenger from any point ~o any other point
w.'~[thin the City of Bremerton.
Section 21. Pena__~l_ty for Violation. Any person violating or failing to
comply with any oi' the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereox~ shall 0e punished by a fine in any
sum not to exceed Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), or by imprisonment in the
Ordinance No'. 1929 (Con't)
City Jail for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, or by both such i'ine
and imprisonment. ~
Section 22. Ordinances Repealed. Ordinances Nos. 670, 688, VVO, 1232,
1631 and 1V83 and all"~thero'rdinances and parts of ordinances oI' the City of
Bremerton in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 23. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective on and
after the 30th day of June, 1951.
APPROVED on first reading this 9th day or.May, 1951.
PASSED on second reading by the City Council of the City of Bremerton,
slgned by the Mayor-and attested by the City Clerk in authentication of such
passage this 15th day of May, 1951.
ATTEST: Mayor
City cf
' 'Deputy City Clerk th~ ab,
COpy oi O~dman~:e
Bremerton erStled as
same has beei~ published acco~mg Io law.
.....................
~p. City Clerk