5.40.180 - Driver's permit, regulations, identification card, renewal of driver's permit.
A. It is unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle for hire, animal-drawn vehicle, or taxicab in the City without having first obtained a driver's permit issued in writing by the Chief of Police. Such driver's permit shall be carried by every person while operating a vehicle for hire, animal-drawn vehicle, or taxicab, and such permit holder shall exhibit the permit to any police officer, code enforcement officer, animal control officer, or the Chief Financial Officer upon demand.
B. Any applicant for a driver's permit shall file an application with the Police Department accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the amount established by City Council resolution.
C. The Chief of Police shall deny or revoke the issuance of a driver's permit under any of the following circumstances:
1. The applicant or permit holder is under the age of 18 years;
2. The applicant or permit holder fails to maintain a valid California driver's license; or
3. The applicant or permit holder lacks sufficient training and experience in the operation of a vehicle for hire, animal-drawn vehicle, or taxicab.
D. The Chief of Police may deny or revoke the issuance of a driver's permit under any of the following circumstances:
1. The applicant or driver's permit holder has been convicted of reckless driving or of driving a vehicle while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug;
2. The applicant or driver's permit holder has been convicted of a crime, the nature of which would endanger public health, welfare, or safety if such person were issued a permit;
3. The applicant or driver's permit holder is facing pending criminal charges of reckless driving, of driving while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage, or of a crime, the nature of which would endanger the public health, welfare, or safety if such were issued a permit;
4. The applicant or driver's permit holder has falsified, misrepresented, or omitted pertinent information in the application; or
5. The applicant or driver's permit holder is otherwise determined to be presently or potentially unfit to perform the functions authorized by the driver's permit in a manner consistent with the public health, welfare, or safety.
The Chief of Police may receive and consider evidence of rehabilitation before rendering a decision on issuing or revoking a driver's permit under this subsection.
E. The driver's permit holder shall be entitled to an identification card of such design and having such number as the Chief of Police may prescribe. Such identification card shall be kept on the driver's person at all times while operating a vehicle for hire, animal-drawn vehicle, or taxicab.
Such identification card shall be the property of the City and shall be returned to the Police Department upon the driver's permit holder's termination of employment as an operator of a vehicle for hire, animal- drawn vehicle, or taxicab in the City.
F. All driver's permits issued pursuant to this section to operate a vehicle for hire, animal-drawn vehicle, or taxicab are non-assignable and shall expire one year from the date of issue.
Applications for renewal shall be made within 30 days prior to the expiration of such permit. (Ord. 7014 § 1, 2008)
5.40.185 - Appeal from denial or revocation of driver's permit.
Any applicant under this chapter who has been denied a driver's permit or any driver's permit holder who has had his or her permit revoked may, within 15 days of notification of the denial or revocation of such permit, file an appeal in writing with the City Clerk. The applicant shall set forth in writing the grounds for the appeal. Upon filing of the appeal, the City Clerk shall set the matter for hearing before the City Council's Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee, which hearing shall be within 60 days after receipt of said notice of appeal. The City Clerk shall give notice of the time set at least five days before the date of such hearing to the applicant or driver's permit holder, by mail, at the address set out in such application or permit. At the time set for hearing of such appeal, the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall receive from the Chief of Police and the applicant or driver's permit holder information regarding the denial or revocation and appeal. The Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall make a determination whether to uphold or reverse the denial or revocation within ten days after the date of said hearing. The determination of the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee shall be the final determination of the matter. (Ord. 7531 $6, 2020; Ord. 7261 § 1, 2014; Ord. 7014 § 1, 2008)