§ 9-31. Annual driver's license.

(a)

Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or act as a driver of a taxicab within the city without having secured a license issued by the chief of police and having paid the duly prescribed license fee.

(b)

Qualifications of applicant. Every applicant for a driver's license under this section shall be a citizen of the United States and shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(c)

Application. Any person desiring to drive or act as a driver of a taxicab in the city shall file an application for a driver's license with the chief of police at the police station in the city on application forms to be furnished by the chief of police. Such forms shall provide for the applicant's name, age, present address, 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 or the state with a space sufficient for particulars concerning such violation, if any, and the length of time the applicant has driven a motor vehicle. After filing an application in the form described in this subsection, the applicant shall sign the same and shall swear to the truthfulness of the answers made in such application before a notary public. After such application has been duly sworn to the applicant shall present the application to the chief of police at the police station.

(d)

Approval or disapproval of application. Upon receipt of any application for a driver's license under this section, the chief of police shall satisfy himself that the applicant is qualified to operate a taxicab in the city. After the chief of police has examined the application and affidavits accompanying such application and has investigated the applicant for his ability to properly operate a taxicab within the city, he shall either grant or refuse the application. The chief of police shall immediately notify in writing, the applicant, of his decision to grant or refuse the application at the last address given in the application.

(e)

Photographs. Within three (3) days after the postmark date of the letter granting the driver's license under this section, the applicant shall furnish to the chief of police two (2) recent, true photographs of himself. Such photographs shall be not less than one and one-half (1½) inches by one and one-half (1½) inches nor greater than two (2) inches by two (2) inches in size, one (1) of which photographs shall be retained by the chief of police with the application, affidavits and any other information in a file to be kept by the chief of police as a permanent record. The other picture shall be firmly affixed to the license to be issued to the applicant.

(f)

Issuance. The license shall be issued by the city manager or his designee, when the applicant has been approved by the chief of police, as provided in subsection (d), and upon compliance with all applicable provisions of this section.

(g)

Fee. A fee of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) shall be charged for the issuance of a license under this section or a renewal thereof by the city.

(h)

Contents. The license shall be numbered, shall have near the top the words "City of Gainesville Driver's License" and shall state the year for which the license is issued. The license shall state the licensee's name, address, age, height, weight and color of eyes and hair and that the person named on the license, whose picture is shown on the face thereof, is a duly licensed driver of a motor vehicle in the city. Such license shall provide a space for the signature for the licensee, which shall be affixed on the license in the presence of the city secretary at the time the license is delivered to the licensee. All licenses shall be signed by the city secretary.

(i)

Posted in vehicle. The license shall be kept by the licensee under a celluloid cover and while such licensee is driving or acting as a driver of a taxicab, and shall be so displayed in the taxicab which he is driving so as to be easily seen by all passengers in such vehicle. No person holding a license under this article shall fail to have the same displayed in the manner stated in this subsection at all times in the motor vehicle which he is driving or of which he is acting as a driver.

(j)

Transfer. No license issued under this section shall be transferred.

(k)

Revocation, suspension. The procedure for revocation or suspension of a license shall be as follows:

(1)

Any license issued under this subsection may be revoked or suspended by the chief of police for a violation of the ordinances of the city, or the traffic laws of the state, by the holder of such license, if such violation directly relates to the licensee's duties and responsibilities as provided by law. Such 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 issued under this section, the chief of police shall notify, in writing, the licensee whose license is revoked or suspended, and the chief of police shall immediately take up such license so revoked or suspended.

(2)

Within five (5) days after revocation or suspension of license, the person whose license has been revoked or suspended may appeal to the city council for reinstatement. The city council shall give such person a hearing, and after a hearing, shall either sustain or reverse the actions of the chief of police in revoking or suspending the license. If the action of the chief of police is reversed the license shall be returned to the licensee immediately.

(l)

Expiration. All licenses issued under this section shall expire on August thirty-first next following their issuance. No person shall drive a taxicab with a driver's license displayed which has expired.

(m)

Renewal. A licensee may renew his license upon expiration thereof by filing with the chief of police an application for renewal upon forms to be furnished by the chief of police, and shall furnish two (2) recent photographs of himself of the dimensions set out in subsection (e).

(Code 1970, §§ 33-2, 33-56—33-68)

State law reference

Eligibility of persons with criminal backgrounds for certain occupations, professions and licenses, VTCS Art. 6252-13c et seq.