CITY OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER 5-1300
TAXICABS

5-1301 Application of Chapter 5-100. The provisions of Chapter 5-100 shall apply to licenses issued pursuant to this Chapter.

5-1302 Definitions.

(1) “Taxicab” shall mean and include any motor vehicle engaged in the carrying of persons for hire, whether over a fixed route or not, and whether the same be operated from a street stand or subject to calls from a garage, or otherwise operated for hire except limousines as herein defined, but the term shall not include vehicles regularly used by undertakers in carrying on their business.
(2) “Street” shall mean and include any street, alley, avenue, court, bridge, lane, or public place in the City of Coon Rapids.
(3) “Taxicab driver” shall mean and include any person who drives a taxicab, whether such person be the owner of such taxicab or be employed by a taxicab owner or operator.
(4) “Operator” shall mean and include any person owning or having control of the use of one (1) or more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab within the City.
(5) “Limousine” shall mean a plain painted, unmarked motor vehicle which carries passengers for hire, driven by a uniformed chauffeur, subject to call only from its own garage or central place of business, and which charges its customers a flat rate by the trip or by the hour, day or longer period of time.

5-1303 Operator License Required. No person may engage in the business of operating one (1) or more taxi cabs on streets in the City of Coon Rapids without first obtaining a taxicab operator license.

5-1304 Taxicab Driver License. No person may drive a taxicab for hire on streets in the City of Coon Rapids without first obtaining a taxicab driver license.

5-1305 Exceptions.

(1) The holder of a valid taxicab operator license issued by the cities of Minneapolis or St. Paul, or by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, will be considered to have a valid license to operate a taxicab business or drive a taxicab in the City of Coon Rapids.
(2) Any taxicab currently licensed to operate in any other municipality in this state may carry passengers for hire from a community where it is licensed to any location in the City of Coon Rapids, but no such taxicab service or driver may solicit business or pick up passengers in the City of Coon Rapids unless the operator of the taxicab business is licensed pursuant to this Chapter.

5-1306 Application for Operator License. An application of a new or renewal taxicab operator license must be submitted to the City Clerk on forms provided by the City. In addition to such information as the Clerk may require pursuant to Section 5-102, the application must include the following:

(1) Name, address, date of birth, and telephone number of the applicant.
(2) The number of vehicles to be used as part of the taxicab operation.
(3) The description of the method to be used to distinguish the vehicles as taxicabs operating pursuant to the applicant’s business.
(4) Number of persons, other than the applicant, to be employed, full time or part time, as taxicab drivers.
(5) Personal history and background information regarding the applicant sufficient to address the requirements of Section 5-1310.
(6) Evidence to the satisfaction of the City that each of the vehicles to be used in the taxicab operation meet the requirements of Section 5-1312.
(7) Proof of insurance as required by Section 5-1313.

5-1307 Taxicab Driver Application. An application for a taxicab driver license must be submitted to the City Clerk on forms provided by the City. In addition to such information as the Clerk may require pursuant to Section 5-102, the application must include the following:

(1) Name, address, date of birth, and telephone number of the applicant.
(2) Personal history and background information regarding the applicant sufficient to address the requirements of Section 5-1311.

5-1308 Fees.

(1) License and investigation fees will be established from time to time by City ordinance.
(2) All required fees must accompany an application for a new or renewal license.
(3) Each license renewal is subject to the annual license fee.
(4) An investigation fee will be required only for a new license application. An applicant whose most recent City license expired one year or more before the date of an application will be considered a new applicant requiring an investigation fee.
(5) The license fee, but not the investigation fee, for an application received after July 1 in any year will be 50% of the annual license fee for the remainder of the first year of the license.
(6) Upon rejection of an application, the license fee, but not the investigation fee, will be refunded to the applicant.

5-1309 Issuance. New and renewal taxicab operator licenses and new or renewal taxicab driver licenses will be issued or denied by the City Clerk in accordance with Section 5-102 and this Chapter. The decision of the Clerk may be appealed to the City Council in accordance with Section 5-104. Licenses issued pursuant to this Chapter are not transferable.

5-1310 Conditions for Taxicab Operator License. A new or renewal taxicab operator license may not be issued to an applicant if any one of the following conditions exist:

(1) The applicant is not the owner or lessee of the vehicles to be used in the taxicab operation.
(2) The applicant is less than 18 years of age, or, if a corporation, partnership, or association, is not properly chartered or otherwise authorized to conduct business as a taxicab operator under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
(3) The applicant has been convicted of any one of the following crimes or offenses: murder, criminal vehicular homicide or injury, felony assault, criminal sexual conduct, indecent exposure, felony controlled substance violation, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident, or reckless or careless driving, unless the applicant has demonstrated rehabilitation in accordance with Minnesota Statutes §364.03.
(4) The applicant has been convicted of or pled guilty to three (3) motor vehicle moving violations within the immediately preceding twelve (12) months.
(5) The applicant fails to provide any information on the application or provides false or misleading information.

5-1311 Conditions for Taxicab Driver License. A new or renewal taxicab driver license may not be issued to an applicant if any one of the following conditions exist:

(1) The applicant is less than 18 years of age.
(2) The applicant has been convicted of any one of the following crimes or offenses: murder, criminal vehicular homicide or injury, felony assault, criminal sexual conduct, indecent exposure, felony controlled substance violation, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident, or reckless or careless driving, unless the applicant has demonstrated rehabilitation in accordance with Minnesota Statutes §364.03.
(3) The applicant has been convicted of or pled guilty to three (3) motor vehicle moving violations within the immediately preceding twelve (12) months.
(4) The applicant fails to provide any information on the application or provides false or misleading information.

5-1312 Vehicle Requirement. Each vehicle used to transport passengers for hire as part of a taxicab operation must meet the following requirements:

(1) Be clearly marked to identify the vehicle as a taxicab for hire and include at least the name and telephone number of the taxicab business or company.
(2) Be equipped with an accurate, operating meter, and with an operating radio, telephone, or similar device.
(3) Have passed a safety and functional inspection conducted by a service station or motor vehicle repair garage acceptable to the City. The City reserves the right to make its own independent examination and inspection of taxicabs as it deems necessary.
(4) Be clean, painted and free of rust or substantial bodily damage. There may be no loose or hanging metal, body molding, or chrome stripping. The taxicab must be equipped with all required fenders, bumpers, doors, door handles, lights, and turn signals, all of which must be in good working order.
(5) The taxicab must properly display current State of Minnesota motor vehicle registration plates.

5-1313 Insurance Required.

(1) A taxicab operator must maintain a commercial general liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Minnesota, and, if necessary, commercial umbrella insurance, with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for each occurrence. If such insurance contains a general aggregate limit, the general aggregate limit must not be less than $2,000,000 and the aggregate limit will apply on a per license year basis. The insurance must cover liability arising from operations of the taxicab business including, but not limited to, personal injuries and advertising injuries. The City must be named as an additional insured under the policy.
(2) A taxicab operator must also maintain automobile liability insurance issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Minnesota and, if necessary, umbrella liability insurance with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for each accident. If such insurance contains a general aggregate limit, the general aggregate limit must not be less than $2,000,000. Insurance shall cover liability arising out of any incident involving a motor vehicle used as part of the taxicab operation.
(3) A certificate of insurance acceptable to the City shall be filed with the City prior to commencement of operations. The certificate and the required insurance policies shall contain a provision that the coverage afforded under the contract will not be cancelled or allowed to expire until at least 30 days prior written notice has been given to the City.

5-1314 Business Records. A taxicab operator must maintain, at a minimum, the following records:

(1) Order slips upon which are recorded all trips requested showing the time and place of origin and the destination of each trip. Order slips must be maintained and preserved, in chronological order, in a safe place for at least twelve consecutive months. All order slips must be available to the City upon demand.
(2) Current business records, including, but not limited to information on all drivers and vehicles, at the operator’s designated place of business. Such business records must be made available for inspection by the City during reasonable business hours.

5-1315 Rates. Each taxicab operated under this Chapter must have a rate card setting forth the authorized rates of fare displayed in such a place as to be in view of all passengers.

5-1316 Failure to Pay Fare. Any person who, upon discharge from a taxicab within the City, refuses or neglects to pay for the services, rent, or hire of any such license taxicab is guilty of a misdemeanor in addition to any other sanctions, civil or criminal, that may be imposed.

5-1317 Deceiving Passengers. No person owning or driving a taxicab may deceive any passenger who rides in such vehicle or who may desire to ride in such vehicle, as to the passenger’s destination or the price authorized to be charged for such ride, or may convey such passenger, or cause the passenger to be conveyed, to a place other than that directed by the passenger. A violation of this section will be cause for suspension or revocation of an operator’s or taxicab driver’s license.

5-1318 Unlawful Acts.

(1) No taxicab driver may:

(a) smoke while a passenger is in the taxicab;
(b) sell or offer to sell alcoholic beverages or controlled substances; or
(c) solicit business for any illegal sexual conduct.

(2) A violation of this section will constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation driver license in addition to any other appropriate criminal charges.

5-1319 Suspension or Revocation. Any license issued under the provisions of this Chapter may be suspended or revoked by the City Council pursuant to Section 5-108 if the licensee has:

(1) violated any of the provisions of this Chapter, or
(2) discontinued operations for more than 60 consecutive days. [Revised 4/19/05, Ordinance 1882]