§ 32-15. Driver approval; driving limit; display of permit.

(a)

No person may drive or operate any taxicab unless and until the applicant has provided his name, address, age, driver's license number, social security number, a copy of a valid driver's license from this state, and his state department of public safety driving record to the chief of police or his designee. Further, during the term of the permit, if any driver is involved in a traffic accident, receives a citation or arrested for a traffic violation which is reflected on such driver's state department of public safety driving record or commits any offense which is so reflected, the permittee shall immediately provide the chief of police or his designee an updated state department of public safety driving record for that driver. No operator or driver of any taxicab shall operate any motor vehicle for more than twelve (12) hours in any twenty-four-hour period. Every driver shall display upon request and shall have on his person a valid driver's license issued by this state. No person under nineteen (19) years of age shall operate a taxicab.

(b)

No driver shall operate a taxicab in the city without first submitting an official copy of their current criminal record as issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or other appropriate state agency, demonstrating that he/she has not been convicted of a felony crime within the preceding five (5) years or a crime of moral turpitude. Further, the criminal record must demonstrate that the driver has not been convicted of the following specific crimes: driving while intoxicated (a final conviction within the most recent two (2) years of permitting), aggravated assault, rape or theft over two hundred dollars ($200.00). The applicant or permittee shall file a copy of the criminal record with the chief of police or his designee prior to the driver operating a taxicab in the city.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any owner or taxicab operator to permit any taxicab to be driven or operated within the corporate limits by any person except the owner of the taxicab or a legally authorized agent or employee of the owner or operator who has satisfied all the requirements of this section.

(d)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person driving a taxicab upon the streets of the city shall not be deemed to be in violation of this section if such person has been issued and holds a valid and current taxicab driver's license from the City of Houston.

(Ord. No. 543-8, § 1, 7-22-13)