An application for a driver's permit shall be filed with the Police Chief on forms provided by the chief and such application shall be notarized and shall contain the following information:
(a) 
The names and addresses of three residents of the state who have known the applicant for a period of one year and who will vouch for the sobriety, honesty and general good character of the applicant;
(b) 
California driver's license and social security numbers;
(c) 
The date of birth and physical description of the applicant;
(d) 
A statement of any convictions of public offenses involving the applicant.
(e) 
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant's employer; and
(f) 
Proof of a negative test for controlled substances and for alcohol which complies with the requirements of Government Code Section 53075.5 (or a successor statute).
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
At the time the application for a taxicab driver's permit is filed, the applicant shall pay to the Police Department the fees as provided in Section 4-1.32 of this Code to compensate the City for the cost of investigating and processing the applicant.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
(a) 
The applicant shall be employed by a person who is applying for a certificate of public necessity and convenience in Santa Maria. The applicant's employer shall be responsible for complying with requirements of Government Code §53075.5 or successor section, and shall pay all costs of certification with respect to their employees and potential employees, except that an employer may require employees who test positive to pay the cost of such testing and any follow-up testing. Self-employed independent drivers shall be responsible for compliance with, and shall pay all costs of, this program with regard to themselves.
(b) 
An employer shall promptly notify the Police Chief in writing of the termination of employment of a driver.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
(a) 
In the case of a self-employed independent driver, the test results shall be reported directly to the City, which shall notify the taxicab leasing company of record, if any, of positive results. In all other cases, the results shall be reported directly to the driver's employer, which shall forward the test results to the Chief of Police.
(b) 
Except as authorized or required by law, all test results are confidential and shall not be released without the consent of the driver. No evidence derived from a positive test result pursuant to this program shall be admissible in a criminal prosecution for unlawful possession, sale, or distribution of controlled substances.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
(a) 
Upon making application for, and before receiving such a license, each taxicab driver shall submit to being fingerprinted and an identification record made by the Police Department of the City, and a record of the fingerprints and the identification records shall be filed with and maintained by the Police Department, and no such license shall be issued until approved by the Police Department following a check of the record and fingerprints by the Police Department except as provided by subsection (d) of this section.
(b) 
All applications for drivers' permits will be considered by the Chief of Police and either granted or denied within 45 days unless for good cause time for further investigation is needed. Such further time shall not exceed 30 days for reasons under the control of the Chief of Police.
(c) 
Upon approval of an application, the Chief of Police shall issue a driver's permit to the applicant which shall bear the name, address, age and other identifying characteristics of the applicant, at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
(d) 
The Police Chief may for good cause issue a temporary permit to an applicant provided that the applicant pays to the Police Department the fees as provided in Section 4-1.32 of this title. The permit shall be valid for a period not longer than it takes to receive record and fingerprint checks back from the State Department of Justice. Upon receipt of the information from the Department of Justice, the temporary permit shall be revoked and the applicant processed pursuant to the provisions set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section.
In determining whether to issue a temporary permit, the Chief of Police may consider the applicant's reputation in the community for honesty and veracity, the hardship to the community created by the lack of taxicab permits, or any other factor which would support the need for the issuance of a temporary permit.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
The Police Chief may deny, suspend or revoke a driver's permit to any of the following persons:
(a) 
Any person not more than 18 years old;
(b) 
Any person lacking a valid California driver's license;
(c) 
Any person convicted of a public offense involving theft;
(d) 
Any person convicted of a public offense involving violence to a person(s);
(e) 
Any person convicted of a public offense under Health and Safety Code Section 11550 or similar section;
(f) 
Any person with more than three moving violations in any six-month (6-month) period;
(g) 
Any person convicted of violating Vehicle Code Section 23103, 23103.5, 23152(b) or (a) or similar section within the past year;
(h) 
Any person not providing proof of a negative test for controlled substances and alcohol which complies with the requirements set forth in Government Code Section 53075.5 (or a successor statute);
(i) 
Any person no longer employed, or awaiting immediate employment, as a driver of a taxicab in the streets of the City;
(j) 
Any person who has made a material misstatement on a driver's permit or renewal application;
(k) 
Any person who has failed to comply with any provisions of any ordinance of the City or of the laws of the state.
A driver whose permit has been suspended or revoked shall have the right to notice and an opportunity to present evidence to the Police Chief regarding the suspension or revocation. These rights shall be afforded within ten days after a suspension or revocation.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
Any person whose permit application is denied or whose permit is revoked based on his failure to submit proof of a negative test for controlled substances and alcohol may re-apply for a driver's permit after a period of one year from the date of the permit denial or revocation. Evidence from a substance abuse professional of the absence of drug and alcohol dependency and abuse for a period of not less than nine months will be required prior to re-application.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
All permits granted, as provided in this article, shall expire at the end of one year and may be renewed upon the application of the holder. Prior to renewal, each driver shall submit proof of a negative test for controlled substances and for alcohol which complies with the requirements set forth in Government Code Section 53075.5 (or a successor statute). The applicant seeking renewal shall pay to the Police Department the fees as provided in Section 4-1.32 of this Code to compensate the City for the cost of investigating the applicant and processing the application.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)
The driver shall promptly notify the Police Department in writing of his/her termination of employment with the employer listed on his/her application, and shall return the driver's permit to the Police Department. The driver's permit shall become null and void upon the driver's termination of employment with that employer.
(Ord. 91-20, eff. 9/5/91; Ord. 2003-20, eff. 9/16/03; Ord. 2003-21, eff. 11/7/03; Ord. 2004/02, eff. 3/18/04)