DRIVERS' PERMIT

Greensboro Code of Ordinances ch. 28, art. II, div. 4

in effect

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-66 Required.

Sec. 28-66. - Required. No person shall drive or operate any taxicab carrying passengers for hire from place to place within the corporate limits, or to points within a radius of five (5) miles thereof, unless that person shall have first applied to the chief of police or his/her/their designee and secured the approval of a driver permit to operate a taxicab. (Code 1961, § 20-33; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-67 Application.

Sec. 28-67. - Application. (a) The application required of applicants for a permit to drive a taxicab, shall be made upon forms furnished by the city for such purposes and shall, among other things, state the name, address, physical condition, physical description, former employers, court records, and state license number. (b) The application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant. The applicant shall further appear at the police department for the purpose of having his fingerprints taken, at which time he/she/they shall submit two (2) prints of a two-inch by two-inch full-face photograph of a type to be approved by the city manager. (c) That pursuant to the authority granted to the city, by North Carolina General Statute 160A-304, each applicant shall submit to having his/her/their fingerprints taken in a form acceptable to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for a required statewide and national criminal record check of applicants for a taxicab driver permit. (d) All applicants submitting an application for a taxicab driver's permit do agree that they accept the city's taxicab driver's dress code. Applicants agree to be clean and neat in appearance and will not wear flipflops, tank shirts, or shorts while on duty as a taxicab driver. (Code 1961, § 20-34; Ord. No. 04-142, §§ 1, 2, 8-2-04; Ord. No. 04-201, § 1, 10-21-04; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-68 Persons eligible.

Sec. 28-68. - Persons eligible. A person is ineligible to apply for the permit required by this division for one (1) year following the date of any revocation or suspension of sixty (60) days or more of his/her/their driver's license for convictions of moving violations and for five (5) years following the date of conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a substantially equivalent statute. (Code 1961, § 20-34; Ord. No. 18-104, § 1, 8-21-18; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-69 Investigation and issuance.

Sec. 28-69. - Investigation and issuance. The chief of police shall investigate the facts stated in the application for the permit required by this division and shall report his/her/their findings and recommendations to the city manager, and upon the approval of the city manager, he/she/they shall issue a permit. Any fees or costs incurred by the city by any part of the investigation shall be paid by the permit applicant. (Code 1961, §§ 20-34, 20-35; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-70 Issuance standards; hearing, etc., or denial.

Sec. 28-70. - Issuance standards; hearing, etc., or denial. (a) The chief of police or his/her/their designee shall approve the application for the permit required by this division unless he/she/they finds: (1) The applicant has not reached the age of eighteen (18) years or older, or is otherwise not legally emancipated. (2) The applicant had an order entered continuing prayer for judgment, has entered a plea of guilty or no contest, or been convicted of: a. A violation of any federal or state statute relating to prostitution or gambling laws, or the use, possession, or sale of a controlled substance within five (5) years preceding the application; b. A violation of any federal or state statute relating to transporting or selling or possessing intoxicating liquors within five (5) years preceding the application; c. A felony within five (5) years preceding his/her/their application; d. Any crime which may reasonably be interpreted as involving moral turpitude or is so offensive to the public morals or of a sexual perversion as to justify the conclusion that the applicant is not of good moral character, including but not limited to those offenses listed in Chapter 14, Article 26 and Article 27 of the North Carolina General Statutes, relating to offenses against public morality and decency and crimes related to prostitution within five (5) years preceding the application. e. A violation of any state statute relating to operating an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when the amount of alcohol in the blood meets or exceeds a specifically prohibited level, or when the operation of a vehicle has been directly and visibly affected by the operator's consumption of alcoholic beverages within five (5) years preceding the application. (3) The applicant is an habitual user of drugs or intoxicating liquors. (4) The applicant is physically or mentally incapable of operating a taxicab or has been treated for any mental disorder, heart attack, epilepsy, or diabetes in a six-month period prior to filing his/her/their application; provided, any applicant who has been treated for any mental disorder, heart attack, epilepsy, or diabetes shall have a written opinion from a physician or psychiatrist, or both, stating that the applicant is physically capable and mentally competent to operate a taxicab, and that the applicant has been free from such recurrence for the past six (6) months. Such medical statement shall accompany said application. (5) The applicant has made a material false statement in the application for a permit knowing it to be false; or has knowingly omitted required information; the applicant shall not be allowed to submit another application for a permit to drive a taxicab for a period of ninety (90) days. (b) Upon denial or failure to approve the application, the applicant shall be entitled to a hearing by the city manager or other designated official if within ten (10) days the applicant files a written request for a hearing with the city manager. The hearing shall be held and a decision thereon shall be made within fifteen (15) days after the request, and notice of the decision shall be served upon the applicant in person or by registered mail. (Code 1961, § 20-36; Ord. No. 90-54, § 5, 4-12-90; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-71 Temporary driver permit.

Sec. 28-71. - Temporary driver permit. The chief of police or his/her/their designee may issue a nonrenewable, temporary driver permit to any applicant whose court record, as compiled in the county for the year preceding his/her/their application, meets the requirements of section 28-71 of this chapter. This temporary driver permit shall be valid for a maximum of forty-five (45) days from issue or until his/her/their driver permit has been issued or denied pursuant to section 28-71, whichever period first expires. (Code 1961, § 20-35.1; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-72 Expiration and renewal.

Sec. 28-72. - Expiration and renewal. Taxicab driver's permits shall expire on March 1 of each year. Any persons desiring to renew a driver's permit shall file a new application at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date. (Code 1961, § 20-34; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-73 Posting; to remain property, etc., of the city; replacement.

Sec. 28-73. - Posting; to remain property, etc., of the city; replacement. The driver or operator of every taxicab shall at all times, while operating the taxicab, prominently post and display in such taxicab, so as to be visible to the passengers therein, his/her/their driver's permit to drive or operate a taxicab. Such permit shall contain a photograph of the driver or operator. The driver's permit shall be and remain the property of the city. In the event such permit is lost or stolen, such loss shall be immediately reported to the chief of police and a new permit obtained. (Code 1961, § 20-39; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-74 Suspension.

Sec. 28-74. - Suspension. (a) Except for those violations for which revocation is authorized, the chief of police, or his/her/their designee, shall suspend the permit of any person to drive a taxicab upon finding that the permittee has been convicted of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a violation of the motor vehicle laws of the state or chapter 16, or violated any of the provisions of this article. (b) Upon the first conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the holder of the permit shall be notified in writing by the taxicab inspector that the same is a matter of permanent record on file in the office of the clerk of court. Upon a second conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere within any twelve-month period, the permit shall be suspended for ten (10) days. Upon a third conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere within any twelve-month period, the permit shall be suspended for thirty (30) days. For the fourth offense within the same calendar year, the permit shall be revoked. (c) Upon suspension, a notice thereof shall be served by registered letter upon the permittee. The permittee shall have to surrender the permit immediately but shall have ten (10) days from the receipt of such notice to request in writing that he/she/they have a hearing to determine the basis for the suspension. It shall be unlawful for the person to whom the permit was issued to fail to return the permit to the chief of police. If no hearing is requested, the suspension shall be effective for the period previously designated by the chief of police or his/her/their designee. If a hearing is requested, the city manager or his/her/their designee shall hold such hearing and a decision thereon shall be made within ten (10) days thereafter. Notice of the decision shall be served upon the permittee. Upon the effective date of any suspension, the permittee shall immediately return the permit to the taxicab inspector. No hearing shall be held by the city manager or his/her/their designee or other designated officials unless within ten (10) days from the time of service of the notice of suspension (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) the permittee files a written request with the city manager. If a request is filed, the hearing shall be held and decision thereon shall be made within ten (10) days thereafter, and notice of the decision shall be served upon the permittee. At the expiration of the suspension period, the permit shall be returned to the permittee, who shall be entitled to the immediate use thereof. (Code 1961, §§ 20-38, 20-39; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-75 Revocation.

Sec. 28-75. - Revocation. (a) At any time after the issuance of a permit to any person to drive a taxicab, the chief of police or his/her/their designee shall revoke the permit: (1) If he/she/they finds that the person holding the permit has made a material, false statement in the application for the permit, knowing it to be false. (2) If he/she/they finds that the person holding the permit is physically or mentally incapable of operating a taxicab in a safe manner; provided, if the person holding the permit has been treated for any mental disorder, heart attack, epilepsy, or diabetes, such person shall submit to the city manager a written opinion from a physician or psychiatrist, or both, stating that the person holding the permit is physically and mentally competent to operate a taxicab and has been free from such recurrence for a period of six (6) months. (3) If he/she/they finds that the person holding the permit has been convicted of or has entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere to: a. A felony. b. A violation of any federal or state statute relating to the possession or sale of intoxicating liquors. c. A violation of any federal or state statute relating to the use, possession, or sale of controlled substances. d. A violation of any state statute relating to operating an automobile while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when the amount of alcohol in the blood meets or exceeds a specifically prohibited level, or when the operation of a vehicle has been directly and visibly affected by the operator's consumption of alcoholic beverages. e. A violation of any state or federal statute relating to prostitution or gambling. f. Any crime which may reasonably be interpreted as involving moral turpitude or is so offensive to the public morals, or of a sexual perversion as to justify the conclusion that the applicant is not of good moral character, including but not limited to those offenses listed in North Carolina General Statutes articles 26 and 27 [G.S. §§ 14-177 et seq., 14-203 et seq.]. g. A fourth violation, within any period of twelve (12) months, of the motor vehicle laws of the state, or the traffic ordinances of the city, or any of the provisions of this article. (b) When grounds for revocation exist, the taxicab inspector shall by registered letter give notice to the holder of such permit that the permit is revoked and must be immediately surrendered. It shall be unlawful for the person to whom the permit was issued to fail to return same to the chief of police. The holder of such permit will have ten (10) days from the receipt of such notice to request in writing a hearing with the city manager or his/her/their designee, but such permit is revoked pending such appeal. If no hearing is requested within the allotted time, any appeal is considered waived at the expiration of the ten-day period. If such hearing is requested and the revocation is affirmed following the hearing, the holder of such permit has ten (10) days from the termination of the hearing to give written notice of appeal to the city council, but such permit shall be in revocation pending such hearing. (c) The council hearing of any appeal shall be in the form of certiorari. If council finds that revocation is justified, holder may not reapply for a taxicab permit for a minimum of six (6) months. (Code 1961, §§ 20-37, 20-39; Ord. No. 17-27, § 1, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 28-76 Appeals to city council.

Sec. 28-76. - Appeals to city council. (a) Any person denied a permit to operate a taxicab by the city manager, or any person who has had his/her/their permit to operate a taxicab revoked or suspended by the city manager shall have the right to appeal to the city council. Such appeal shall be in the nature of certiorari, but any suspension or revocation remains in effect until after such appeal is heard and a decision rendered. (b) Notice of such appeal shall be served in writing upon the city manager within ten (10) days from the proposed effective date of the revocation or suspension. (Code 1961, § 20-40; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20)

Source: City of Greensboro, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/greensboro/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH28TABU_ARTIITA_DIV4DRPEFetched: 11/1/2026