CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY/BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIRED FOR ALL MOTOR VEHICLES FOR HIRE

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 56, art. I, div. 2

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-20 Certificate/business license required.

§ 56-20. - Certificate/business license required. It shall be unlawful for any person, company, firm, partnership, owner, association or corporation to engage in the business of operating any motor vehicle for hire which picks up any passengers within the City limits, without having first obtained from the Vehicle for Hire Inspector a certificate of public convenience and necessity/business license. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-21 Certificate/business licensee not exempt from airport regulations.

§ 56-21. - Certificate/business licensee not exempt from airport regulations. The certificate of public convenience and necessity/business license or driver's permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall not exempt the licensee or permittee from otherwise complying with the ordinances of the City, pertaining to Chapter 10 Aviation, and/or administrative rules and regulations, including any permit or operational requirements pertaining to any airport. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 25002, § 3, 10-21-14)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-22 Responsibility for vehicles operating under certificate/business license; driving for more than one licensee; additional fees.

§ 56-22. - Responsibility for vehicles operating under certificate/business license; driving for more than one licensee; additional fees. (a) Ownership of all vehicles licensed under this article shall be at the option of the licensee, and vehicles may be owned by the licensee, leased by the licensee and/or independently owned by a person other than the licensee. However, the licensee shall be responsible for all vehicles operating under the authority of its certificate/business license. Any violation of any provisions of Oklahoma State law or this article by any driver, who is an employee, independent contractor and/or agent of the licensee, may be deemed a violation by the certificate/business license holder, if other requirements of this article are met, as specifically set forth herein. (b) The licensee shall be responsible for providing a sufficient number of permitted drivers, vehicles and dispatch personnel to operate the business safely and in accordance with all rules of this article. (c) Where a person owns more than one vehicle for hire company and certificates/business licenses are issued to both companies, drivers can move from one company to another, without additional fees, as long as they move to a company owned by the same licensee. However, if drivers move to a company owned by another licensee, the driver shall obtain a new permit and pay the permit fee, as prescribed in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees. (d) No licensee shall allow any person to drive a motor vehicle for hire under the authority of licensee's license if said person has failed a drug or alcohol test administered to said person pursuant to the licensee's drug and alcohol testing policies. (e) No licensee shall knowingly permit any person to drive a motor vehicle for hire if the licensee or any of licensee's managers, owners, officers, agents or employees is aware that the driver is under the influence of alcohol, or any drug that could impair that person's ability to drive a motor vehicle for hire. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-23 Application for certificate/business license.

§ 56-23. - Application for certificate/business license. Applicants for a certificate/business license shall file with the Police Department's Permits and IDs Unit a verified application setting forth the following which shall be presented to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector for consideration of granting a license: (a) Name, business address, business name, and any established place(s) of business of the applicant; including address and location of dispatcher (if applicable); (b) Names of all owners; officers, and managers of the applicant; (c) Number of motor vehicles for hire for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity/business license is desired and manufacturer's rated seating capacity of each vehicle; (d) Proof of insurance coverage as required by this article; (e) Description of the proposed color scheme, insignia or any other distinguishing characteristics of the motor vehicle for hire; (f) Schedule showing the passenger fares to be charged; and the meter rate (for taxis) per mile or fraction thereof; (g) Description of type and extent of service to be rendered (e.g., airport shuttle, medical service van, taxicab, limousine, party bus, etc.); (h) With the application, applicant shall attach a copy of applicant's drug and alcohol testing policies. The policies shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: 1. A statement of the licensee's policy respecting drug and alcohol use by employees and independent contractors; 2. Which employees and independent contractors are subject to testing; 3. The circumstances under which testing may be requested or required; 4. Substances which may be tested; 5. Testing methods and collection procedures to be used; 6. Consequences of refusing to undergo testing; 7. Potential adverse personnel action which may be taken as a result of a positive test result; 8. The rights of the employee and/or independent contractor to explain, in confidence, the test results; 9. The rights of the employee and/or independent contractor to obtain all information and records related to that person's testing; 10. Confidentiality requirements; and 11. The available appeal procedures, remedies and sanctions. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 25002, § 3, 10-21-14; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-24 Criteria for granting a certificate of convenience and necessity/business license.

§ 56-24. - Criteria for granting a certificate of convenience and necessity/business license. The Vehicle for Hire Inspector shall investigate and consider whether the applicant has the ability to comply with the requirements of this article, including: (a) Whether the applicant has complied with the application requirements; (b) Whether applicant has available for operation at least five motor vehicles for hire (for taxi services only); and (c) Whether applicant has a unique color scheme and/or trademark and/or name different from any other motor vehicle for hire licensee so that a reasonable person would not confuse the different licensees. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 25002, § 3, 10-21-14; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-25 Reserved.

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-26 Issuance of certificate of convenience and necessity/business license; vehicle inspections; vehicle for hire decals required; annual renewal required; outstanding administrative fees.

§ 56-26. - Issuance of certificate of convenience and necessity/business license; vehicle inspections; vehicle for hire decals required; annual renewal required; outstanding administrative fees. (a) If the Police Department's Permits and IDs Unit shall find that an applicant has met the requirements of this article for a certificate of public convenience and necessity/business license, a certificate/license to that effect shall be issued to the applicant by the Vehicle for Hire Inspector, setting forth the number of vehicles for hire allowed under the certificate/business license. Before the Vehicle for Hire Inspector shall issue any certificate/license, the applicant shall pay the fees as set forth in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees, for the certificate/license. (b) Each vehicle to be operated under the authority of the licensee shall be inspected by the Vehicle for Hire Inspector before it can be used as a vehicle for hire. The vehicle title; tag; insurance verification; and Oklahoma Corporation Commission decal or USDOT/UCR number where applicable, shall be provided to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector at the time of inspection. If the vehicle meets the requirements as set forth in this article and the vehicle decal fee is paid to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector, as set forth in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees, the Vehicle for Hire Inspector shall affix the vehicle decal to the lower driver's side of the windshield of said vehicle. Once the decal is affixed, the vehicle may be operated as a vehicle for hire. (c) By June 30th of each year, every licensee shall renew its certificate/license to operate and pay fees, to the Police Department's Permits and ID Unit, in the amounts designated in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees. All renewals not affecting the number of licensed vehicles may be handled administratively. Any renewals requesting an increased or decreased number of vehicles for hire shall require approval of the Vehicle for Hire Inspector. No license shall be renewed if any administrative fees assessed, pursuant to Section 56-68, against said licensee are due and unpaid. (d) Upon application for renewal of the vehicle decals, the licensee shall submit the following information in writing to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector, along with a copy of the vehicle title; tag; insurance verification; and Oklahoma Corporation Commission decal or USDOT/UCR number where applicable, for each vehicle to be used in such business: (1) the licensee's name, the business owner's name (or names of officers if company is a corporation); and (2) the company address, and for taxis only, the location of dispatcher(s). (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-27 Monthly list of vehicles taken out of service; monthly list of vehicles placed into service; procedure for approval.

§ 56-27. - Monthly list of vehicles taken out of service; monthly list of vehicles placed into service; procedure for approval. (a) By the last day of each month, the licensee shall submit to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector a list of any permitted motor vehicles for hire that were permanently removed from motor vehicle for hire service by the licensee during that month. (b) By the last day of each month, the licensee shall submit to the Vehicle for Hire Inspector a list of any motor vehicles for hire that have been put into service during that month or are subject to a contract with a motor vehicle for hire company to begin service during that month. Any new motor vehicle for hire to be placed in service shall be inspected by the Vehicle for Hire Inspector prior to its use in connection with the business. If the vehicle is three years old or older by model year, or has 150,000 miles, whichever comes first, an ASE Certified Master Technician inspection must be done, and passed, before the Vehicle for Hire Inspector will perform the City inspection. The ASE Certified Master Technician inspection shall include an inspection of the vehicle's braking system (parking brake, disc/drums, hoses, lines, etc.); suspension system (shock absorbers/struts, springs, shackles, etc.); steering system (power steering, linkage, free turning, etc.); and exhaust system (leaks, legal muffler, tailpipe, noise, etc.). No vehicle failing either the City's inspection or the ASE Certified Master Technician inspection will be granted a vehicle for hire permit. If the new vehicle is approved pursuant to such inspection, the Vehicle for Hire Inspector shall affix a decal to the newly approved vehicle. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 25002, § 3, 10-21-14)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-28 Transfer of certificate/business license prohibited.

§ 56-28. - Transfer of certificate/business license prohibited. No certificate of public convenience/business license may be sold, assigned, mortgaged, or otherwise transferred by the person or company to whom issued except upon approval of the Police Department's Permits and IDs Unit. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 56-29 Revocation or suspension of certificate/business license and grounds therefore; notice; hearing; appeal to License Appeal Board.

§ 56-29. - Revocation or suspension of certificate/business license and grounds therefore; notice; hearing; appeal to License Appeal Board. (a) The Chief of Police or designee may at any time, pursuant to the revocation or suspension proceedings as hereinafter described, revoke or suspend the certificate of convenience and necessity/business license granted under this article, if it makes any of the following determinations of violations by (1) any owners, operators, managers, partners, officers or employees of the licensee or (2) an independent contractor or agent operating under the authority of licensee if the licensee has knowledge of, reasonably should have had knowledge of or supported the violations committed by the independent contractor or agent: (1) If vehicles operated under the authority/endorsement of the licensee are not operated in accordance with the provisions of this article; (2) If a taxicab licensee suspends service for a period of ten days without permission obtained from the Police Department's Permits and IDs Unit; (3) If vehicles are operated within the corporate limits of the City at a rate or fare greater than that specified in the rate schedule then in effect and on file with the Police Department's Permits and IDs Unit; (4) If a motor vehicle for hire is operated but is not insured as required by this article; (5) If the certificate/business license was procured by fraudulent conduct or false statement of a material fact, or a fact concerning the applicant was not disclosed at the time of application and such fact would have constituted just cause for refusal to issue the certificate/license; (6) If those persons, owners, operators, managers, partners, officers, employees, independent contractors, and/or agents operating motor vehicles for hire pursuant to the licensee's authority have violated any provisions of the article, or have committed any other acts, which reflect unfavorably on the fitness of the licensee to offer public services; (7) If those persons, owners, operators, managers, partners, officers, employees, independent contractors and/or agents operating vehicles for hire pursuant to the authority of a licensee, have intercepted calls for service of other licensed motor vehicle for hire companies; and/or (8) If those persons, owners, operators, managers, partners, officers, employees, independent contractors or agents operating vehicles for hire pursuant to licensee's authority have failed to maintain adequate and properly operating equipment as required by this article. (b) In determining whether to revoke or suspend the certificate of convenience and necessity/business license, the Chief of Police or designee may consider, as a mitigating factor, any independent action taken by the licensee to deter future violations by any of the owners, operators, managers, partners, officers, or employees of the licensee or independent contractor or agent operating under the authority of the licensee. The Chief of Police or designee may apply the mitigating factor to their decision regarding revocation versus suspension, the appropriate length of a suspension, or a waiver of suspension. (c) In order to initiate revocation or suspension proceedings, the Vehicle for Hire Inspector shall cause written notice to be given to the licensee that a hearing will be held thereon by the Chief of Police or designee. Such notice shall be given at least five days prior to the date of such hearing and shall specify the grounds upon which revocation or suspension proceedings will be conducted. At such hearing the Chief of Police or designee shall consider all relevant testimony before making its determinations thereon. A licensee may appeal from an adverse ruling by the Chief of Police or designee to the License Appeals Board, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 26-17 through 26-24 of the Code. (d) Upon suspension or revocation of a motor vehicle for hire company's certificate/business license, all drivers' permits authorized under the motor vehicle for hire company's license shall be deemed invalid until such time as the drivers provide the Vehicle for Hire Inspector a letter of endorsement from a licensed Vehicle for Hire company. The drivers may move to a Vehicle for Hire company pursuant to Section 56-22. (Ord. No. 24120, § 3, 8-17-10; Ord. No. 25002, § 3, 10-21-14; Ord. No. 25298, § 1, 1-5-16; Ord. No. 26994, § 1, 1-4-22)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH56VEHIOTTRSE_ARTIMOVEHI_DIV2CEPUCONEBULIREALMOVEHIFetched: 10/28/2026