Driver's Permit

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 29, art. II, div. 2, subpt. II

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-113 Required.

Sec. 29-113. - Required. No person shall drive a taxicab subject to the requirements of this article unless such person first attends a basic taxicab driver orientation program, approved by the Chief of Police, and obtains a driver's permit from the Chief; provided, however, such person may be issued a temporary or provisional permit for a period not to exceed six months during which period such person shall attend the basic taxicab driver orientation program. The initial driver's permit shall last for 12 months following its issuance and may be renewed thereafter annually. The Chief shall prescribe a form to be used in applying for a renewal. Each applicant for a driver's permit shall pay an initial application fee of $20.00 and upon each annual request for renewal of such permit shall pay a fee of $20.00. The fee for replacement of lost, stolen or damaged permits shall be $10.00. The permit shall be valid for the operation of only those vehicles subject to a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under this article. (Code 1993, § 30-41; Code 2004, § 110-62; Code 2015, § 29-113; Code 2020, § 29-113; Ord. No. 2015-198-205, § 1, 11-9-2015)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-114 Application.

Sec. 29-114. - Application. (a) Applications for a taxicab driver's permit shall show the following: (1) The full name of the applicant. (2) Present address. (3) Age and place of birth. (4) Places of previous address and employment for the past five years. (5) Height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair, and sex. (6) Whether or not the applicant is in good physical condition. (7) Whether or not the applicant has good hearing and good eyesight. (8) Whether or not the applicant is or has been, within the period of two years last past, addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors, drugs or other forms of narcotics and, if so, to what extent. (9) Whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any larceny, robbery, assault, battery, crime of moral turpitude, felony, or operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, if so, such other information as may be required by the Chief of Police. (10) The record of the applicant with respect to traffic offenses connected with the operation of motor vehicles and other offenses affecting the suitability of the applicant as a person who should be permitted to operate a taxicab, including violations of this article or the provisions of any other law in this Commonwealth governing the operation of taxicabs or other for-hire vehicles. (11) Whether or not the applicant has previously been employed or licensed as a chauffeur and, if so, whether or not any license or permit issued for such purpose has ever been revoked or suspended for any reason. (12) What experience, if any, the applicant has had in the operation of motor vehicles. (13) The name and address of the owner of the taxicab to be operated by the applicant and, if different, the name and address of the company for whom the applicant will be driving. (14) Whether or not the applicant is required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes against Minors Registry or is listed on the U.S. Department of Justice's National Sex Offender Public Website, and, if so, under what name the applicant is registered or listed. (b) Each applicant shall apply for a driver's permit in person and shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall constitute a part of the application. Each applicant shall have filed with the application two recent personal photographs of a size designated by the Chief of Police, one of which shall be attached to and shall become a part of the application and the other of which shall be attached to the permit, if issued, in such a manner that no other photograph may be substituted therefor without probability of detection. (Code 1993, § 30-42; Code 2004, § 110-63; Code 2015, § 29-114; Code 2020, § 29-114; Ord. No. 2019-256, § 1, 10-14-2019)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-115 Investigation of applicant; issuance, contents and display.

Sec. 29-115. - Investigation of applicant; issuance, contents and display. (a) The Chief of Police, upon the filing of an application for a taxicab driver's permit as set forth in Section 29-114 and after notice to the applicant and opportunity afforded the applicant to be heard, shall promptly make an investigation of the matters stated in the application. If the Chief shall find, upon such investigation, that the applicant possesses the necessary qualifications on the basis of the information furnished in the application and the investigation thereof, the Chief shall issue a permit card, which shall bear a number and which shall contain the following: (1) The name, business address and a photograph of the applicant; (2) The name of the owner of the vehicles to be operated by the applicant; and (3) If different, the name of the company for whom the applicant will be driving. The driver shall post the permit card in full view of the passenger in any taxicab which is being operated or is in charge of the applicant. The permit shall be valid only for the operation of such vehicle owned by the person listed on such permit card and shall not be valid for operation of any other taxicab until such time as the driver has provided written notification, on a form provided by the Chief, and shall have had the name of the owner of such other vehicle indicated on the permit. (b) The possession by a person of a valid, current driver's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles shall create a presumption that such person has the minimum physical and mental qualifications provided in this article for driving a taxicab. However, if the Chief has doubts as to an applicant's physical or mental capability, the Chief may require the applicant to submit to a physical examination by a licensed doctor of medicine and to verify by written report filed by such doctor the applicant's physical or mental capabilities. (Code 1993, § 30-43; Code 2004, § 110-6; Code 2015, § 29-115; Code 2020, § 29-115)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-116 Denial.

Sec. 29-116. - Denial. Subject to Section 29-91, the Chief of Police shall refuse to issue a taxicab driver's permit to a person who has filed an application as set forth in Section 29-115 if, based upon the application and after investigation, the Chief finds any of the following: (1) The applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere within the past three years to any felony. (2) The applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere within the past 12 months to any larceny, assault, battery, crime of moral turpitude or illegal possession of controlled substances where such crime is other than a felony. (3) The applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere within the past 12 months to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (4) The applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere within the past 12 months to three or more moving violations under the motor vehicle laws of this Commonwealth other than those involving operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (5) The applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere within the past 12 months to three or more violations of this article or of any other local law in the Commonwealth governing the operation of taxicabs or other for-hire vehicles. (6) The applicant has ever been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded nolo contendere to any felony involving violence or to distribution of a controlled substance, or to any other felony or combination of felonies which indicates to the Chief of Police that the applicant is of unfit or unworthy character. The Chief shall consider the period of time that has passed since the conviction, plea, etc., as well as any other mitigating circumstances presented by the applicant. (7) The applicant knowingly made or caused to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement on the application. (8) The applicant otherwise lacks the following minimum physical or mental qualifications: a. Drivers shall have no mental, nervous, organic or functional disease likely to interfere with safe driving. b. Drivers shall have no loss or impairment of use of foot, leg, fingers, hand or arms or other structural defect or limitation likely to interfere with safe driving. c. Drivers shall in any and all other respects satisfy the minimum mental and physical requirements for issuance of a driver's license by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. (9) The applicant is less than 18 years of age. (10) The applicant does not possess a valid and current driver's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. (11) The applicant is prohibited by Code of Virginia, § 46.2-2011.33 from operating a taxicab for the transportation of passengers for remuneration over the highways of the Commonwealth. (Code 1993, § 30-44; Code 2004, § 110-65; Code 2015, § 29-116; Code 2020, § 29-116; Ord. No. 2019-256, § 1, 10-14-2019)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-117 Revocation.

Sec. 29-117. - Revocation. (a) Subject to Section 29-91, the permit of any driver of a taxicab shall immediately become void and shall be immediately surrendered upon the occurrence of any of the following: (1) The driver is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to any felony; (2) The driver is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to any larceny, assault, battery, crime of moral turpitude or illegal possession of controlled substances where such crime is other than a felony; (3) The driver is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (4) The driver is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere within a 12-month period to three or more moving violations under the motor vehicle laws of this Commonwealth other than those involving operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (5) The driver is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere within a 12-month period to three or more violations of this article or of any other local law in this Commonwealth governing the operation of taxicabs or other for-hire vehicles; (6) The Chief finds, after investigation, that the driver, within a three-year period, has on two or more occasions made a charge above or below the rates prescribed by Section 29-34; (7) The Chief finds, after investigation, that the driver knowingly made or caused to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement on the application for a permit which was issued; (8) The Chief finds, after investigation, that the driver no longer possesses the physical or mental qualifications prescribed in Section 29-116(8); (9) The driver no longer possesses a valid and current driver's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles; or (10) The Chief finds, after investigation, that Code of Virginia, § 46.2-2011.33 prohibits the driver from operating a taxicab for the transportation of passengers for remuneration over the highways of the Commonwealth. (b) All drivers and certificate holders shall notify the Chief of Police within 15 days of the occurrence of any event enumerated in Subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (9), or (10) of this section. (Code 1993, § 30-45; Code 2004, § 110-66; Code 2015, § 29-117; Code 2020, § 29-117; Ord. No. 2015-198-205, § 1, 11-9-2015; Ord. No. 2019-256, § 1, 10-14-2019)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-118 Issuance after denial; reissuance after revocation.

Sec. 29-118. - Issuance after denial; reissuance after revocation. Except as provided in Section 29-119, any person refused a taxicab driver's permit under Section 29-116 or whose driver's permit is revoked under Section 29-117 shall not be eligible for issuance of a new permit until such time as the grounds for refusal of a permit under Section 29-116 no longer apply. However, if a driver's permit is refused or revoked for knowingly making or causing to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement or for making a charge above or below the rates prescribed by Section 29-34 or if a driver's permit is revoked under Section 29-117(a)(3), (4) or (5), such driver shall not be eligible until 12 months from the date of refusal or revocation or from the date the Chief of Police was informed of the grounds supporting such revocation, whichever is later. (Code 1993, § 30-46; Code 2004, § 110-67; Code 2015, § 29-118; Code 2020, § 29-118)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-119 Probationary permit.

Sec. 29-119. - Probationary permit. (a) The Chief of Police may issue a probationary permit to an applicant for a taxicab driver's permit who fails to meet the standards set forth in Section 29-116(1) upon the recommendation of a court whose conviction of the applicant resulted in ineligibility for a permit under this article; provided, however, that a probationary permit shall not be issued to any such applicant who has, within 12 months of the date of application, been convicted at trial of a felony or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere thereto. (b) The Chief may issue a probationary permit to a driver, following revocation of such driver's permit under Section 29-117(a)(1), upon the recommendation of a court whose conviction of the driver resulted in ineligibility for a permit under this article; provided, however, that a probationary permit shall not be issued to such driver sooner than 12 months from the date of revocation of the driver's permit. (c) A probationary permit shall be effective until such time as the driver is eligible for reissuance under Section 29-140; provided, however, that a probationary permit may be revoked at any time by the Chief upon a finding of violation of any section of this article. (Code 1993, § 30-47; Code 2004, § 110-68; Code 2015, § 29-119; Code 2020, § 29-119)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH29VEHI_ARTIITA_DIV2DRPECEPUCONE_SDIIDRPEFetched: 11/8/2026