Chauffeur's License

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV, div. 2, subpt. III

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-212 Exclusions; required.

Sec. 8-212. - Exclusions; required. (a) This subdivision, consisting of sections 8-212 through 8-216, shall not apply to drivers of carriages or pedicabs and the reference to "certified vehicles for hire" in this subdivision shall not mean carriages or pedicabs. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a certified vehicle for hire who does not possess a valid city chauffeur's license. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-213 Chauffer's license.

Sec. 8-213. - Chauffer's license. (a) Application; fee. Every person desiring to drive a certified vehicle for hire shall pay a fee of $25.00 and shall make a written application to the chief of police, on forms furnished by the chief of police. The application shall be verified under oath stating: (1) The name, address, and age of the applicant. The minimum age is 21. (2) The applicant's place of residence for two years immediately preceding his/her current address. (3) A full description of the applicant, including his/her race, height, weight, color of eyes and hair, scars or marks. (4) The names and addresses of the applicant's employers during the last five years prior to his/her application. (5) All misdemeanors and felonies for which the applicant has been convicted. The applicant shall state the name and location of the court and the date on which each such conviction was rendered and the penalty imposed. (6) Whether applicant has previously held a license anywhere as a driver or chauffeur and whether such license has been revoked, or suspended, and, if so, for what cause. (7) The number of the applicant's valid driver's license unless exempt under state law. (8) Any other relevant information, which the police department may require. (b) Attachments to application. Every applicant for a city chauffeur's license, at the time of submitting his/her application, shall: (1) Be photographed by the police department. (2) Exhibit his/her valid driver's license for inspection, unless exempt under state law. (3) Submit to the State of Alabama a request for a driving record check on the Alabama Department of Public Safety record request form; and criminal record check on the appropriate Alabama Bureau of Investigation criminal history release form. (c) Issuance of chauffeur's license. (1) No vested property right or property interest of any type is acquired by a chauffeur's license issued to any person under this subdivision. (2) All chauffeurs' licenses are revocable and subject to suspension in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision and are to be exercised only in conformance with the provisions of this division. (3) Upon the receipt of the information provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the chief of police or such other member of the police department as he/she may designate shall issue a temporary city chauffeur's license to the applicant, which shall be valid for a period not to exceed 45 days, if he/she shall find that the applicant holds a valid state driver's license, unless exempt under state law, and the applicant is a fit and proper person to drive a certified vehicle for hire, considering the information submitted in his/her application or otherwise found to exist; otherwise such temporary license shall be denied. The temporary chauffeur's license may be revoked at any time by the chief of police for cause and such revocation shall be final and not subject to appeal. (4) Upon receipt of the information on official forms received from the department of public safety and Alabama Bureau of Investigation as provided for in subsection (b), the chief of police or other member of the police department as he/she may designate shall issue a city chauffeur's license to the applicant, if he/she shall find that the applicant is a fit and proper person to drive a certified vehicle for hire considering the information submitted from the state's record check from the department of public safety and criminal history record from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. The city chauffeur's license may be denied based on any disqualifying information the chief of police shall have found to exist, and written notice of the denial shall be provided to the applicant and shall contain the grounds for denial. (d) Duration, renewal, display. (1) A city chauffeur's license shall in no event be valid for more than four years from the date of issuance and may be renewed each third year by re-application with the police department. Such application shall include all information required by the chief of police including updated criminal history and driving records check required in section 8-213, and shall be subject to the same approval criteria and process, including the right of appeal in case of denial, as the initial application process. (2) City chauffeur's license shall be displayed on the dash of all taxicabs in a manner so that they may be seen clearly from all seating positions in the vehicle. In the case of other vehicles for hire a driver shall keep his or her chauffeur's license in his/her possession or in a readily accessible place in the vehicle while it is being operated and present it upon request to a passenger or potential passenger, the chief of police or other a law enforcement officer of the city, or the director of the department of parking and public transit or city personnel operating under the director's supervision. (e) Change of address; loss of chauffeur's license. Every city chauffeur licensed as such pursuant to this division shall within five working days notify the chief of police of any change of his/her address or loss of his/her city chauffeur's license, or temporary chauffeur's license. A lost, destroyed or mutilated chauffeur's license shall be replaced upon payment of a fee of $10.00. (f) Transfer. The city chauffeur's license issued under this division shall enable the holder thereof to operate a certified vehicle for hire for a certified company. The city chauffeur's license shall be nontransferable or assignable from one person to another person. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-214 Suspension; revocation.

Sec. 8-214. - Suspension; revocation. (a) For a violation of division. (1) After the issuance of a chauffeur's license, the chief of police may, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, for an offense against any provision of this division, suspend the chauffeur's license issued hereunder of such person convicted for a period of time not to exceed 90 days. (2) Upon a second conviction, the chauffeur's license for such person convicted may be permanently revoked by the chief of police. (b) Other grounds. The chief of police may revoke or suspend a chauffeur's license as follows: (1) Upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of a crime that would otherwise disqualify that person from being issued a chauffeur's license; (2) If the issuance of the chauffeur's license is based on a false statement or misrepresentation to the city; or (3) For failure to maintain any of the general qualifications or eligibility requirements required in this subdivision for a chauffeur's license. (c) Notice of action. Except where this division provides for an automatic action against a chauffeur's license, before a chauffeur's license is revoked or suspended the chief of police shall provide written notice to the license holder of the proposed action, stating the grounds therefor, and providing the holder with an opportunity, upon request, to present to the chief of police evidence as to why the chauffeur's license should not be revoked or suspended; provided, however, if, in the opinion of the chief of police, the health or safety of the public is immediately threatened the chief may immediately suspend, orally or in writing, the chauffeur's license, and upon such immediate suspension the holder of the chauffeur's license may proceed to request a hearing as hereafter provided. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-215 Appeal of denial, suspension; revocation.

Sec. 8-215. - Appeal of denial, suspension; revocation. (a) Except where this division provides for an automatic action against a chauffeur's license, in which case no appeal is provided for, in order to appeal the denial, suspension, or revocation of a chauffeur's license, the license holder must, within fifteen days after receiving the police chief's notice, provide to the police chief a written notice requesting a hearing. The notice requesting a hearing shall set forth the reason(s) why the holder disagrees with the action of the chief, the names of any witnesses, a list of any documents that will be submitted at the hearing, and whether the holder will be represented at the hearing and the name of the counsel or representative of choice of the possessor. Failure to file a timely appeal shall cause the chief's decision to be final, unless the chief waives the failure for good cause shown. (b) The chief of police shall set a hearing within 30 days of the date a request for a hearing has been received; provided, however, in the event of immediate suspension, the hearing shall be set within ten days from the date the written notice requesting a hearing has been received. Notice of the hearing shall be sent to the holder and shall state the hearing date, time, and location. (c) Within 20 days of the conclusion of the hearing, the chief of police shall render a decision, which may include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Upholding or reversing his denial. (2) Suspension, for a designated period of time or until a violation has been remedied, of the chauffeur's license. (3) Revocation of the chauffeur's license for a minimum of one year. (d) The chief of police shall provide a written notice of the decision to the holder. (e) Appeal of adverse decision. (1) A holder that receives an adverse decision may appeal the decision of the chief of police to the license review committee, consisting of the director of parking and public transit, the city clerk-treasurer, and the city administrator, or their respective designees, by filing a written notice of appeal with the chief of police. The notice of appeal shall be filed within ten days of receiving the notice of the decision of the chief of police and shall state the grounds for appeal, the names of any witnesses and their anticipated testimony, a list of any documents that will be submitted, and whether the applicant will be represented at the hearing and the name of the counsel or representative of choice of the applicant. Failure to file a timely appeal shall cause the chief's decision to be final. The filing of the notice of the appeal will not delay the effectiveness of any suspension or revocation. (2) Upon receipt, the chief of police shall schedule the hearing before the license review committee, and shall send notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing to the holder. (3) The chief of police, or his designee, shall be present at the hearing before the license review committee and shall be allowed to present evidence in support of his decision. The license review committee may affirm, reverse or modify the decision appealed from. The decision of the license review committee shall be final. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-216 Business license.

Sec. 8-216. - Business license. Nothing in this subdivision III shall be construed to exempt an affiliated driver that operates a vehicle for hire for a vehicle for hire company as an independent contractor of the company from obtaining a business license as may be required pursuant to chapter 15 of this Code. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVVEHI_DIV2LIVE_SDIIICHLIFetched: 11/6/2026