Getting a license to run a taxicab

No person or company shall operate a taxicab without first obtaining from the commission a certificate declaring that the public convenience and necessity require the operation and service, in accordance with section 18-6 of this chapter. The procedure for obtaining a certificate to operate a taxicab is hereby established. (a) An applicant for a certificate to operate a taxicab shall submit an application to the director at least forty-five days before a scheduled meeting of the commission. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee of $10 and shall contain the following information: (1) The full name and address of applicant. (A) If applicant is a partnership, the full name and address of all partners. (B) If applicant is a corporation or association, the full name and address of all the officers and directors thereof. (2) A statement detailing any previous experience in the taxicab business, if any, of the applicant, the partners, or if the applicant is a corporation or association, the officers and directors thereof. (3) A criminal abstract of the applicant. If the applicant is a partnership, then a criminal abstract of the partners. If the applicant is a corporation or association, then a criminal abstract of the officers, directors, and supervising employees thereof, including the general manager, if any. (4) The number of taxicabs the applicant desires to operate. (5) The passenger capacity of each vehicle the applicant intends to use as a taxicab according to the manufacturer’s rating, along with the type of vehicle to be used and the name of the manufacturer. (6) Written assurance that each vehicle employed under this certificate shall be kept clean and in good mechanical and physical condition at all times. (7) The insurance proposed to be carried, the amount and name of provider. (8) Details of the service to be provided, including the geographic area of the island to be served and the hours of the proposed service. (9) Any written evidence available to support the contention by the applicant that the public convenience and necessity justify the issuance of this certificate. The burden of proof of this is on the applicant. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION § 18-32 (b) The director shall review each application for completeness and accuracy. Upon a determination by the director that the application is complete in compliance with this section, a public hearing on the application will be scheduled for the next meeting of the commission. Notice of the hearing will be given to the applicant, any other interested parties as determined by the director, and to the public by publication of the notice of hearing in a newspaper as required by chapter 91, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. (c) The applicant will appear at the hearing and present an overview of intended operations, experience, and financial responsibility. If the applicant does not appear, the commission may defer action on the application until the next commission meeting. The director will present any evidence or recommendations as the director may deem necessary to the commission. Any other interested parties may also appear and testify or submit written testimony either in favor of or against the issuance of the certificate. (d) Any certificate which is in effect at July 1, 1990 to operate a taxicab shall continue to be valid for an indefinite term as if it had been issued in accordance with these provisions. (1990, ord 90-119, sec 5.)18-32