Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Application to
Commission. To obtain a taxi driver's certificate, an individual shall
apply to the Commission at the designated office in Philadelphia.
(b)
Required documentation and form
of application. Upon applying for a taxi driver's certificate, an
individual shall present the following to a representative of the Commission:
(1) A current and valid driver's
license.
(2) One additional form of
identification.
(3) A completed
Taxi Driver's Certificate Application, (Appendix A), signed by the applicant
and acknowledged, consistent with section 2 of the Uniform Acknowledgments Act
(21
P. S. §
291.2).
(4) A criminal history record information
obtained from the State Police for the proposed driver dated within 60 days
prior to the filing of the application.
(5) A driver history from the Department of
Transportation or the equivalent from the jurisdiction in which the applicant
is currently licensed dated within 60 days prior to the filing of the
application.
(6) A training
certificate issued by the Commission indicating that the applicant has
satisfactorily completed driver training as prescribed by this
subchapter.
(7) A certified check
or United States Postal money order in the amount established for issuance of a
taxi driver's certificate under 66 Pa.C. S. § 2414 (relating to budget and
fees).
(c)
Current driver's license required.
(1) A taxi driver's certificate will not be
issued to an individual who does not hold a current, valid driver's
license.
(2) The Commission may
refuse to issue a taxi driver's certificate to an individual previously
convicted or who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of 75
Pa.C. S. (relating to the Vehicle Code), other than a summary offense, or
similar vehicle codes in other jurisdictions which reflects recklessness or
indifference to the public health, safety or welfare.
(d)
Driver examination. To
obtain a taxi driver's certificate, an individual shall take and pass an
examination to be administered by the Commission. Failure to successfully pass
the examination within 90 days of the filing of the application shall render
the application void. In that event, a new application with the required fee
and records shall be filed before the individual may again take an examination.
An applicant is permitted to take an unlimited number of scheduled examinations
during the 90-day period. The examination shall include questions regarding the
Commission's driver and vehicle regulations contained in this chapter, the
tariff governing rates and charges and the geography of the city and county of
Philadelphia. Some examination instructions shall be presented verbally, in
English. The assistance of interpreters will not be permitted.
(e)
Driver training.
(1)
Training program
content. The driver training program will provide instruction to
taxicab drivers in cities of the first class in the following areas:
(i)
Commission regulations applicable
to drivers in cities of the first class. This includes training in the
following:
(A) Commission regulations
governing taxi drivers.
(B)
Commission regulations governing medallion holders.
(C) Commission regulations governing
equipment.
(D) Penalties for
violation of Commission regulations.
(E) An overview of the administrative process
when a violation occurs.
(F) The
identification and address of the Commission office responsible for
administering 66 Pa.C.S. Chapter 24 (relating to taxi cabs in first class
cities) (Medallion Act).
(ii)
Customer service. This
includes training in the following:
(A)
Personal appearance of drivers.
(B)
Driver courtesy.
(C) Assistance to
elderly, infirm or disabled persons.
(iii)
Customer and driver
safety. This includes training in the following:
(A) Defensive driving techniques.
(B) Emergency aid.
(C) Vehicle and equipment
inspections.
(D) Crime
prevention.
(iv)
Regional and geographical knowledge. This includes training in
the following:
(A) Map reading.
(B) Overview of major street and traffic
patterns.
(C) Identification and
location of popular landmarks and locations.
(2)
Driver training
requirements.
(i) Driver training in
the areas described in paragraph (1) is mandatory to obtain a taxi driver's
certificate.
(ii) Driver training
consists of a minimum of 18 hours of instruction, subject to subparagraph
(iv).
(iii) Driver training shall
be received from the Commission or a program provider instructor designated by
the Commission as provided at paragraph (3).
(iv) A taxi driver who has a driver's
certificate issued prior to implementation of the driver training requirement
is required to complete training only in the areas of customer service and
customer and driver safety. This is a minimum of 6 hours of training. Currently
certificated drivers shall have until June 30, 1997, to complete
training.
(v) A taxi driver who has
completed driver training as required and whose taxi driver's certificate has
not expired or has not been suspended or cancelled is not required to repeat
driver training at the time of biannual renewal of the certificate.
(3)
Program provider
requirements. The Commission will provide either all or part of the
driver training or will designate program providers to provide the driver
training. If the Commission designates a program provider to provide all or
part of the training, that provider will be selected by the competitive bid
process. The program provider shall notify the Commission, in writing, of those
individuals who have satisfactorily completed training within 10 days of
completion of the training. The Commission will issue a certificate to the
individual stating that the individual has satisfied the driver training
requirements.
(f)
Disqualification by reason of felony conviction. A taxi
driver's certificate will not be issued to an individual convicted of a felony
under the laws of the Commonwealth or under the laws of another jurisdiction
and who is under the supervision of a court or correctional institution as a
result of that conviction so long as a court or correctional institution
maintains some form of supervision. The supervision may include incarceration,
probation, parole and furlough.
(g)
Disqualification for conviction of crime of moral turpitude. A
taxi driver's certificate will not be issued to an individual convicted of a
crime of moral turpitude, whether a felony or misdemeanor, under the laws of
the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction and who is under the supervision of a
court or correctional institution as a result of that conviction so long as the
court or correctional institution maintains some form of supervision. The
supervision may include incarceration, probation, parole and
furlough.
(h)
Disqualification for failure to comply with application
requirements. A taxi driver's certificate will not be issued to an
individual who fails to comply with this section.
(i)
Disqualification for inability to
speak English. A taxi driver's certificate will not be issued to an
individual who does not speak the English language sufficiently to communicate
with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the
English language, to respond to official inquiries and to make verifiable
entries on reports and records.
(j)
Disqualification for failure to be truthful on application. A
taxi driver's certificate will not be issued to an individual who knowingly
makes any false statement on a driver's certificate application.
(k)
Suspension of taxi driver's
certificate. A taxi driver's certificate will be immediately suspended
and confiscated when the certificateholder's driver's license has been
suspended or revoked, the certificateholder's taxi driver's certificate has
expired, or the certificateholder made a false statement on the application
which impacts upon the public health or safety. A hearing on the suspension
will be held within 30 days of the date of suspension.
The provisions of this §30.72 amended under the
Public Utility Code, 6 Pa.C.S. §
§ 501, 2404(a), 2409 and
2412.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
30.73 (relating to expiration and
renewal of certificate).
