HomeMy WebLinkAbout11298-26 Amending Section 4-61 of the South Bend Municipal Code Regarding Taxicab Licensing and Operations and Providing for the Extension of Current Licenses ORDINANCE No .
11298-26
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
July 27, 26
20
Attest: 41444NANV '�, City Clerk
Bianca L. Tirado
Attest: President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
July 28, 20 26
City Clerk
Bianca L. Tirado
Approved and signed by me ItVc11- 20 26
Mayor
/9/ -
/865 •
BILL NO. 46-26
ORDINANCE NO. 11298-26
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA, AMENDING SECTION 4-61 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING TAXICAB LICENSING AND OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING FOR
THE EXTENSION OF CURRENT LICENSES
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT
The City of South Bend ("City") regulates taxicab companies, vehicles, and drivers
pursuant to Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 4-61 of the South Bend Municipal Code; and
The City will be undertaking a comprehensive review of Section 4-61 to evaluate
opportunities to modernize, simplify, and clarify the City's taxicab regulations; and
Key provisions have already been identified within the local industry that do not reflect
current business practices and operational realities; and
The Common Council finds that limited amendments are warranted at this time to
improve administration of the taxicab licensing program in these areas while the broader review
of Section 4-61 continues; and
These preliminary amendments are intended to support continued taxicab service within
the City by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, accommodating modern dispatch
operations, and providing greater administrative efficiency in the licensing process; and
Clarification of definitions will promote consistency with applicable state law and assist
in distinguishing locally regulated taxicab operations from transportation network companies
governed by state law; and
The Common Council finds that these preliminary amendments are in the best interests of
the City to facilitate administration of the City's taxicab licensing program pending consideration
of more comprehensive revisions to Section 4-61.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA as follows:
SECTION I. Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 4-61 is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 4-61. Taxicabs; companies, vehicles and drivers.
(a) Definitions: As used in this section:
(9) Taxicab shall have the meaning set forth in I.C. 8-2.1-17-16, as amended.
(d) License and overall service required of taxicab companies; manifest required; refusal
deemed a violation; revocation:
(2) Holders of taxicab company licenses may maintain a properly zoned physical office
with a telephone line for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching cabs or may
receive calls and dispatch cabs from a mobile location. The telephone line must be
answered by a dispatcher or other person who is not operating a taxicab at the time he
or she is answering the telephone or dispatching taxicabs. No taxi company may accept
calls or dispatch taxicabs from a taxicab or from a property that is not properly zoned.
Licensees shall answer all calls received by them for services inside the corporate
limits of the City as soon as they can do so. If the services cannot be rendered within a
reasonable time, licensees shall notify the prospective passengers how long it will be
before the call can be answered and give the reason therefor. The failure of a company
license holder to have a telephone call for service answered within a reasonable time
shall result in the issuance of fines, license suspension or revocation, or other sanctions
as provided in this chapter. Said provision notwithstanding, a taxicab company may
close between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and neither take calls nor dispatch
cabs..
(4) All companies shall register, maintain, license and insure at least four(4) taxicabs in
order to obtain taxi company licenses, and shall have in service at all times, at least two
(2) taxicabs licensed under this section.
(5) All companies shall list on their application and at all times have registered to drive
their company taxicabs at least four(4) drivers in order to obtain company licenses,
with at least two (2) of those drivers operating at all times.
(6) If a company operating a lawful taxicab business at the time of passage of this section
does not have at least four(4) taxicabs in service, and at least four(4) company drivers
as required by this section, that company shall have until January 2, 2027, to meet such
requirements and to submit proof of compliance to the Controller.
SECTION II. Any license issued under Section 4-61 which expires on September 30, 2026 shall
be extended to an expiration date of September 30, 2027.
SECTION III. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the
Common Council and approval by the Mayor.
•
Canneth J. Lee, C uncil President
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
Bianca L. Tirado, Cit lerk
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the
City of South Bend, Indiana on the 28th day of July _, 2026, at 12 o'clock p.m.
Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me on the L V day of /7 )I , 2026, at I 1 o'clock
�! .m. J I
Jam Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend, Indiana