City Code Section
- A. Transferring credentials. Transferring taxi driver or taxi vehicle credentials from one driver or vehicle to another is prohibited. Failure to comply with this Subsection A. is a Class B violation subject to penalties provided in Sections 16.40.930 through 16.40.950.
- B. Taxi drivers at all times must carry the following while operating as a taxi driver and provide the following upon request of a law enforcement officer or the City Administrator:
- 1. A nondigital copy of taxi company insurance pursuant to ORS 806.011 and a nondigital copy of the vehicle registration;
- 2. A nondigital copy of the driver’s City business license as required by Portland City Code Chapter 7.02;
- 3. A valid state-issued driver’s license; and
- 4. A valid, original, City driver permit. All licensed drivers must prominently post and display the taxi permit in the taxicab while on duty.
- 5. All required documents listed above must be available and presented at the time of any inspection, upon request.
- 6. Failure to comply with this Subsection B. is a Class D violation subject to penalties provided in Sections 16.40.930 through 16.40.950.
- C. Driver conduct. No taxi driver may:
- 1. Allow another person to use their taxi driver certification;
- 2. Drive or allow another person to drive a taxi vehicle without a valid driver’s license, driver permit, and company certification while the vehicle is being used to provide taxi services;
- 3. Operate any taxi vehicle while consuming, or while under the influence of intoxicants, or in a careless or reckless manner or in a manner contrary to the laws of the City or the State of Oregon;
- 4. Operate any PFHT vehicle if impaired by any legally prescribed or over-the-counter drugs or medications;
- 5. Use a vehicle in the commission of any crime;
- 6. Use or broadcast profane or obscene language offensive to the passenger or other persons while operating a PFHT vehicle;
- 7. Consume any intoxicant, smoke any substance or use any device that produces a smoke-like vapor while operating a taxi vehicle;
- 8. Allow any passenger to consume an intoxicant or smoke any substance or use any device that produces a smoke-like vapor inside a taxi vehicle;
- 9. Defraud a passenger in any way;
- 10. Be discourteous to a passenger;
- 11. Refuse to issue a fully completed receipt, in digital or paper form, for a fare paid if one is requested;
- 12. Drive passengers to their destination by any route other than the safest and efficient route, unless requested to do so by the passenger;
- 13. Operate any taxi vehicle while using a mobile communications device without a hands-free accessory as defined in ORS 811.507(1);
- 14. Refuse to transport to a requested destination within Portland any passenger of proper demeanor whose request for service has been accepted by the taxi dispatch or taxi driver; and
- 15. Provide PFHT services without a valid City permit or certification.
- 16. Violate Section 16.20.130.
- D. Maximum hours of driving. No person may provide PFHT services after driving more than 12 hours in any given 24-hour period.
- E. Street-hails.
- 1. A taxi driver may accept street-hails in all locations including the following locations: taxi stands, hotel zones, and loading/unloading zones.
- 2. Other than for drop off, a taxi driver may not park a taxi vehicle in a hotel zone prior to 15 minutes before pick up for a dispatch or request for service. The dispatch call/request for service must be documented in accordance with Section 16.40.140 and available for review by the City Administrator or law enforcement officer.
- 3. Failure to comply with this Subsection E. is a Class D violation subject to penalties provided in Sections 16.40.930 through 16.40.950.
- F. Mandatory compliance. taxi drivers must submit to compliance audits and enforcement actions upon request by the City Administrator or law enforcement officers pursuant to Chapter 16.40.
- G. Driver reporting. Every taxi driver must report any of the following events to the City Administrator and to all affiliated taxi companies within 24 hours of its occurrence:
- 1. Any arrest, charge, or conviction of the driver for any criminal offense, or any traffic violation;
- 2. Any arrest, charge or conviction of the driver for any criminal offense involving theft, robbery, burglary, assault, sex crimes, drugs, or prostitution;
- 3. Any vehicle crashes by completing and submitting the PBOT Vehicle Crash Report; and
- 4. Any restriction, suspension, or revocation of the driver’s motor vehicle driver’s license.
- H. Unless otherwise noted, failure to comply with any provision in Section 16.40.180 is a Class B violation subject to penalties provided in Sections 16.40.930 through 16.40.950.