§ 20-112. Violation of law and monetary fines.

(a)

The owner of each taxicab or limousine shall maintain the vehicle in accordance with the laws of this State, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the provisions of this Subtitle and other regulations or ordinances of the County, with due regard to the safety, comfort and convenience of passengers and the general public. The driver of each taxicab or limousine shall operate it in accordance with the same laws and principles.

(b)

The Director may issue a notice of violation, including the amount of the applicable fine, to any taxicab or limousine owner who permits operation of his/her vehicle where the vehicle fails to meet the requirements of the laws of this State, the provisions of this Subtitle, and other regulations or ordinances of the County. The fine for the first such violation shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), for second violation shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250) and for a third or any subsequent violation shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500).

(c)

The notice shall be mailed or delivered to the responsible party(ies) or their agents and shall state: the specifics of the violation; the amount of the fine; the actions required for compliance; a statement that the failure to comply with the notice may result in suspension or revocation of the parties' license or certificate, or other legal action; and how the person or company may appeal the violation notice.

(d)

A notice of violation may be appealed as provided in Section 20-106 of this Code.

(e)

If a violation notice is not appealed, or is upheld upon appeal, and the person or company fails to correct the violation as required by the notice, the Director may take one or more of the following actions:

(1)

Issue a citation as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section;

(2)

Revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the license and/or certificate;

(3)

Seek injunctive or other appropriate legal relief to enforce the provisions of this Subtitle.

(f)

Where the continued operation of a vehicle poses an immediate or ongoing compromise to the safety of the riding public or the driver, in lieu of a violation notice, the Director may issue a citation pursuant to Subtitle 28, Division 3, of this Code to a person, persons who operates or permits others to operate a taxicab or limousine in violation of any of the provisions of this Subtitle. The citation shall serve as notification to the person that he has committed a civil violation and must pay to the County a monetary fine, subject to the right to trial under Section 28-257 of this Code. The amount of the fine shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each violation, and each day in which the violation remains uncorrected shall constitute a separate violation. In addition to the remedies provided under Section 28-258 of this Code, the Director may revoke or suspend the license and/or certificate of a person who fails to pay the fine or request adjudication of a citation.

(CB-54-1974; CB-132-1984; CB-24-1987; CB-49-2000; CB-36-2010; CB-9-2016)