Spokane Municipal Code

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division II. License Code

Chapter 10.34A For-Hire Transportation

Section 10.34A.080 For-Hire Driver Licenses

1. Application for a for-hire driver license shall be made to the license officer with payment of the required fee as stated in SMC 08.02.0210. In addition to the requirements of SMC 4.04.030, an applicant for a for-hire driver license must attest, under penalty of perjury, to the following:

1. Applicant’s name, date of birth, and address;

2. whether the applicant was previously licensed as a for-hire driver and, if so, the jurisdiction and dates of licensure and the license number, as well as the current status of such license;

3. that the applicant is a licensed driver, at least twenty (20) years old, and with at least twelve (12) months’ driving history;

4. that the applicant has not been convicted of more than three (3) moving violations within the previous three (3) years and has no pending charge for failure to appear;

5. that the applicant has passed a background check as required by SMC 10.34A.050;

6. that the applicant either (i) complies with the requirements of Spokane Municipal Code chapter 8.01, as applicable, or (ii) identifies a licensed for-hire operator by whom the applicant is employed; 

7. the make, model, year, license plate number, and vehicle identification number, of each vehicle the applicant will use for for-hire transportation services; and

8. that the applicant is, or is in the process of becoming, affiliated with one or more TNCs or Taxi Associations.

2. Applications must also provide two (2) recent color photographs to be incorporated into the applicant’s license. 

3. The license officer may deny a for-hire driver license or renewal of such license to any person who does not comply with each provision of SMC 10.34A.080(A). When determining whether to deny a for-hire driver license, the license officer may consider the following factors:

1. the nature and severity of any offense(s) for which the applicant has been convicted;

2. the amount of time elapsed since the conviction(s), if any;

3. the number and type of passenger complaints, if any, within the twelve (12) months preceding the application for a license renewal and the type and character of the complaints; and

4. any information related to the individual’s rehabilitation or other mitigating factors post-conviction, if applicable.

4. If the license officer denies a for-hire driver license application or renewal application, the license officer must immediately inform the applicant and the for-hire operator with whom the applicant is, or is to be, affiliated of the denial decision, pursuant to SMC 04.04.050, and shall provide the applicant an opportunity to request a hearing to respond to the notice and introduce any evidence to refute or mitigate the denial. If the applicant requests a hearing pursuant to SMC 04.04, the applicant may (for renewal applications) continue to provide for-hire transportation services pending a final decision by the license officer. Appeals of licensing decisions under this chapter are conducted pursuant to SMC 04.04.100

5. Records of driver compliance are retained by the For-Hire Operator the driver is affiliated with.

Date Passed: Monday, September 14, 2020

Effective Date: Monday, September 14, 2020

ORD C35938 Section 3