(a) Upon the filing of an application, the business license administrator shall cause an investigation into the facts stated upon the application. The application shall be approved and a permit to operate granted unless the investigation reveals good cause to believe that the public welfare or safety would be adversely affected if the permit were granted.

    (b) Grounds to deny a permit to operate shall include, but not limited to, the following:

    (1)    Whenever an applicant files an incomplete application.

    (2)    Whenever an applicant makes a false declaration on the application.

    (3)    Whenever any person required to be listed upon the application has had a permit issued under this article revoked within the past two (2) years.

    (4)    Whenever an applicant has outstanding judgments against him for damages resulting from the negligent operation of a vehicle.

    (5)    Whenever the applicant fails to have a current City of Columbia business permit or has not applied for a City of Columbia business permit concurrent with his application for a taxicab or limousine permit.

    (c)    Applicants have the burden of demonstrating good moral character.  If an applicant has been convicted of a felony within the past ten (10) years or any misdemeanor involving theft or the sale of or possession of illegal drugs or sexual abuse within the past five (5) years or any municipal ordinance violation of leaving the scene of an accident or failure to report an accident or any violation of this article, the business license administrator may deny the license after considering the nature of the crime or ordinance violation committed in relation to the license sought, the conduct of the applicant since the violation, and other evidence as to the applicant’s character.

    (d) Denial of a license by the business license administrator may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of section 13-31 of the City Code.

    (e) An applicant who has been denied a permit to operate shall not reapply for a permit to operate for a period of one year following the denial.

(Ord. No. 12094, § 1, 12-12-88; Ord. No. 17348, § 1, 6-17-02)